Car damaged by mechanic, where do I stand?

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Car damaged by mechanic, where do I stand?

7 posts & 6 voices | Started 2 years ago by catfood | Latest reply from catfood

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catfood - Member

I bought a car privately about six weeks ago and I have just put it in for a service and my garage has found a problem.

Just before I bought it the chap had some work having a leak at the rear of the gearbox fixed and it appears the garage he used damaged the prop shaft coupling by hammering a bolt on with a chisel, which should be replaced and seeing as it only comes with the prop shaft I will be looking at a repair bill of over a grand.

I have the bills for the work but if the work was not done for me does he have any duty to put it right?

Thanks in advance.

Posted 2 years ago #
coffeeking - Member

Can't really see it to be honest, you might want to take it to the previous owner and ask them to sort it with him pretending they still own it. However I suspect that, as often happens, the previous owner asked him to botch it as they were going to sell it on quicksmart. But ultimately you bought a car "as seen" and didn't see the fault.

Posted 2 years ago #
wombat - Member

As you have the receipt for the works which were carried out I'd go and see the garage that did it and ask them what they'd advise, I find going with a "please can you help me" attitude rather than a "what the hell have you done" one helps.

The worst than can happen is they politely suggest you go away.

Have you spoken to Trading Standards or the CAB about it?

Is it a local garage or part of a chain?

Posted 2 years ago #
uplink - Member

You don't have any contract whatsoever with the mechanic - you can't [legally] ask him to put it right

As above - ask the previous owner to take it up with him

Posted 2 years ago #
cynic-al - Member

Currently you are ****ed, unless you got a warranty with the car (to include this specific issue). However the prev owner may be able to assign his rights under the contract to you. It may be too late though as under Scots he no longer has any right to assign to you - I assume you are in England though and things may be different.

You could get him to go back to garage. Or say he assigned the rights to you (though here assignations need ot be in writing).

Posted 2 years ago #
piedi di formaggio - Member

Caveat Emptor I suspect you will find.

Posted 2 years ago #
catfood - Member

Local garage, not spoken to trading standards as I only found out about the problem this morning.

Posted 2 years ago #

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