Topic: Advice needed .... (Read 630 times)

marowak · « **on:** Wed 03/02/10, 10:59 »

Hi Folks, I am after some advise and ideas on a situation I have got.

Last October my van went in for a new fuel sender at a local vw 'specialist' and after driving 5 miles down the road the van spluttered and died - I managed to get it working again and 10 miles down the road it happened again.

Long story - but the next day I got it towed back there and I asked the guy to fix it - he said he would charge to 'investigate' the problem - even though it was working fine before it went it.

So I got it towed away to a garage in Chichester - to a guy who is a friend of a friend of my parents.

This was Mid-October last year.

He promised he would look at it and get it fixed and now Feb 2010 and its still not fixed.

Every time I call he says he's busy or its not working etc - I have a feeling he does not really know what he's doing.

So last week I wrote a letter saying I need a definitive date on when it will be ready and spoke to him today and he said he still does not know - basically every time I call its another excuse.

I cant go there and drive it away as its still not working but I want my van back. Its been 4 months now! and there is no sign of having it back anytime soon.

So my question is 'what the hell can i do?'

Can I get citizens advise involved or should I just get it towed back to my house to be worked on etc etc etc???

I am pretty much stuck - I have a feeling the guy at the garage wont ever be able to fix it .... really dont know what to do.

Thoughts???

MarkC68 · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 11:06 »

First off, have you paid the guy to do any work yet or has he even done any work yet??

If you dont owe him a penny then you should be able to pick her up and go.

Do you know anyone with a trailer you can load up onto, give them a few quid for their time & fuel and in the meantime, gets some basic costs of a reputable specialist to have a look.

ob1 · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 11:08 »

You need to collect your van, maybe if you carnt get a trailer see if you can get it recovered on your aa or rac just tell em its broken down. If even after doing a letter to this fella he still asks you for money, ask him for an invoice n legally you have 28days in which to pay it or not,dont part with any money.
Then post on here the prob with lots of pics n im sure you could have it running.good luck.

marowak · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 11:15 »

i have not paid any money yet - he's been replacing a few parts like the fuel pump and coil - nothing too much.

the original problem was fuel starvation - I STILL BELIEVE WHEN THE VW 'SPECIALIST' PUT THE SENDER IN HE LEFT THE LABEL ON WHICH BLOCKED THE TANK.

the new mechanic has apparently corrected this so i really dont know what else he is doing. when i spoke to him earlier he said he would call me on monday (next week) with an update. so i guess at the moment i need to wait until then.

Either way its been an f***ing nightmare - mrs marowak does not want to keep the vw any more because of it all.

HermioneBay · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 11:18 »

I agree with the previous two, if I were you, I'd wait no longer, get it recovered and tell the bloke you want an onvoice detailing labour and parts and you can then consider what is reasonable payment and if he doesn't like what you're prepared to pay, tell him to go to small claims court.

Doing nothing, I fear, is going to be the worst of all options; get your van back!

MarkC68 · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 11:19 »

Give him chance to complete the work he promised by the deadline he quoted & go from there. How far away is he from you, nip round when you know he is there & have a look at his work to date.

He may have had problems with parts on back order, it may be a very reasonable reason why he's been delayed. And then again....

Once she is sorted, she'll be as good as!!

davidoft1 · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 22:30 »

i live just down the road, used to live in chichester. pm me if you like, but would be interested to know which garage in chichester. i know one specialist in the area and worked in a couple of garages in chichester. if you stuck i can take a look for you or speak to the owner if i know him:)

Fish · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 22:50 »

I know a motor lawer who is a VW enthusiast and I can get his number for you if you like... I also think i know what the problem with the van is... whoever changed the sender has left the part number sticker on it and its being sucked into the fuel line. I have see it before and ashamed to say I have done it my self in haste.

nedfaux · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed 03/02/10, 22:55 »

If you have not given him any money yet find yourself a new garage .

davidoft1 · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 20:12 »

have you got the old girl back yet

marowak · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 21:02 »

no - he 'promised' to bring me today

davidoft1 · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 21:26 »

go round and kick him in the nuts. once for every day its been late.

has he fixed it though?

marowak · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 22:26 »

i really dont know ... i have had no updates about it since before xmas when it was 'almost ready' - so god knows whats going on,.

at times i wish i were able to just pop down and drop in and chat face to face - sadly i cant get there during the working week.

BaG hEaD · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 22:29 »

Come on marowak, keep on top of him.. Call him tomorrow, say your coming to pick her up this weekend, finished or not..

Birdy · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 22:59 »

I had a similar experience with an uncle who robbed me with my Alfasud. In the end we went down there at night and stole it back from him. Oh how l laughed at him on the phone threatening me after bad mouthing him to the family.

Anyway, get a tow bar thing from Halfords, tow the bus home, and find another garage. Ask him to do an invoice and then question it and do the thing about the small claims court. As for parts, demand receipts for them.

With regards to your wife not wanting the bus back, it's not the buses fault. The innocent always fall at this stage. And once you get it up and running, all will be well again.

If l lived closer to you (London) I'd come and have a go at flushing those fuel lines out myself.

davidoft1 · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon 08/02/10, 23:24 »

if your stuck i can pop over

give me a shout.

marowak · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue 09/02/10, 10:36 »

thanks all ... what makes it worse is i dont actually have any free days at all until Sat 27th as I am away this weekend - my stag doo next weekend ...

Sat 27th is the only day until April I can do anything as I am getting married in March in Costa Rica .....

Its so annoying and David - I might get you to pop in and see what he's doing with it if you dont mind? Would really help

lmpd · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue 09/02/10, 20:32 »

a friend of mine was in a similar position, when he went to retreive it tho', the guy had replaced loads of bits with s/hand
knackered bits

pmacs49 · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue 09/02/10, 21:01 »

post his name and phone number...
and the garage and adress.
so we know who he is...

dazdub · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue 09/02/10, 21:05 »

get the van back home the garage is no good

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