Need a bit of advice regarding car repair. So the story goes:

Bought a Renault Scenic and had problems with the alternator, found a local mechanic guy who took a look at it and found it just to be the cable and not the alternator resulting in a much lower bill. So when a gearbox mount sheared its bolts I had no problems taking the car to the same guy to get it sorted.

Unfortunately the bolts had sheared half way down the threads making the job a tad harder than originally thought. I dropped the car off 4 weeks ago and the guy has still not finished, he has made a number of excuses about the job being harder, he now says he is going to have to remove the gearbox to get better access to the final bolt, he has drilled and removed 2 of the bolts. He is terrible at updating me and I am constantly having to chase him about what is going on.

I was told that the car would be done by last Friday as he had another job coming in, however when phoning him he reported that he had only got the subframe half out and had not removed the gearbox. He said that he has been incredibly busy with other jobs and I was free to take the car away for free if I wanted. This was Sunday and I have had no reply to phone calls, voice mail or text messages. I am unable to take the car away due to it being in parts and now I can’t get hold of him I’m a bit stuck.

What are my options, if any? If I can’t get hold of him what can I do to get my car sorted? Ideally I just want him to fix the car so I can get it back.

Any advice?

I’d hazard a guess that he can’t do it…. if he could he would have done it by now. Why would he not have and why is he doing other jobs ahead of yours? It’s not like he’s doing it for free.

Are you a member of the AA or similar? Maybe they can shift it?

Sounds to me like the job has turned out much harder and more time consuming, so he’s either reluctant to continue knowing he will lose money on the quote or he just can’t get it done. He must haave thought he could do it in-situ, but now has to remove whole gearbox, much bigger job.

IF I were you I would go and have a polite talk to him and ask him how much to get it sorted. Usually these guys know specialists who will do the job if he can’t.

At the very least he has to put it back together for you so you can at least trailer it to another garage.

I think talk about 50:50 costs and take it elsewhere.

I think it has turned into a bigger job but that’s no excuse to ignore me or tell me what’s going on.

I think talk about 50:50 costs and take it elsewhere.

The problem is getting in contact with him to discuss how to sort things out. He shares a unit with his “work partner/friend” and isn’t doing this work full time. I am popping down to the unto today to see if one of them is there. Any advice on next step?

find another garage with a tow truck who will collect it for you, if they will meet you over there to collect it even better. Ask him how long it’s taken and “come to an arrangement” get him to explain to the other garage what he has/hasn’t done so they have an idea.

he’s said you can take the car away for free. Take him up on the offer.

Find another garage, explain the situation and ask them to arrange for it to be picked up and taken to their workshops.

Im planning on taking the car back but the 2 main problems are it will be in pieces, due to mechanic stripping the car, and I am unable to get in contact with him to arrange to pick it up.

Is it worth going to the Police as if I cant get in contact with him has he effectively stolen the car?

Post the topic over here in this section (not speed and law) you’ll get more coverage/responses- ask for personal experience as a topic title:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&f=23&mid=0

You said he shares premises with someone? So there may be someone there most days?

Get it outside with all the bits in the car and you can pick it up when it suits you?

Is it worth going to the Police as if I cant get in contact with him has he effectively stolen the car?

Well he hasn’t stolen it – you gave it to him to fix. Fair enough if he was now driivng around in it and denying having it but he isn’t so he hasn’t.

I’d persevere in trying to get hold of him and maybe speak to a solicitor (using your insurance to cover the costs) about how best to approach it.

You said he shares premises with someone? So there may be someone there most days?

Get it outside with all the bits in the car and you can pick it up when it suits you?
This is my plan for tonight, going to pop by on the way home from work and see if I can see anyone there

Hmm I think I know this guy 🙂