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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you formally complain about this?

141 replies

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:05

Car was serviced on Thursday. Was picked up and taken to the garage (large, international manufacturer) and then dropped back the same afternoon.

Fast forward to this morning when I'm driving my 2yo DS to his nursery. Had to do a rather sharp brake, due to car in front suddenly stopping. Wasn't a full on emergency brake, but I was going at about 20mph and had to slow down quite rapidly.

DS is screaming in the back- I turn round and his car seat has flown forward and he is half in the footwell/ half pressed against the passenger seat!!

He has one of the seats that is secured with the seatbelt round the back- basically, I can only presume that the seat was unbuckled when it was serviced and not secured again. I definitely have not undone it and he is not capable of doing it himself.

No one me ruined the seat needed to be re-secured and it was just put back in place... which meant I wasn't even promoted to check. If it has been laid flat/ places back to front or something, I would have known it was loose!

Would you make a formal complaint based on this?

OP posts:
katmarie · 28/03/2023 16:51

I don't think I would have thought to check, I probably will now though! Do they give you any documentation to say what was serviced in the car? I think you could feed back to them that they would be doing customers a good turn to highlight if a car seat had been unbuckled for any reason, and prompt the owner to check it's secure before it's used again.

1FootInTheRave · 28/03/2023 16:51

100% on you.

I have had this a number of times following mot or work done on vehicles.

Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:56

I am totally taking this one on the chin and agree with people who say it is my responsibility to check. Thanks for the feedback. I won't complain but will consider giving some feedback on my experience to hopefully prevent any future disasters for others.

I will definitely be more careful with this now.

Still feel that it was somewhat irresponsible of the garage to remove the seatbelt and put the seat back in position. I would have hoped they could foresee the potential danger of that...

OP posts:
JenniferBarkley · 28/03/2023 16:57

Still feel that it was somewhat irresponsible of the garage to remove the seatbelt and put the seat back in position. I would have hoped they could foresee the potential danger of that...

Yes, exactly, I'm with you there. Feels far from best practice.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 28/03/2023 16:59

That's totally your fault!

MyOldFriendTime · 28/03/2023 16:59

saraclara · 28/03/2023 16:49

I disagree with pretty much everyone.

It's obvious to me that a garage servicing a car should not be touching a child's car seat. And if they do, its their responsibility to put it back safely, as they find it.

I'm absolutely astonished that so many people think differently.

I'd definitely complain, OP. And ask why it was removed in the first place.

I agree with this. Who would even think they would touch a child’s car seat for a service? I would definitely complain.

Thank God you were only going slowly and not on a bloody motorway.

FlissyPaps · 28/03/2023 17:00

Still feel that it was somewhat irresponsible of the garage to remove the seatbelt and put the seat back in position. I would have hoped they could foresee the potential danger of that...

🙄🙄🙄

Make a formal complaint then! They’d just laugh at you though.

pettysquabbles · 28/03/2023 17:01

Completely your responsibility to check. You should check every time you use it.

MissMaple82 · 28/03/2023 17:02

No absolutely not, they are not trained car seat fitters! They check the wear and tear of the belts. It's your responsibility to check it afterwards.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 28/03/2023 17:04

Your responsibility to check but I would feedback, rather than complain, to the garage as it can easily happen again to someone else. Maybe they could consider lying car seats down if they’ve been removed

fainallyhere · 28/03/2023 17:04

This reply has been deleted

We don't believe that this was posted in good faith.

museumum · 28/03/2023 17:05

I think that the garage should have laid the carseat face down to make it clear it had been de-installed. I don't think they should put it back necessarily.
I think if I were in OPs position I might drop them an email, just suggesting that they may want to consider either changing policy to put carseats face down or warning customers to check all carseats before use. I wouldn't 'complain', just suggest this.

I always ensure I never put our seat into the car in position but not fixed. If it's not fixed cause I'm moving it out of the other car in a rush, I always lay it face down so I can't make that mistake.

katsue · 28/03/2023 17:05

They can't test the seatbelts without unbuckling them and you should definitely have removed it 100% on you to check&

Ratatouille1 · 28/03/2023 17:05

I think legally and morally it is your responsibility to check, but it was very poor practice of the garage to undo the seat and leave in that position making it looked like it was attached. I think a no blame review of practice ( like they do in near misses on airplanes) the garage should either not touch a seat, or lie it flat on the seat or backwards if they have to move it . As a parent you should give your seat a little tug each time you use it. Isofix ( which most modern cars have is a much safer option)

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 28/03/2023 17:07

saraclara · 28/03/2023 16:49

I disagree with pretty much everyone.

It's obvious to me that a garage servicing a car should not be touching a child's car seat. And if they do, its their responsibility to put it back safely, as they find it.

I'm absolutely astonished that so many people think differently.

I'd definitely complain, OP. And ask why it was removed in the first place.

I agree with you.

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 28/03/2023 17:08

Oh, and checking seatbelts isn't normally part of a service - there really was no need for them to touch the seat.

NeedToChangeName · 28/03/2023 17:08

museumum · 28/03/2023 17:05

I think that the garage should have laid the carseat face down to make it clear it had been de-installed. I don't think they should put it back necessarily.
I think if I were in OPs position I might drop them an email, just suggesting that they may want to consider either changing policy to put carseats face down or warning customers to check all carseats before use. I wouldn't 'complain', just suggest this.

I always ensure I never put our seat into the car in position but not fixed. If it's not fixed cause I'm moving it out of the other car in a rush, I always lay it face down so I can't make that mistake.

@museumum I agree with this advice

ChrisPPancake · 28/03/2023 17:09

No. Up to you to check.

ChrisPPancake · 28/03/2023 17:10

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

Yes. Wouldn't have occurred to me not to tbh but I'm a compulsive overthinker.

Dacadactyl · 28/03/2023 17:10

I would 100% complain.

Trez1510 · 28/03/2023 17:11

FlissyPaps · 28/03/2023 17:00

Still feel that it was somewhat irresponsible of the garage to remove the seatbelt and put the seat back in position. I would have hoped they could foresee the potential danger of that...

🙄🙄🙄

Make a formal complaint then! They’d just laugh at you though.

Pretty much this.

How do you prove someone in the garage left the belt loose?

It's all fine and well the OP saying 'I didn't do it.' and 'He couldn't have done it.' The garage will equally say 'Prove we did it.'

Beyond that he said/she said, everyone will ask the same, basic question that has been repeatedly asked on here: 'Why didn't you ensure your child was safely strapped in?'

DotAndCarryOne2 · 28/03/2023 17:12

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

It doesn’t make you a bad mum OP. Perhaps this is a heads up to check generally before you set off. It’s not something that I would have thought a garage would need to touch as part of the service. I have a wheelchair on the back seat of my car, secured by an installed strap as part of the hoist mechanism. The mechanics never touch it as part of service/repairs or if they do, they put it back exactly as I left it. As others have said, maybe worth mentioning it to the garage but definitely not a complaint, and it should prompt a check every journey in case it indicates a fault.

Dacadactyl · 28/03/2023 17:14

@bluelid oh dont listen to half this lot...as if they heck check the car seat every time they use the car, if they know theyd not messed with it!
The garage shouldve made it clear that theyd unstrapped the seat by laying it down or something.

ComeTheFuckOnBridgett · 28/03/2023 17:15

100% on you to check it's right! Don't complain.

pettysquabbles · 28/03/2023 17:16

Dacadactyl · 28/03/2023 17:14

@bluelid oh dont listen to half this lot...as if they heck check the car seat every time they use the car, if they know theyd not messed with it!
The garage shouldve made it clear that theyd unstrapped the seat by laying it down or something.

I absolutely used to check the car seat every time as it was my childs life at risk. It's a 5 second job and I don't know why you wouldn't do it?