Advice Needed

[BERTMAN 40 1 Cars]

My sister recently had a breakdown in her in her 2007 Seat Leon FR. It turned out that a cambelt tensioner bolt had snapped rendering basically a full engine rebuild and a new head. Thing is though that the car had only recently (were talking weeks) had a new cambelt fitted by the main dealer. At over £400 i might add!

 

The car was towed to Seat, and they told her that it will cost over £4000 to fix. Luckily my sister kicked up a fuss and they have reduced that to £1300, claiming that all she has to pay for is parts. This to me is still ridiculously expensive and i think that as they have already knocked almost £3000 off the price they know they are in the wrong. The tensioner bolt was clearly over tightened, otherwise it wouldn't have snapped so i think this work should be carried out for free.

 

Am i right in thinking this? and how can i (if its possible) go about making sure my sister doesn't pay a penny?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Try your best to negotiate with the dealer. If they will not budge then involve trading standards who will take on your case.

[BERTMAN 40 1 Cars]

is that all that can be done then? I only ever hear bad things about trading standards and how slow and painful the process can be with them

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If you cannot come to a negotiated agreement between yourself and the dealer, then you need a third party to arbitrate, this is trading standards. It sounds to me like you've a reasonable case.

The only other thing I can think of is to write a letter to SEAT UK head office, however they will most likely side with the dealer I would have thought.

[Richie 32]

I'd be phoning trading standards.

[johno_78 2]

I had a flywheel fail on my van within 4 months of having a brand new one fitted. The garage replaced this faulty one with a new one and billed the parts company for their labour instead of me.

 

Either the parts were at fault, as what happened with my example, and Seat can charge the manufacturer, or the work Seat crried out wasn't fit for purpose and they should cover the damages.

 

(This is all my opinion and i have no legal training)

[Bogsye 22]

Did she pay by credit card? Might be some comeback using the card issuer?

 

Brian

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

Keep screaming and refusing to pay a penny. I have worked in the dealer network for a looong time and this works normally with customers.

 

A letter to the DP or whoever's name above the door works well.