Deserves what's coming to him.

The original deal was £30 max which could be his word against yours but listening to this he's not doing himself any favours.

He's basically threatening you.

Keep at it!

That audio really wound me up, it takes 30 minutes to diagnose a fault like yours from trying the basics to plugging in. He owes a duty of care as a person pertaining to be a professional auto electrician, he's not used professional judgement or even rectified the fault. He'll fall down massively in a small claims court. I hope watchdog pick him up!

I had the same fault on mine, fixed for 450 by jbt. He's not even charging a fair rate. How did you not loose your temper??

ive pm'd you

This is outrageous, you've got to fight this all the way fella - this is your hard earned cash.

I will, I'm not going to let this drop.
Thank you for your support and I will keep this updated.

Looks like I will be doing the cam sensor by myself so will do a progress thread too

You are aware that the cam sensor replacement involves removing the cambelt and requires a couple of special tools?

Listening to him instantly wound me up! Fight this HARD all the way. Anyone with a brain cell can see and hear he's in the wrong so don't stop till you get the result you deserve. Bloke sounds like a complete and utter moron!

Oh and every time he says "Part payment bill" I feel my fist clenching a little more and more...you did well!

I'm going to order a new belt and cam lock tools and the idler and tensioner were new 10k ago but if I can afford it or strike a deal I will get them too.
But as you know my money's tight at the moment.
Don't been know if I can afford rent because of this guy!
I'm so ####ed off its unbelievable and I want to make him pay.

You had a contract with the garage which he obviously broke, indeed it would appear from what has been said never intended to be bound by it, you had no agreement to £580+. The agreement (which you both agreed on) was £30 (it seems from what you have said) and no more for the work, £30 from you in return he agreed to carry out some work on your car ie a diagnostic check etc.

You do/did not have to pay further and from the facts did not agree to any further work to be done.

Now the wonder of the law, instructing a solicitor at £200 an hour etc may be prohibitive for a £580 claim, a letter from them may work and be cheaper, he may pay, I doubt it.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/going-to-court

You can self rep at court, a hearing may not even be needed once you serve the application on notice......good luck.

Would it best to take him to court before or after trading standards?

Thank you

never good when things like this happen, i feel for you mate.

i didnt really hear anything incriminating on the audio tbh.

i expect this will rest on evidence that the initial agreement was to limit the bill at £30 just for diagnostics.

the audio simply confirms that they assert that you have only paid part of the bill despite the release of the car.

there is nothing in the audio that confirms that they will not pursue the rest of the bill, although at one point he does use the work 'warn' which he corrects to 'tell' which may suggest the pursual of the full bill is subject to you dropping any action that you may have suggested. None of this is on the audio though.

i would seek to assert the original position, that the car was provided just to seek an initial diagnostic and that subsequent work was not authorised. begin to document times, dates, calls / conversations detailing everything.

best of luck mate.

A friend of mine popped into the garage to enquire their services and was rudely told where to go for snooping.
Think the owners loosing the plot.

I know it's too late now but we should always get a personal recommendation for garage work from someone we know and/or trust. I understand that sometimes we have not the time and we have to resort to Yellow Pages, etc. but I cannot remember the last time I commisioned work to be done by someone I din't know or had had a positive recommendation from.
Where are you at now in the proceedings?

There are always recommendations available on here, and many people travel a long way to take advantage of them eg

here and of course FCSS

also

Coupe friendly Garages

I don't have a working laptop at home so I'm going into work tomorrow to write up the letter requesting my money back or legal action will be taken.

Plus with the car not running and only a simple diag requested I doubted I would be ripped off I thought the worse outcome would be nothing found and still have to pay the £30

Still cannot believe this guy - 'have now listened to the audio.
Are you sure you can't get hold of 3 mates from your local rugby club, to have a little chat with him?

Good luck!

I have been broken into and my two mountain bikes work £4000 been taken and the made up invoice hand delivered on the sake day!

Coincidence?

Police, fingerprints?

Are you insured?

Police have been coming again tomorrow. Not insured as was planning to move it all to a lock up when the car was working. Dammit.

Contents insurance now done. Hope the police get and or find my bikes as their not normal bikes.

If this bloke is as bent/crazy as described by you and the other complainants on that review site, then no coincidence at all IMO.
There again, 2 bikes worth £4k? There are plenty of desperate cyclists out there who may know what you ride and where you live.

The bikes haven't moved since oct 2013 and there are no windows in the garage and the theft was too violent to be a normal thief

http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2014/02/bikes-worth-4000-stolen-lincoln-home/

Police are looking into my speculation of the garage.

Is this the place?

http://www.yell.com/biz/vehicle-electrix-1025052/

Yes