Two weeks ago my car went to the garage to have the bumper repaired after someone hit me from behind. This was paid for by that person.
When we picked up my car they told me there was a problem with the driver's window which wouldn't go up. I stupidly told them it had happened once before about six months previously. After leaving the garage, the window spent the next few days constantly going down and being very difficult to go up.
The original accident repair wasn't done properly and we had to take it back and I asked them to look at the window whilst it was there. I was told that it was a module on the window motor and as my car is a Chevrolet, it would costs a total of £320 to fix. I had no option but to have it done and we have a courtesy car whilst it is being done.
Yesterday we found that a headlight bulb on the courtesy car wasn't working so called into the garage to get it changed. When I drove into the garage I saw my car on the forecourt with the passenger window half down. I used my key to close it and I complained to the garage that the window was left down and said that in view of the fact that they had left it down, I thought it possible that they did that when they originally had the car and that might have caused the window electrics to fail. They disputed this and said water does get into car doors and there are drain holes in the bottom for it to drain away.
Is it acceptable to leave a car with the window down - they subsequently told me that it is in case the car is locked and they can't get into it.
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Comments
you should have done the window yourself
parts are very cheap ur paying labour to strip the door panels off
when u get it back check all the inside door panels and pieces are all nicely fitted back as a lot of the old fixing clips break getting the panels off
All the doors were locked but the window was left open. Why bother to lock the doors and leave a window open. I'm sure that as I am a woman they think they can say anything and because I know nothing about cars they will get away with it.
They told me that they leave cars outside on the forecourt locked, but with a window down in case they can't get into them. What's the point of locking the car but leaving the window down, might just as well leave it unlocked.
Does anyone think this is an acceptable practice for a garage? I was going to warn others on their Facebook page but would this leave me open to action from the garage?
As long as what you post is what they say they do with vehicles in their care I think you can tell the world what they do.
The customer is king, I'd go elsewhere.
PS Don't put anything on FB. Most recommendations are word of mouth, in this case there won't be any.
The insurance bit may not be a huge worry - if something had happened to your property whilst under their responsibility, I'd presume their business insurance would cover it. (Albeit, I dare say they'd still have to lie - but at least it would be them committing fraud and not you.)
As far as leaving feedback on facebook; I doubt you have anything to worry about. It's not libelous as it's a true and accurate account of your actions, I would hazard a guess that it's no more legally questionable than posting a review on Amazon.
However, I don't see what you can do other than not use them again.
My window did go down by itself once, about six months ago, but hadn't done it again until we went to pick the car up after the first (botched) repair. Seems very strange that it should do it again after they had it in their 'care' for three days.
They are adamant that water can't have got into this module, as it is a sealed unit and that as I had the problem once before it was in the car's system and they can't be blamed for it.
After giving him a good earful about his assumptions about our relative abilities, I said "why not just test my understanding?" at which point it became apparent HE didn't understand!! Stood my ground until somebody came from the workshop to explain to my satisfaction. Some will say anything to fob you off for their inefficiency (a bit like someone else we all know...)
You are the customer (& evidently not a fan!). Your requirement for your car to be locked, with the windows closed when they were not working on it was perfectly reasonable.
There must be someone in a superior position you can complain to - is it a dealership? Does it have AA or RAC rating? If so, they would surely follow this up.
Edited to add: Have you checked to make sure the drain holes at the bottom of your doors are not blocked with debris. (The garage should have done this but worth a couple of minutes on your hands and knees to double check.) honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=102707
Once you've composed the email, it is little extra effort to send also to Trading Standards, even if it does turn out to fall outside their remit. If they get more than one customer making similar complaints, they may do something. At the very least, they should offer you other suggestions of to whom to take your complaint.
Another issue which would have annoyed me is that, in the high humidity weather we have been having, leaving the window open means the upholstery will have got damp, making the problem of the car "misting up" inside worse on cold days. (Cheeky suggestion - If this is an issue, maybe THE GARAGE should pay the cost of hiring a dehumidifier?! Some hope!)
The boss should have a safe or locked cabinet for keys and I imagine the only reason he doesn't is he doesn't want his staff bothering him for them. Which is shit.
Who was it you used? ME14 I assume is your postcode which is fairly local to me I know plenty of people to take proper care of your car in future if you like
Haven't checked the drain holes yet but will do so when I can.
I will also contact Trust my Car and Trading standards.