GARAGE IDIOT

[Burnside]

As the title says my paitence and my sanity have been tested with the idiot who has fitted a exhaust back box to my sisters 1999 T reg Fiat bravo 1.6 100 16V HLX. It was fitted a month ago an when i saw it i knew stright away it was the wrong one as 1] It doesn't line up with the cut out for the back bumper instead it's seated to the right which has melted the bumper slightly 2] The tailpipe on the orignal tailpipe is flaired towards the floor where as the one he has fitted is just a stright pipe. Now im 99 % certain he has fitted a back box for a brava not a bravo. He is adament it's the same one as the one he has removed and all he kept saying was he's paid for it and that he can't send it back. My thoughts are this 1] BOLLOCKS. 2] TOUGH SHIT. So im taking the car back to him saturday for him to look at and im pretty sure this will achive sweet FA. I know what id like to do with the exhaust i.e stick it where it won't shine. But knowing my luck id been getting to know the local police station cell if i did. So any idea's what i should do and how am i gunna get this prat to see the light and realise he's wrong and get it sorted with out me losing my temper which im strugling with as i type this post. Thanks.

[chaseracer]

Don't get mad, get awkward

 

Have a hunt around on this site http://www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk/exhau ... cordID=531 (or similar) to get the catalogue numbers for the relevant parts, so you can have a 'chat' with matey from a position of more strength.

 

[aled]

came accross something like this before with a neighbour, if he said he fitted the correct part tell him then that it must be fitted incorrectly because it has caused damage to your rear bumper and that you want that replaced and you are going to trading standards to see where you stand. i think you will find he will quickly become more helpfull and sort it out.

[outlaw118]

Isn't there a "good garages code" or summat, is he a member of that? A sly threat to contact them might do the trick. If not as aled said, trading standards are worth a bash.

[Steve_RS]

Definately. And the (unwritten) business code of practice is that the customer is ALWAYS right. If he'd done a good job, there'd be no need to complain. If you're up for something funny as well as effective.... A long shot, but take a friend dressed in a shirt/tie, with a camera and a briefcase or posh leather covered notepad etc... Get your friend to write down everything that is said and take photos of your car, the exhaust man, and the premises of the exhaust place. Explain to the exhaust man that your friend is an apprentice Trading Standards officer. The exhaust man will more than likely be a shade more polite and a tad more helpful.Be one to tell the grandkids if it works... lol

[Father Ted]

Or... Get mate with dirty mac and BFO camera to go and take some pictures of garage, when bloke says WTF are you doing, Macintosh wearer says investigating a story on roue traders they are doing for the [insert name of local rag] following complaint about incorrect exhaust parts being fitted and causing damage to a car... The Macintosh wearer asks for a quote and also if they fit any other incorrect parts to cars to save money?

[Burnside]

Thanks all for the comments and advice. Have printed some pages from an exhaust book thanks to my local fiat dealer. So will do battle with the idiot tomorrow morning. I fear the worse but hopefully i can keep a cool head! And he will be a decent enough bloke to admit he's cocked up. Am i that lucky? We shall see. Fingers crossed. I let you know tomorrow all being well.

[Gompo]

..Good luck, let us know how you get on with it.

[Burnside]

Thanks gompo. I have good news! Hopefully all being well the exhaust back box should be replaced monday with the correct one. Pulled up this morning and he came over had a look, then had a moan saying how he fitted the same one as he took off. I said that i've checked with the fiat dealer and compared it with handly another 1.6 bravo i spotted for sale and that it was without doubt the wrong one and that it was with out me pointing out the blatent fact the it was coming out the wrong angle and had melted the bumper slightly as mentioned already. He couldn't argue with that an just said; i suppose you want me to replace it then. Honestly my thought was, no shit sherlock. So i said well yes so he got on the phone and i still had to correct him cause he asked for a brava one! Prat. Then after he moaned how he couldn't now return it and that he was out of pocket. I just said it wasn't my fault you ordered the wrong one. He just went quite. So this should be the end of this saga. We shall see. Thanks again for everbodys advice.

[Gompo]

Good effort mate - what was the garage's name?