final bill more than quote.

[Guest nez69]

can you put any corrospondence between you and garage on here??

[Hammy1962]

Blimey, I'm glad I didn't say all of previous posters things. I think the posts are OK as long as we don't upset Coniff or call Freaky's mate's liars.

 

As we say in t'north, there's a rabbit loose round 'ere

 

And finally, as we are trading qualifications, here's mine.

 

Hammy. FIMI, MIRTE, LAE, Cert.Eng.

(Didn't do the Degree, family not priviliged enough for Uni, I was sent out to work at 15!) I have just celebrated, if that's the right word, 30 years, all with one brand, from tea boy to Senior Manager. I think that qualifies me to notice when something weird is going on.

 

And yes, for what it's worth, I do know more than most about the Motor Trade, i just can't tell you how on an open forum

[Guest nez69]

im not trying to offend anyone.

sorry if i have, i feel i have a lot of help to give but only when we ascertain the full story.

 

people seem to be concentrating on the wrong things, ie seat belts when im sure this is not the real issue.

 

we are all here to help so lets get all the information and see what we can do.

 

just for one second think of the garage. this is more than likely going to be his livelyhood, reputation and income and almost every garage i have ever worked with in the past 16 years have never wanted to jeopardise this. infact when a dispute arrises it is usually dealt with and a suitable conclusion brought to ensure people are as happy as possible (on both sides) so as to not destroy what could be a good garage.

 

 

now it looks like i am rabbiting on, but as for qualifications, i studied contract law albeit briefly then moved into the motor trade where i have had hands on experience in dealing with customer and trade disputes for 16 years where invariably it is very difficult to obtain the complete story from both parties but what i do know is that until we do there will be no end.

 

my word, im off now as sending myself...... to..............sleeeeeep...........

 

sorry peeps

[Dont trust the banks]

Morning all, Thank you Jo for a much needed explanation of the "facts" as you know them. but two thing are bugging me, 1 the vans previous owner "happens to be my brother" and the following quote below makes no mention of some of the things you have already mentioned i.e. bushes rear breaks. They may well be disputing the "admin/storage" but would they be facing these charges if they had paid the bill?. What happened between the van passing the MOT and the start of the thread?

 

 

"9. Prior to the van being MOT'd, the mechanic repaired some obvious MOT failure points of which I do not know what they are.

 

If his invoice was done in cronological order then it appears that he took a total of 8.5 hours to repair 2 wiper blades and replace 5 bulbs. He then took a further 21 hours to do a timing belt, 2 hours to replace the brake hosing, 4.5 hours to do front brake pads and then 2 hours to replace a seat belt stalk and put some brake fluid in. My friends are not disputing what he has done to the van, they are just disputing the labour charges he has charged and also the fact that he is charging them for storage of the van plus admin costs"

 

Well everyone is now listing there qualifications so hear are mine, BSC and SSC and more years "life experience" than I cere to admit to!

[Guest nez69]

oops

[Guest nez69]

very good points to bring up banks.

 

what work was done before the mot work, is it on this invoice or a separate invoice?

 

has the garage shown you what is involved in the work carried out as i had to once explain why i had to charge a customer £90 + vat to change a head light lens! sounds odd to you? dont buy this particular volvo!

[Dont trust the banks]

What concerns me is the fact that most of the details have come to light so far after the first post, thats not good - WHY! especially if the van came from here brother! (having said that Iv not talked to mine for a couple of months over some thing very silly), I'd love to hear the mechanics side of all this. And your spot on about people concentrating on the "irrelevant" - when I read hammys post about the seat belt it made me smile! he was taking th p****!!!!! but now we have people making an issue out of it. (I bet they have never bought a new seat belt from a dealer). Owell should have been on site 10 mins a go so had better go

[jowalshy]

There was only one invoice from the mechanic. It is as follows:-

 

To carry out work as necessary to van for MOT:-

 

18.09.07 1.5hrs labour £27.00

19.09.07 7 hrs labour £126.00

2 wiper blades £9.00

2 bulbs £1.50

1 bulb £0.75

2 bulbs £2.00

1 MOT £45.00

04.10.07 5 hrs labour £90.00

05.10.07 5hrs labour £90.00

08.10.07 4 hrs labour £72.00

09.10.07 3hrs labour £54.00

10.10.07 4 hrs labour £72.00

1 timing belt £33.84

11.10.07 2hrs labour £36.00

6 brake pipe nuts £3.00

11 ft brake pipe £11.00

1 brake pipe clip £2.00

2 pipe joiners £5.00

12.10.07 2hrs labour £36.00

13.10.07 2.5hrs labour £45.00

1 brake pads front £80.97

MOT retest £23.40

 

total £865.48

 

this was the first invoice which was then reisssued with some additions

 

14.10.07 2hrs labour £36.00

1 used seat belt stalk £10.00

4 brake fluid £2.40

 

total bill with ammendments £913.36

 

then a further bill for admin costs £300.00

 

 

 

the brake pads were supplied by my brothers friend, but according to the mechanic they did not come with the shims (whatever they are), so the mechanic had to get them in.

[ukaviator]

(I bet they have never bought a new seat belt from a dealer).

 

You would lose that bet. Whether Hammy was taking the P*** is for him to say.

[Guest nez69]

have we any break down on that invoice as to what the labour costs were actually for?

the parts list doesnt mean that all he did was replace these items, there could be a lot of work that requires no parts but you need to be clear what the hours charged are for.

and what a great idea banks, how about jo asking for him to log on and have his say, or am i getting way too into all this he he.

maybe we could sort the whole issue out together on here.

[Dont trust the banks]

Double posting???????

[Dont trust the banks]

(I bet they have never bought a new seat belt from a dealer).

 

You would lose that bet. Whether Hammy was taking the P*** is for him to say.

 

 

OK, so how much was it?. Hammy please confirm weather your reference to the seat belt was "tong in cheek" or a VERY serious issue?

 

I buy and sell a few cars, its more a hobby than a living - so I get to see lots of "service history" and its interesting to see the range of prices garages charge for parts, the wiper blades fitted to the 98 escort I have for sale at the moment were fitted as part of its mot in October, the "Fast fit" type garage (better not name them) charged them out at £7.71 ea + VAT! and the c/v boot at an incredible £33.76 + VAT! so looking at the invoice summery Jo's just posted..... he isn't that dear with his parts. Can any one price the timing belt? or any other parts?.

[jowalshy]

A letter was sent to the mechanic requesting a breakdown of his labour charges but unfortunately he just said that what is on the invoice is all that he is going to provide.

[Guest nez69]

well for the cambelt it would be between £30-55 depending on the model and engine, these prices are for gates cambelts for both a b2500 and a e2200 diesel as i cannot find which mazda van this is.

this is what i was quoted from my supplier as being an over counter sale plus vat.

looking at what you've been charged for this item alone, the part price seems more than reasonable, although there are other makes and im sure cheaper prices out there.

[Hammy1962]

I shall admit it, guilty as charged, the Seat Belt Stalk reference was a bit of a p*** take. Coniff made a completly OTT statement on another post about life and death. This way it was worded was an imflamatory quote designed to "put thoughts" into the other posters head. Presumably this is the way of this particular forum. Someone makes an error, lets make them 'em pay, all the better if it's a garage, typical Motor Trade sterotyping!!

 

I'm all for justice etc but most thing's can be sorted with a quiet word, round the back if necessary. Phrases such as "Put you your family and pets lives at risk" don't help.

 

If the poster has never, ever, made a mistake then fair enough, we all make mistakes, it's how you address them that keeps the customer and their confidence.

 

I'll shut up now, until someone else has another unnecessary poke at the Motor Trade.

 

Hammy

[jowalshy]

I personally had only one ooops with a garage. This was when I asked them to replace the brake housing thing on my car. They did this and when I went to pay for the repair they had charged me for both sides when it was only one side that was done. This particualr garage was very good about it and only charged for the one.

 

The beef with this garage is the labour charges and the admin costs that this chap has charged.

[Conniff]

Quotes by Hammy

Coniff make a completly OTT statement on another post about life and death.

 

These were not OTT - and not something to be dismissed as "a mistake", they were as I said - "gross negligence" and it put the lives of people at risk.

 

Even if they were as you describe that it no reason to follow me around the site making derogatory remarks and hijacking others threads to try and get one up.

 

May I suggest that you remove one of your bleed nipples and take the car for a drive and then come back and make the same comments, dual circuit system or not.

 

I'll shut up now, until someone else has another unnecessary poke at the Motor Trade.

 

Then you are going to be very busy. The garage trade has probably the worse reputation for malpractice and overcharging of any industry, none more so than when women are involved, and in my opinion deservedly so.

[jowalshy]

Boys, boys, boys. Please can you stop this nitpicking on my thread. If you do want to have a debate about the motor trade, can you create your own thread and do it there.

 

Thank you.

[Dont trust the banks]

I shall admit it, guilty as charged, the Seat Belt Stalk reference was a bit of a p*** take. Coniff make a completly OTT statement on another post about life and death.

 

Just as I thought!!!!

 

 

This way it was worded was an imflamatory quote designed to "put thoughts" into the other posters head.

 

It worked!!!

 

I'll shut up now, until someone else has another unnecessary poke at the Motor Trade.

 

You wont be silent for long if whats been posted over the last couple of weeks is typical!!!!

 

The beef with this garage is the labour charges and the admin costs that this chap has charged.

 

As I asked earlyer..... Would they be being charged the "admin" if they had paid the bill in the first place?, What happened between the date of the MOT and your first post? :-|

 

 

These were not OTT - and not something to be dismissed as "a mistake", they were as I said - "gross negligence" and it put the lives of people at risk.

 

Conniff, stop trying to defend the indefensible!

 

May I suggest that you remove one of your bleed nipples and take the car for a drive and then come back and make the same comments, dual circuit system or not.

 

 

In the interests of safty......best not hay!

 

 

 

Then you are going to be very busy. The garage trade has probably the worse reputation for malpractice and overcharging of any industry, none more so than when women are involved, and in my opinion deservedly so.

 

But on that last point I'm with you Conniff

 

 

I think another thread is no bad idea at all, Bear garden any one or should it be in Garage services????

[jowalshy]

The dispute started after the first bill was raised on 06.10.07 of which was done verbally until 17.10.07. I was unaware of the dispute until when I first posted. This dispute is between the friends of my brothers and the mechanic of which my mother got involved and past on to me to ask on here. Posting a dispute in the bear garden may help, but I feel that it would be better to keep on topic on this forum. (I personally like playing silliies in the bear garden and I feel that posting a debate there would be a bit dangerous coz of the various opinions that could come up and cause havoc).

 

 

Also could you please stop making references to bleeindg nipples, it is making me cringe .

 

The answer to your question regarding the admin fee, no the admin fee would not have come about if they had paid the bill in the first place (that makes perfect common sense to me ).

[Guest BIGMTJ1975]

. My brothers friend also purchased another van of a later model and was going to use the parts from this donor van to do up my brothers ex van in order to sell it and make a profit.

 

Ah let me guess he wasnt going to make a profit now.So he doesnt want to pay his bill :idea: :idea: :idea:

[Hammy1962]

Blimey, now someones Mother is involved.

 

I'd like to keep my nipples on thank you.

 

Hammy

 

PS Finally something I don't know (that dosn't happen very often!!). What's a bear garden? Is it like a beer garden, but with bears.

[Guest BIGMTJ1975]

yes mothers brothers.....make you wonder what this guys up against....boswells

[Guest BIGMTJ1975]

Hi Jo

 

So it was just brakes that it failed on and the two seat belt stalks (used).

 

2 x wiper blades

5 x bulbs

1 x timing belt

6 x brake pipe nuts

11 x brake pipe Pere FT (what ever these are)

1 x brake pipe clips

2 x pipe joiners

1 x used seat belt stalk

4 x brake fluid

 

So who gave him the authority to change the wiper blades (not required, not failed), 5 bulbs (not required, not failed on any), timing belt (not only not authorised, but nothing to do with the MoT test).

 

This whole job to be very generous and allow for multiple mugs of tea and a lunch break would easily be accomplished in 1 working day. I know this Jo as I have done it and with plenty of time to spare.

 

I don't suppose you have his mot failure certificate yet? These can be hand written if the printer has failed, (my thinking here is has he added the extra work he is showing as part of the failure).

It would be nice to compare that with what you know before you let him know that you have the actual failure from Vosa.

 

Give him a ring and ask if you can come in and pick up the failure cert.

If he says 'no' then your next move would be to write to him (recorded) and ask who authorised the non MoT repairs and why were they done.

 

I would also use a different type of envelope from the one you used last time so that he will not suspect it is from you and refuse delivery.

 

P.S. I would have charged £381 inclusive of labour which would have included new disc and pads and linings at the rear.

I can't price the suspension bushes.

 

Jeez conniff you portray yourself to be a super engineer god,yet you are quoting for a job you have not even seen :idea:

[Guest BIGMTJ1975]

que self portrait by constiff