need advice

[blue_ute]

took the car in to get a service and apparently the front springs were stuffed althrough i had not noticed any problems with driving . I let them fix it and when i finally got the car back two days later i found it makes a really loud creaking noise and it handles very bad and doesn't turn very well . They had to fit pedders springs because thats what was already their and luckly i live round the corner from pedders who gladly looked at it for me and after testing it for a while the showed me the only thing wrong was the new springs . I called the place who installed them and told them i took the car back and told them the problem they told me they would look at it and thats what they did and told me it LOOKED FINE i took the guy for a drive and he admitted it was stuffed and told me while it was wrong due to their mechanic the noise is just metal rubbing against metal and if i want it fixed i will have to go else where .

[BPXR6T]

he admitted it was stuffed and told me while it was wrong due to their mechanic the noise is just metal rubbing against metal and if i want it fixed i will have to go else where

Hope you followed that with a right hook.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

Hope you followed that with a right hook.

Then follow through with a few kicks to the head.

What’s the name of this workshop?

[Iggypoppin']

If that's how they treat you, a paying customer, more than a right hook is needed..

[blue_ute]

while i thought about hitting the guy the one who did my car was sick the next day after i told him i'd be their in the morning

[388cube_edxr8]

Mate if you take your car in and they charge you to fix a problem that wasn't there before and then actually make it worse and refuse to fix it, you have a case for a lawsuit. Since this isn't America though I would suggest some firm words to the Workshop Manager of this place indicating in no uncertain terms that you wish for him to administer himself an uppercut, and that your car will be fixed without any shadow or trace of the problem within 3 days or there will be hell to pay.

If you really want to go to town on the guy, you can claim for loss and damages resulting from the unusable state of your motor vehicle, as a direct result of his incompetence at his claimed profession and failure to meet industry standard customer service expectations.

Or just give the a right hook, as mentioned in previous posts. At least it might make you feel a little better.

[GS608]

Since the bloke is incompetent i doubt he'd fix the problem to your satisfaction, i'd take it to pedders get it fixed and get them to forward their bill to the workshop, can you even do that?

[whynot]

The suggestions for violence is illegal, silly, and just plain immature.

The best approach is to tell the business that they have one final opportunity to rectify the problem or you are instigating actions in the small claims Court.

The Small Claims process is relatively cheap and is designed to put businesses and customers on equal footing. Generally, business don’t like being dragged into Small Claims court, cause they tend to lose. Or, if they win, generally come off appearing badly.

You didn’t mention which state you live in, so, here are some web pages to
get you started.


In Queensland ....

http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/136.htm

Small Claims Tribunal

Magistrates Court - civil


If you have a dispute involving an amount up to $7,500, it may be possible to make a claim against the other party through either the Magistrates Court or the Small Claims Tribunal.

If you are owed an amount of money up to $7,500 (e.g. an IOU, a dishonoured cheque or wages), you may be able to proceed with a minor debt claim in the Magistrates Court.

The Small Claims Tribunal is sometimes called a consumers’ court because it is generally concerned with disputes between consumers and traders.

As lawyers are not permitted in the tribunal unless the claimant, respondent and the referee agree to it, the tribunal is a low cost, do-it-yourself way to resolve your dispute.

The tribunal is able to make decisions about disputes involving:

• damages to property caused by a motor vehicle
  an order under the Dividing Fences Act 1953
  the Residential Tenancies Act 1994
  an order under the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002
  an order under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 )
  applications under the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003
  a claim by a consumer against a trader
  a claim between traders.
  
  

In Victoria;

http://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/CA256DBB0...laims~&2=~&3=~

In NSW

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlin...c_money_issues

[dandandandan]

Maybe take it back to pedders and get them to write up some form of written report on whats wrong and how the previous place stuffed it up so then you have documentation.

[Papa Smurf]

One other avenue is to shame the person in the Media. Shows like Current Affair and Today Tonight LOVE this sort of thing.

As to the noise from the spring, Ford had trouble with the front springs and brought out a fix for that noise. It is called an Anti squeak insulator part number BA 5R310A 1 for each spring.

[duaned]

Did you pay via Credit Card? If so talk to your bank about a charge back. Then remove the springs and fit them around the mechanic's head!

[ltd]

First thing to do is write everything down. Dates, peoples names, everything.
If it is a ford dealer you went to first contact the CRC and inform them with the dates, names of those involved etc.
Then, approach the service manager and ask him what they are going to do about it. If he refuses bluntly then stay calm, and say fine. (Don't threaten with any other action).
Then, go to Pedders and get a quote for the repair.
Finally, attach your story with the relevant specific info to the quote and ring the CRC again. They will give you the dealer principals number, fax number and should also give you a CRC reference number.

This is a letter I wrote to a dealer principal after a car had reversed into mine, and the service manager brushed me off. Ostensibly, it is a letter of demand and as a dealer principal he needs to respond within 24 hours of receipt, otherwise his disregard would be noted in any tribunal, arbitration or court.

16th July 2007

Dear _____________,

On Monday ______________, I dropped of one of my vehicles, a ____________, registration number ______________ for the second time to repair a fault in the ___________. This vehicle remained at your premises until the morning of _____________, when I was able to pick it up. As it had been parked outside near the entrance to the workshop, the car was covered in water from the previous nights heavy rains, and was seemingly in normal order when I picked it up. However, I drove this car directly to my residence upon which I noticed with the absence of water droplets that the front had suffered impact damage. The indication for this was the fact that the number plate was badly mis-shaped, there was crazing on the paint above the number plate and the bar had been pushed back allowing the headlights to protrude from the bottom of the garnish. Furthermore, the bar on the driver’s side was hanging lower than on the left, and on inspection from your ______________ appeared to be very loose.

On my return from XXXX some ___ hours after initially picking up the vehicle I made it a priority to go back to _____ Ford and discuss the issue with the service department. At this point I was introduced to ____________. He was dismissive instantly and then blamed it all on wear and tear. He then told me that he wouldn’t paint it and there was nothing he could do. After taking some photos, _________ offered that I write him a letter. I found this a completely unsatisfactory response, especially since we had several vehicles serviced there, and indeed a significantly long history.

Incensed by the brush off, I rang Ford Customer Relationship Center in Melbourne and explained the situation to them. They advised me to send correspondence directly to you as well as speak to a panel beater and advise you of a correct appraisal of the damage. Upon completion they gave me a reference number of __________

Last week, I presented the vehicle at an NRMA recommended smash repairer, and received a quotation of $969.80 to repair the damage done to the car. I asked the repairer what had caused the damage and he said most likely a vehicle with a solid rear bar, as the impact broke the mounts for my front bumper cover necessitating its replacement. Ironically, the parts were priced from your dealership.



_________ did not dispute the fact that the vehicle was run into under your care, however his remedy seemed to be to do nothing, and chalk it up to wear and tear. Frankly, I now have a vehicle that has been meticulously maintained through _________ Ford, which has been damaged through no fault of my own other than to have it serviced at your dealership. This does not inspire any confidence, particularly since I have several vehicles serviced there, as well as having referred over a dozen of my friends to your service department.

As such, I have been advised to inform you in writing of the situation, as well as attach the quotation I received for the damage sustained to my vehicle. I await your reply.

Kind Regards,

I got a response within 5 hours and the vehicle was repaired at no cost to me.

If you want help writing it, PM me.

BTW, you should see how I get people out of their Fitness First contracts.

[Iggypoppin']

Off topic but can you PM on the fitness first thing? My mates sister is stuck and in desperate need of help. Cheers

[ltd]

Originally Posted by NJXR6

Off topic but can you PM on the fitness first thing? My mates sister is stuck and in desperate need of help. Cheers

PM sent

[blue_ute]

well the car is fixed thanks to pedders who did it first thing this morning and i'm still sorting out ford but i've lost to much time off work and as a tradie it just costs to much to wait for ford to fix

[ltd]

Originally Posted by blue_ute

well the car is fixed thanks to pedders who did it first thing this morning and i'm still sorting out ford but i've lost to much time off work and as a tradie it just costs to much to wait for ford to fix

Mate, you could try but you wouldn't have much of a claim for loss of time however, if Pedders charged you for it I would give the dealer a copy of the invoice. Again, I'd contact Ford CRC in Melbourne and inform them if not for now, but should any issue arise in the future. Get a case number and follow it up. If their lethargic approach to their customers were to come up again by someone different I should imagine that ford would make them take notice.

[bcr2734]

Originally Posted by blue_ute

well the car is fixed thanks to pedders who did it first thing this morning and i'm still sorting out ford but i've lost to much time off work and as a tradie it just costs to much to wait for ford to fix

Pedders 1 Ford 0

[BA Baracus]

If you're out money you could try calling the department of fair trading for your state (google will give you the websites and numbers). They will take some interest in the situation on your behalf and most companies will take their involvement seriously. It's a good action to take as you are then not acting alone directly with the business but you are also not diving strait in to full blown legal action, and it should only take you a phone call and/or maybe filling out an online form.

[robjh80]

"Ahhhhh .... You took your car to a Ford Dealer to get some work done on it" .... now I see the problem ... it's all so much clearer now ...

(Steps off sarcastic stool) ... Glad you got it sorted out anyway mate.

[Pinch]

Just a quick point, in NSW there is a tribunal to escalate to rather before you get to the legalistic local court (for small claims).

Its the Consumer Tenancy and Trading Tribunal and its much simpler than a court. They have a motor vehicles division that deals with claims like this.

Of course you need to give the workshop the opportunity to remedy the fault - as advised above, but if they say no again, document the conversation and call the Dept of Fair Trading on:

13 32 20

email enquiry: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ic...ntType=enquiry

[Wally]

Originally Posted by blue_ute

took the car in to get a service and apparently the front springs were stuffed althrough i had not noticed any problems with driving . I let them fix it and when i finally got the car back two days later i found it makes a really loud creaking noise and it handles very bad and doesn't turn very well . They had to fit pedders springs because thats what was already their and luckly i live round the corner from pedders who gladly looked at it for me and after testing it for a while the showed me the only thing wrong was the new springs . I called the place who installed them and told them i took the car back and told them the problem they told me they would look at it and thats what they did and told me it LOOKED FINE i took the guy for a drive and he admitted it was stuffed and told me while it was wrong due to their mechanic the noise is just metal rubbing against metal and if i want it fixed i will have to go else where .

No rubber cups fitted? Must have been a pretty old car for the springs to give up the ghost . If the car is handling poorly now, it would suggest you have the wrong spring rates fitted.

[blue_ute]

Originally Posted by Wally

No rubber cups fitted? Must have been a pretty old car for the springs to give up the ghost . If the car is handling poorly now, it would suggest you have the wrong spring rates fitted.

its a ba xr8 and after pedders fixed it ,it handles the same as it was before i took it to ford