Hi all,
I posted this on the AIBU board and was told that I may get some help on here too. Apologies, I have done a copy and paste from my previous mail, but any advice would be gratefully received.
Arrrggh, car died last week on the way back from Tescos. Luckily, dp managed to coast along into layby, despite the immobiliser kicking in all systems (including power steering!) shutting down.
RAC came out and towed the car to our local garage. Garage owner has the car for a couple of days before finally calling to advise the problem is the fuel pump and will cost >£300 to sort out. He's already ordered it and we should have the car back the following day. We say, fine as long as that's definitely what it is, and he can fix it.
In the meantime, I have to hire a car to get work and back (such is life ). After chasing him up two days later as I still haven't heard anything, I finally get a call to say that the local garage can't fix it and we'll need to take it into the dealership. Garage man has been in touch with the dealership and the problem is not the main fuel pump (the part that he's replaced) but the interior pump hmm and it will cost over £900 to fix shockshock. He then goes on to tell me the main fuel pump needed replacing anyway (hmm again). Then he offers to take our car to dealership in Southampton (15 miles away) for £60 shock I politely decline and get the RAC to take it there for free.
Dealership has now called to advise that they have found the problem, which will cost about £700, but is nothing to do with either of the fuel pumps. Now, I've haven't been to the first garage to settle up, I have called to advise that I'll go in tomorrow to see him. He has "generously" advised that he'll "have to charge me for the pump and two hours labour instead of five".
But, am I being unreasonable to not want to pay £300 when a) he didn't fix the problem and b)he replaced parts which didn't need replacing in the first place?
Any advice gratefully received on the best way to handle this.