gc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 152 
Likes: 141
|
Post by gc on Sept 15, 2018 18:17:35 GMT
I am interested in others opinions on this as i'm too close to the situation.
My partners car has been throwing out error codes and in the end she called out a mobile mechanic to clean the throttle body. The car has been working fine even with the error codes and the mechanic came out today to carry out the work.
Ok, so throttle body cleaned and then the car wouldn't start at all, no matter what he tried. In the he mentioned that it will need a new starter motor as that seems to have also packed in during his time with the car, also it is possible that the engine may have seized.
So, she called out a mechanic to look at a car with a fault (that worked) and she gets back a car that does not work at all, does not start, nothing. The mechanic spent about 1.5 hours looking at this and then said that she can pay him next week.
My dilemma here is, does she pay pr not? I am tempted to speak to him and question if one should be paid for returning something worse off (unusable) than when they got it.
|
|
benaj
Member of DD Central
N/A
Posts: 5,573
Likes: 1,734
|
Post by benaj on Sept 15, 2018 20:36:30 GMT
|
|
gc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 152
Likes: 141
|
Post by gc on Sept 15, 2018 21:01:20 GMT
I hear you on this, though as an IT consultant, if I go out to fix a clients slow computer, spend a few hours on it and when I leave, it doesn't even power up, I would not charge for what I did. As we all know it does happen and (to me anyway) there are times when one gets caught out and has to swallow the expense. 99% of jobs are profitable but not all. I may be wrong on that which is why I am interested on others views on it.
|
|
kaya
Member of DD Central
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 718
|
Post by kaya on Sept 16, 2018 8:20:29 GMT
You need to know what is going wrong with the car, so you need to get an independent assessment from another mechanic from somewhere that you trust. More expense!
Then you will hopefully be in a position to know whether to pay the first guy or not. Paying him part of the bill is another option.
|
|
Greenwood2
Member of DD Central
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 2,776
|
Post by Greenwood2 on Sept 16, 2018 11:14:01 GMT
I am interested in others opinions on this as i'm too close to the situation. My partners car has been throwing out error codes and in the end she called out a mobile mechanic to clean the throttle body. The car has been working fine even with the error codes and the mechanic came out today to carry out the work. Ok, so throttle body cleaned and then the car wouldn't start at all, no matter what he tried. In the he mentioned that it will need a new starter motor as that seems to have also packed in during his time with the car, also it is possible that the engine may have seized. So, she called out a mechanic to look at a car with a fault (that worked) and she gets back a car that does not work at all, does not start, nothing. The mechanic spent about 1.5 hours looking at this and then said that she can pay him next week. My dilemma here is, does she pay pr not? I am tempted to speak to him and question if one should be paid for returning something worse off (unusable) than when they got it. Why did you specifically get the throttle body cleaned? Did you think that would fix the error codes? Or did the mechanic have a wider remit, ie, to fix the errors which might have included cleaning the throttle body, then if he failed to fix it or it was worse you have a better case to not pay. Perhaps the dirty throttle body (less air in the mixture?) was actually reducing the impact of the other faults. As Kaya said you need an independent inspection, to decide what is wrong with the car and if the mechanic caused more damage.
|
|
JamesFrance
Member of DD Central
Port Grimaud 1974
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 897
|
Post by JamesFrance on Sept 16, 2018 14:34:52 GMT
If I had an error code I would call in at the dealer for the make of car, why did she let them build up then call someone with no knowledge of the model in question and their known faults? I have only had two Renaults since 2005 and never had an error code.
|
|
cb25
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 2,668
|
Post by cb25 on Sept 16, 2018 16:27:10 GMT
You can explain to the mechanic that you're unhappy with having to pay for the visit given the car appeared to be in a worse state at the end of the visit. The mechanic might agree to reduce/cancel the bill.
(What you do as an IT consultant is clearly your choice, but has no bearing on what the mechanic does.)
Things get tricky if the mechanic wants to enforce the full bill (or even a reduced bill you think is still too high). Do you have any actual proof the car's not working as a direct result of actions taken by the mechanic, rather than the car just happening to 'expire' during the mechanic's visit?
Getting actual proof may end up with you shelling out more than you already owe and it's not certain you'll get that additional expense back. Thinking you're in the right and winning if bailiffs/court is involved are two very different things.
Personally, I'd ask the mechanic if they were willing to reduce/cancel the bill, then pay whatever they ask.
|
|
gc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 152
Likes: 141
|
Post by gc on Sept 16, 2018 16:29:51 GMT
If I had an error code I would call in at the dealer for the make of car, why did she let them build up then call someone with no knowledge of the model in question and their known faults? I have only had two Renaults since 2005 and never had an error code. It is an old Y reg Astra (8 valve model) and the error codes were diagnosed to throttle valve, and it was blocked. I do not personally think the mechanic sank the car and it is unfortunate that it happened under his work. I believe a nominal charge would be applicable in this situation but not the full. We aren't really talking a lot of money, it was more the principle. Y reg Astra probably only worth about £500 but she loves the darned thing! Thanks for the info, guys. Like I said, it wasn't about the money, more principle of the matter.
|
|
gc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 152
Likes: 141
|
Post by gc on Sept 16, 2018 16:31:59 GMT
You can explain to the mechanic that you're unhappy with having to pay for the visit given the car appeared to be in a worse state at the end of the visit. The mechanic might agree to reduce/cancel the bill.
(What you do as an IT consultant is clearly your choice, but has no bearing on what the mechanic does.)
Things get tricky if the mechanic wants to enforce the full bill (or even a reduced bill you think is still too high). Do you have any actual proof the car's not working as a direct result of actions taken by the mechanic, rather than the car just happening to 'expire' during the mechanic's visit?
Getting actual proof may end up with you shelling out more than you already owe and it's not certain you'll get that additional expense back. Thinking you're in the right and winning if bailiffs/court is involved are two very different things.
Personally, I'd ask the mechanic if they were willing to reduce/cancel the bill, then pay whatever they ask.
Yes, this is what I am going for and seems the best option (to me anyway, not sure about the mechanic) ;-)
|
|
