Is there a society to complain about mechanics?

Question

Just that I've been to so many garages that make things up just because I'm a woman who doesn't know about cars so I'm fed up.

I just want to go to a garage and be told what's wrong with it, and not have my life in danger because a garage makes something up. I was told by an expert who looked at my car that I needed a new clutch cable so I had a good quote from a garage, thinking that I could leave the car and come back to have it fixed, so when i got back he hadn't done the work and told me it needed a whole new clutch. I told him to forget it and I would find another garage but had to drive it with the cable nearly snapping while I found another garage.

Is there any protection against dishonest mechanics?

Answer 1

There's this new thing been set up by the motor industry called Motor Codes. Their job is to self regulate and make sure that mechanics don't rip off customers, so if you go to the website you can check if your local garage is listed and then if you aren't happy or don't think you've been treated fairly they'll sort it out. worth a look www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk

Answer 2

There are too many complaint websites to mention. A lot of car problems cannot be more than guessed at without taking things apart and that costs money whether you fix the car or not. The best thing for everybody who owns a car would be to take classes on auto mechanics. Your only real protection is knowledge.



If a damaged clutch cable was observed on your car, I don't see why they didn't just replace it- it isn't usually a hard job and I'd be surprized if any mechanic took a whole hour doing it. To say you need a new clutch sounds dodgy to me too and I'm glad you left. Before you decide that the clutch doesn't need attention though, consider the miles on it and the kind of car you have- what is the average lifespan of that's model's clutch- you need to consider that. You can tell a clutch is bad a few ways; One diagnosis is when the clutch slips- doesn't let the car accellerate along with increased engine RPM. Put the car in 4th gear and try to start off from a standstill. That should kill the engine right away. If you manage to get the car going with this, the clutch is slipping and needs to be replaced. Another diagnosis of a bad clutch is when you take off the transmission ($$$) and measure the remaining surface on the clutch. There is no other way to do that, except with Datsun F10's and SAABs. With that second method, you might as well go on and have the clutch replaced because you cannot drive the car without having it put back together ( more $$$)- go ahead and put it back together with a new and dependable clutch. But that way the bill goes up near $1000 or more. If all you need right now is a clutch cable, which might only cost you $50 and labor, you might do better to do that and see if the car drives OK before getting into heavy debt that might be well avoided for now.

Answer 3

Anna this is big problem and there is not a lot that you can do about it, unfortunately being a car mechanic is not sexy and to make matter worst there has been very little professional training for school leavers.

As a result most garages use automotive fitters who are very good at taking stuff of a car and fitting new stuff to it.

A good example of this was my daughters Corsa, she took it in for an MOT and it failed on its idle emissions. The tester told her that he suspected that there was something wrong with the valve stem seals and that it would cost about £240 to have them replaced.

When I got home I had a look at the car and found that the idle speed controller was worn out (Not a very good design), I replaced it with a part from a scrap yard £15. Gave it a good clean and took the car back for a re-test, it was the same tester again and he was surprised to see that the car was back for the re-test so soon.

Surprise, surprise the car then passed its MOT with no problem!

The only thing that I can think of is to report the garage to trading standards, they often do blind tests on garages with car that have know faults to test the garage.

Ja.

Answer 4

Last year I bought a car which had to be repaired - I outlined the work in a contract - paid £2300 only to discover later, while abroad, that the airbags were inoperative - the steering parts had not been replaced -a shock was bent - the horn developed a short - the a/c had not been repaired - the pollen filter was missing.



The garage refused to issue a receipt and work report.



About a month ago I sent a detailed dossier to Trading Standards, it took some time to discover if it had been received ant to date no reply! Looks like the only thing left is small claims court!



No Britain does NOT protect the motorist but is very quick to take his money and even crush the car if every penny has not been paid!

Answer 5

diagnosing and fixing car's is very subjective , one mechanic might think it needed a cable and the other a new clutch maybe they where just doing there best to diagnose a problem for you , the new cable may have just been adjusted all the way up and will last ya 200 mls before you will incur the expence and inconvenience of having the clutch done or maybe the mechanic you first brought the car to is just bad at his job , why do people , especially women , always think mecanics are out to rip them off , there are bad seeds in every trade or profession you could care to mention but you don't question the fella in the shop you buy an i-pod off as to his honesty or lack there of



my customers are important to me as they are to all tradesmen and for the sake of a few bob one time i would not jepordise any future work a satisfied customer might provide me nor would any sane thinking mechanic , to answer your question the way to deal with a dishonest mechanic is the same way you deal with any dishonest person report them to the revelant authority

Answer 6

Anna i have been a petrol head for probably more years than you have been around and have known many mechanics. I think that in fact there are few who intentionally try to rip off female drivers. Rip off merchants do not stay in business long and it is never in a garages' interests to rip off customers. Regular repeat customers are a garages' bread and butter. What i have found though is some mechanics take a belt and braces approach when dealing with women drivers and perhaps err on the side of caution [in the customers best interests].

Answer 7

it could be the clutch is worn, through a mechanics experience of symtoms and feel of the clutch you can tell if the cltch is worn with out it obvously slipping madly!!

why did the cable snap in the first place, experience tells me its normally due to exsess pressure exerted on the pedal , due to clutch friction plate worn and make pedal operation very heavy, even though the plate may not be slipping(yet!!)

done many a cable and told customer there clutch is worn only to find customer ignores itthinking we are pulling a fast one! and then breaks down some weeks later

Answer 8

You could try the IMI - Institute of the Motor Industry. It will depend on whether or not the garage you went to are registered with them but even if they are not the IMI might be able to suggest something.



Their website is:



http://www.motor.org.uk/

Answer 9

Why do you think he was dishonest??? Did he diagnose your problem with you standing there?? He, perhaps, took a longer, closer look to see what your actual problem was. You have said nothing about Kind of car, year, make, mileage, or country of origin. Was this mechanic used to working on ONLY your particular kind of car??? I bet you needed the whole new clutch, didn't you?

Answer 10

California does have a protection agency for you the consumer it is called the BAR= bureau of automotive repair. Contact your state personnel board and see if they have a similar bureau where you live. They look at what is fair and legally binding and have the power to impose penalties on wrong doers as in hefty fines. Good Luck

Answer 11

did you get a new clutch fitted at the 2nd garage?

Answer 12

No protection unless you can prove negligence and get trading standard on the case.

They really are not all bad and got to trust one sometime I am afraid.

Answer 13

Short answer is: not really. You can contact your local better business bureau, state attorney general. I would recommend you talk to friends and family.... see if they have a reputable mechanic that they use. Nothing speaks more than a positive reference . Good Luck!

Answer 14

go here for honest mechanics.

http://www.iatn.net/shopfinder/



In Caiifornia you contact the Bureau of Auto Repair for complaints.