To get my money back?

[Buswanker1234]

I took my car to the mechanic almost 2 weeks ago and he's been telling me daily that "it'll be ready by the end of the day". Obviously each time it hasn't been and I've had to go there several times as no one answers the phone, just to be told "it will be ready tomorrow".

He told me earlier today that it was starting and driving but there was some oil leaking that he was "investigating". I decided to just take the car and go to another mechanic as I was already pissed off with his bad communication and need my car fixed ASAP as I can't work without it.

I put my daughter in the car and was about to drive away but the car didn't start.. He came out to charge the battery but I found that the car still had the exact same problems as I took it there with. The breaks didn't work which he must have known and was happy to let me drive off with a small child in the car.

I was literally in tears and he didn't really seem to care, and said that it's difficult from his point of view as he's done lots of work on it based off the diagnostics.

I've left the car with him, only as the car was unroadworthy but now I'm not sure what to do. I've paid nearly £800 that I don't have for him to fix everything except the very big problem. The car was otherwise fine before this one issue so now I'm questioning if the parts he changed were even necessary. Legally where do I stand with this?

TIA x

Did you put it in specially to change the brakes? Or did you ask him to do a full diagnostic and change everything?

If he’s been doing work without permission and hasn’t changed the one thing he was told to change then I wouldn’t pay for anything. Get it out into the road and call your insurance to come tow it to another garage.

@Bobiverse thanks for replying. The breaks don't need to be changed, as it's something causing the car to stall when they're applied rather than the breaks actually being broken. I approved the work, believing that the problem would be solved and it isn't. Do I still have any grounds for a refund?

You have lost me entirely. Was thos a mechanic you know well and/or was recommended? Do they have registered premises? Where do you usually have your car serviced?

It sounds as though you need to have the car towed to a main dealer, ask for your money back and if no joy raise a claim in the small claims court.