Advice about garage invoice please

[Mr Smyth]

Some advice please.

The alternator on my Citreon went back in Feb and I paid a garage to fix it.
3 weeks ago the battery light came on and soon the battery required charging. Re-charged the battery and still had the light so I visited the garage explained what had happened and reminded them that it was only recently replaced. They advised me to check a few simple things and call if this didn't work. I did the checks then called up to arrange the repair. The part owner of the garage lives locally and he picks up the car drives it to the garage and then drops it back.

He phoned me the next day and told me it was the alternator again!!! Told me that the company they had purchased the original one from had gone bust and the best they could suggest was to get the current one repaired. I thought about insisting upon a new one but agreed to its repair. No cost or charge was discussed.

Now sent a bill for -
Remove alternator and send for repair. Fit new alternator due to old unit beyond repair.
Alternator - £170
Surcharge for old unit - £30
Labour - £100

I agree there has been labour involved as they have picked and returned my car but I was not expecting to be landed with a £300 bill.

Surely the fact that the company has gone bust is not my issue. Surely an alternator that fails so soon was not fit for purpose.

How do you suggest I proceed.

Thanks in advance

 

[bryanpar]

i would go and speak with your local cab and they will tell you were you stand
good luck

 

[Graeme]

No cost or charge was discussed.

That would have been the first thing I would have clarified before allowing someone to drive off with my car!

I would also recommend booking an appointment with citizens advice

 

[HERTS P&D]

All parts supplied are guaranteed for 12 months UNLESS otherwise stated.

Andy

 

[Burnerman]

The alternator which failed prematurely would (should) have had 12 months warranty......but trying to claim from a company thats now in liquidation would seem just about impossible. You could have a claim against the maker of the alternator if you can follow that up but if it was a reconditioned one then there's hardly any chance.
I agree and sympathise that its not your problem, but its not the supplying garage's either.....personally I would think you'll have to bite on that particular bullet - sorry.
I can't comment on the garages labour charge but it does sound reasonable.
John

 

[Luckyphil]

If it was the same Garage that supplied the original Distributor that carried out the repair , they are responsible for the 12 Month Warranty that almost all Products bought carry , Regardless of the fact that their Supplier of the faulty Part being in business or not

Labour Charges seem reasonable , BUT I`d NEVER let anybody take the Car away without a guideline of what any potential costs may be !

OR - Instruct the Garage to contact you prior to carrying out any work that will be chargeable - to receive you permission to proceed !!

Lucky

 

[Burnerman]

Hope this goes well for the OP lucky.......could be a drawn out case, this one!
John

 

[Crickleymal]

Surely the garage that fitted the alternator effectively sold it to the OP so they are responsible for its replacement? It's like if you buy something from say Currys and it goes wrong. Your contract is with Currys not the manufacturer of the goods.

 

[Mr Smyth]

Thanks for all your replies.

I also think that the alternator should have a 12 month guarantee and would expect any business to guarantee their work. I am going to return to the garage and state that point. I intent to pay the labour charge as an offer of settlement.

I will let you know how it goes.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Phone Consumer Direct they will advise you as to your rights http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Dir...Governmentcitizensandrightscontacts/DG_195948

I would have thought they are oblliged to fix it or replace as you had a warranty. the garage will have added a surcharge, the warranty in the first instance always lies with the provider not the manufacturer.

That said if this were say a £2000 boiler in your home could a gas engineer be expected to replace a boiler at his own expense?

 

[Crickleymal]

That said if this were say a £2000 boiler in your home could a gas engineer be expected to replace a boiler at his own expense?

I don't see why not. Ok the initial cost will be his but he will be able to get the cost of the boiler back from the manufacturer. At least that's what used to happen when I worked for Potterton back in the 80s I used to have to test all the thermostats and valves that were returned by the installers. Maybe things have changed.

 

[AlanE]

Irelevant if the supplier to the garage has ceased trading. Your contract for supplying the original replacement was with the garage ( unless of course you purchased the alternator and asked them to fit it!!).

It is the garages responsibility to replace the faulty one.

Incidently if any product fails within certain laid down time periods the customer doesn't even have to prove the product is faulty, the onus rests with the supplier to prove it is NOT faulty!!

This is all basic consumer law that would be enforced by any small claims court.

 

[bhm1712]

Totally agree. It is the garages duty to honour the warranty, not the company who sold them the alternator who is bust. The garage manager knows that and is trying it on. As the customer, it is none of your concern and neither should it be, where the garage gets its supplies from. All you have to worry about is paying the price for the work which was done, and receiving an invoice for the works with the garages details at the top and a 12 month warranty disclaimer for parts and labour.

Get back onto them and read them the riat act.

 

[andyandy2]

Why are you being charged a £30 surcharge for the old unit, they already have the old unit.
Why are they charging £100 labour if its still within 12 months warranty.

In a case like this i would discuss with customer that company no longer trading, source him a new alternator, supply at trade price and fit free of charge as a gesture of goodwill, no one is really out of pocket and customer more than likely return in the future

 

[Spark123]

Why are you being charged a £30 surcharge for the old unit, they already have the old unit.

Is that the £30 they get back for returning the old unit? Not quite sure why they are charging you this, if anything that ought to be money off the new unit.
I'd be wary as they sent you away to try things, it is a very quick job to stick a volt meter across the battery with the engine running to see what voltage the alternator is putting out
As far a contractual law goes, your contract is with the garage as you paid them to supply and fit the alternator, not their supplier.
Talking generally such as if you were buying something with a 12mo warranty from a shop it is up to them to prove something is faulty up to 6mo after purchase, after that it is up to you to prove faulty.
The item has already been proven faulty now so isn't really a cause for concern.