Am I being churlish?

[Tinker]

Honest opinions welcome, I think.

Took my car into garage to be repaired on Tuesday. Was told it would be in for about a week and was given a courtesy car. Since I knew I had quite a few long journeys to make, put £25.00's worth of petrol in. However, received call yesterday to say car ready. Took it back and mentioned about the fuel, saying that they'd got nearly af full tank there (it was fairly empty when got car). The bloke just said he didn't deal with the fuel just the repairs. Didn't pursue it, could tell he wasn't going to negotiate, people behind me. Just made pathetic comment in babyish voice about 'Not fair, you've got my fuel'.

Shoud I write and request £20.00 as goodwill gesture or put it down to experience?

Thanks

I love these moral dilemma, Am I Being Unreasonable type threads, it's always so interesting to measure other people's morality against mine! I'd write a quick polite letter saying you want a refund please, you don't see why you should pay for fuel for their courtesy car, especially not since you've paid for repairs recently too. It's got to be worth a go. If you don't get a response call them and point out that you spent xyz there but don't see why you should provide them with £20 worth of free fuel. Let us know.

Yes, me too.

I would have syphoned the fuel off, I think (or pretended not to be able to take the courtesy car back that day).

As you didn't, a letter wouldn't do any harm, but I really don't think you should expect to get much from it. They probably don't check the fuel, so your £25 worth of petrol will be a little bonus for the next person who gets the courtesy car. And garages (in my experience) are light years behind other industries in terms of customer service!

Probably on balance, I would put it down to experience.

I presume you didn't sign any sort of contract for the courtesy car. I'm just thinking of hire cars, where thye give you a certain amount of petrol, usually either half a tank or a full tank, and you have to return the car to them with the same amount. I don't recall seeing any procedure where they pay you if there's more petrol than required, although they certainly sting you if there isn't enough.

Rather sloppy service on the part of your garge if they don't have any formal arrangements. Perhaps you could suggest they put some in place. A bit of "constructive" criticism.

• constructive criticism of the garage I meant, not you, Tinker.

yes yes yes it's only fair dos.

here is my quote of the day...
" experience is what you get when you don't get what you want'.
I think thats what you got (shame it cost you 20 pound - couldn't find the pound sign )

I'd be grateful I got my car back early and forget about it (actually, being me, I would already have forgotten about it by the time I got to that point). But I might use another garage next time. :0

Thanks all for responses. Boyfriend suggested syphoning of fuel but being a lazy cow I didn't. Thought about reducing bill by £20 but was too scared of confrontation, and yes, they may not have given me the keys. Did sign something but didn't read it, didn't anticipate problem - dur!

I'll try my luck with a polite letter but don't watch this space

And sobernow, yes I love the word 'churlish' as well