Car repairs - trading standards

[Manu]

It's not often that I start a thread but here goes:

Got a cat converter fitted at my regular garage in June. The part is now faulty. I had to cough up £25 at another garage to have the car plugged into a diagnostic machine and get evidence of it being faulty.

The regular garage told me to pop up today ( total 8 times of me coming back because wasn't even fitted properly in the first place) which I did. Just had a phone call, the guy is saying that he has first to go through hundreds of invoices from his parts suppliers and find who sold the cat to him before he can carry out the repairs. Or I can have it fixed somewhere else at my own expense, which is basically taking me for a ride.

I am currently reading the trading standards rights about vehicle repairs and servicing and I could do with further input(much appreciated)

Anyone with similar stories/experiences ?

[SAM-S44MDS-]

Is he saying you have to pay for a new cat and fitting ?

[Manu]

not quite. I popped up last Friday after having my car plugged in for diagnostic. He told me then he was gonna look through his invoices during the weekend. He's done fuck all and telling me I have to wait until he manages to find who sold him the faulty part for me to get sorted.

It has been dragging on for a while now, with me going back and forth, had to cough up an extra £25 for a diagnostic, despite me telling the guy that the cat was gone.

The car sounds like I have some gravel dancing in my cat converter. The more it drags on and the more I end up with ceramic bits in my middle pipe and silencer

[SAM-S44MDS-]

Lol at the gravel dancing, thats a new one :S

It does sound like he is taking the piss, yes he does need to check his invoices to find his supplier, as obviously he needs to claim from them. It shouldn't take that long though :S

[Manu]

Had to come back right after it was fitted, paid for a fitting kit and they didn't put a ring in there. The exhaust was blowing because of that. Then the car started develloping that noise within two weeks. When I came back, I got told it was my middle pipe (which is fine). Been going on for 6 months now. Got told by the other garage that the car got fitted with the cheapest shittiest cat available and wasn't exactly a surprise if it had fallen apart :S

He told me he has to go through 800 invoices. I think he needs to get a secretary. If I buy a faulty telly from Currys, it gets replaced no questions asked

[Quick]

Try http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm and find your local office!

[Manu]

Try http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm and find your local office!
cheers mate

will contact them if my car ain't sorted by tomorrow evening.