Legal advice?
Mar 2nd 2018, 8:25 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Legal advice?
Just realized I've been a memeber since 2009 and have only posted twice...
My problem:
I have a car currently off road and stuck in a garage awaiting an expert to determine the damage done from a recovery truck, and the poor/incompetent work done by the repair garage. Essentially the repair garage were not able to fix the car although they claimed they had,and called me to say it is ready to pick up even though it was unfit for use.
I have paid €360+ to get an official diagnostic from Land Rover which shows the tracking to be completely out, a suspension strut fitted out of line, and all parts fitted under 'stress'. The garage had assured me the only problem with my car steering was electrical and it was beyond theor capability to determine where the problem was so That is the reason I took it to a LR specialist.
I have an appointment with an Advocate this wednesday, but wonder if anyone has used an equivalent french 'ombudsman' or 'Citizens advice' for such an issue?
I am not covered by my car insurance ( small print) so have to go via a self-funded route which could ultimately end up in me throwing €8k worth of car to the scrapyard....
My problem:
I have a car currently off road and stuck in a garage awaiting an expert to determine the damage done from a recovery truck, and the poor/incompetent work done by the repair garage. Essentially the repair garage were not able to fix the car although they claimed they had,and called me to say it is ready to pick up even though it was unfit for use.
I have paid €360+ to get an official diagnostic from Land Rover which shows the tracking to be completely out, a suspension strut fitted out of line, and all parts fitted under 'stress'. The garage had assured me the only problem with my car steering was electrical and it was beyond theor capability to determine where the problem was so That is the reason I took it to a LR specialist.
I have an appointment with an Advocate this wednesday, but wonder if anyone has used an equivalent french 'ombudsman' or 'Citizens advice' for such an issue?
I am not covered by my car insurance ( small print) so have to go via a self-funded route which could ultimately end up in me throwing €8k worth of car to the scrapyard....
Mar 2nd 2018, 9:03 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: Legal advice?
Do you have assurance juridique included in your household insurance? or as a standalone policy? If so, call on them, it's what it's for. If not, consider taking this insurance out.
Personally I think I'd cut my losses and spend my money on buying another car that I could start using tomorrow, rather than running up a bill with an avocat while the car stays off the road for the forseeable future. Unless this particular car is very special to you, but even then, it sounds like it's never going to be quite the same again...
Personally I think I'd cut my losses and spend my money on buying another car that I could start using tomorrow, rather than running up a bill with an avocat while the car stays off the road for the forseeable future. Unless this particular car is very special to you, but even then, it sounds like it's never going to be quite the same again...
Mar 2nd 2018, 11:04 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Re: Legal advice?
I have no wish to ever see this car again...
We already have two other cars which are 'cheap n' cheerful' to get us from a-b, and tow a trailer. This latest expensive white-elephant was bought so we had something reliable � ����, but as sods law would have it it has been nothing but trouble. €8k down the drain and thats without paying for the latest (botched) garage fees. All in all it's a money-pot that I would rather set fire to, but we are still paying off a small loan. Nightmare.
We already have two other cars which are 'cheap n' cheerful' to get us from a-b, and tow a trailer. This latest expensive white-elephant was bought so we had something reliable � ����, but as sods law would have it it has been nothing but trouble. €8k down the drain and thats without paying for the latest (botched) garage fees. All in all it's a money-pot that I would rather set fire to, but we are still paying off a small loan. Nightmare.
Mar 2nd 2018, 11:07 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 287
Re: Legal advice?
Agree with ET. The legal route will cost you in money and stress even if you 'win'.
It looks to me as if the garage has fitted the wrong strut or just fitted it the wrong way round which would cause the tracking and stress situation. Cut your losses, bring the car home, jack up the front and see what they have replaced. It is very much a DIY job but you can always get one of these mobile mechanics to come to your house. If you can pay 360 Euros for a diagnostic it should be worth another couple of hundred to sort it out.
It looks to me as if the garage has fitted the wrong strut or just fitted it the wrong way round which would cause the tracking and stress situation. Cut your losses, bring the car home, jack up the front and see what they have replaced. It is very much a DIY job but you can always get one of these mobile mechanics to come to your house. If you can pay 360 Euros for a diagnostic it should be worth another couple of hundred to sort it out.
Mar 2nd 2018, 11:26 am
#5
Just Joined
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Re: Legal advice?
No, the garage hasn't fitted the wrong strut (I am a competent DIY mechanic). They have failed to notice why the strut is out of line, and don't know how to ( don't have precise alignment) properly set up steering geometry. I've been to the LR garage and seen the work they have done from underneath, and seen how far out the tracking is according to a computer readout.
The job isn't a DIY job anymore since it has been worked on (and messed up) simply because of the damage done and because of the need to get the geometry set correctly.
It has already had a replacement drive shaft (probably damaged in fitting), a new wishbone (again probably damaged in fitting) and probably a bent/distorted engine cradle which has caused the strut to be fitted out of line.
Yes, I could get it trailered back home, and yes I could get more replacement parts then take it to a garage for the geometry. However, I need legal help as I don't want to pay the garage for appallingly shoddy work which has acheived nothing, nor pay for parts that the breakdown truck has damaged (driveshaft, cradle and suspension strut+ fixings) and I would like to claim my €350+ from the garage.
It will be painful indeed. If it looks like costing an arm and a leg I will cut my losses.
It will cost in the region of €4000 euros to get it fixed by LR, and probably half of that if I try to fix it. Notwithstanding all the other bits on the car that need doing to make it good.
Essentially I bought a duff car which has been more 'duffed up' by incompetence at every level.
The job isn't a DIY job anymore since it has been worked on (and messed up) simply because of the damage done and because of the need to get the geometry set correctly.
It has already had a replacement drive shaft (probably damaged in fitting), a new wishbone (again probably damaged in fitting) and probably a bent/distorted engine cradle which has caused the strut to be fitted out of line.
Yes, I could get it trailered back home, and yes I could get more replacement parts then take it to a garage for the geometry. However, I need legal help as I don't want to pay the garage for appallingly shoddy work which has acheived nothing, nor pay for parts that the breakdown truck has damaged (driveshaft, cradle and suspension strut+ fixings) and I would like to claim my €350+ from the garage.
It will be painful indeed. If it looks like costing an arm and a leg I will cut my losses.
It will cost in the region of €4000 euros to get it fixed by LR, and probably half of that if I try to fix it. Notwithstanding all the other bits on the car that need doing to make it good.
Essentially I bought a duff car which has been more 'duffed up' by incompetence at every level.
Last edited by Gapster; Mar 2nd 2018 at 11:31 am.
