advice required on dealing with dodgy garage

[purpaboo]

Hi

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I've occasionally been looking but haven't signed up til now.

Got my motor back from the MOT station today. It needed a few small things done - bulbs, a tyre and the handbrake adjusted.

This evening I noticed that the seatbelt presenters had been changed from the lovely hard plastic "RS" ones for broken cheapo soft plastic ones.

I'm planning to confront the manager tomorrow. Anyone got any tips about how to do this nicely, and succesfully? I'm not normally confrontational but this is taking the ****.

I'd prefer to have this resolved without involving the police but have no reservations about calling them if that's what it will take.

Garage managers (I know there's a few on here). How would you resolve this if one of your valued customer's had such a complaint?

Punters, what would you do if your garage stole rare parts from your prized motor?

TIA

Pete

 

[jberks]

Nightmare - but try proving it! I can't see the police being willing or able to do anything for you.

My dad's car went to a garage. When it came back, the stereo (factory fit) was completely shot. I am pretty sure that one of the mechanics figured it was a trade motor and switched his own duff stereo for my Dad's figuring no one would know the difference.

My Dad's approach was to ask for 'the stereo to be looked at' - with the necessary inference between the lines but without actually acusing anyone. It was subsequently 'repaired' (I believe he got his old one back).

If you go in all guns blazing, they have to deny it to protect themselves - otherwise they'd be admitting to dishonesty and no firm can do that. If you suggest that 'they mistakenly replaced these items and you would like the old ones refitting' you may get further! - Just don't box them into a corner, give them somewhere to go.

 

[Apial]

The ends of the seat belt presenters should be soft plastic/synthetic rubber. They always wear first preventing wear on the seat belt webbing itself, and they also bend rather than snap should they get bumped into.

The presenter ends are far from rare, and cost about £5 each from your MB dealer.

What are these hard plastic RS things you are mention? Some sort of after market kit?

 

[Blobcat]

My dad's car went to a garage. When it came back, the stereo (factory fit) was completely shot. I am pretty sure that one of the mechanics figured it was a trade motor and switched his own duff stereo for my Dad's figuring no one would know the difference.

We had 3 police Rover 827's go to a main rover dealer for some warranty work, when they came back non of the police radio's worked. On investigation the garage had taken out all the door speakers. They obviously thought that as there was no radio fitted the speakers were not used. They didn't know that they were wired to the Police radio. Took the 3 cars back and as if by magic the speakers reappeared. Didn't have to say very much at all.