Taxi Driver Online

The timing belt on my car (Fiat Doblo) broke on 20 Sept and caused damage to the engine. The car has been away at a main Fiat franchise garage being repaired. It was 9 days before they started work on it (owing to a dispute over the warranty), then they said it would be ready around 6 Oct, it wasn't. Then they said it would be ready the following week around 13 Oct, it wasn't. The garage told me that they had had problems with their parts ordering system but they did tell me they finally got all the parts in on Thursday (12 Oct). It's now Sunday (15 Oct) and it's still not repaired. That's a total of 25 days in the garage and 9 days beyond the time they said it would be ready. My question is this; can I recover all (or some) of my loss of earnings from the garage as a result of their long overdue repair? Have a got a leg to stand on here? I take it there's nothing to lose by writing a letter to their head office, but failing any result from that , could I take it to the small claims court? thanks in advance.

If they gave you a definite date I don't think its either fair or reasonable for you not to believe that would be the date the vehicle would be ready for use.

On that basis you may have a case, but the ONLY period you could claim any loss of earnings for would be the difference between the date they said the vehicle would definitely be ready for and the date you actually get it back.

The ground is shaky though, I don't know of anyone who has successfully received a loss of earnings payment following a repair taking so long.

If you complain to the dealers head office also complain to Fiat UK stating in both cases that the vehicle has been ridiculed within the trade quoting something along the lines of " people are saying now that FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow", and that some pi$$ taking has had an effect on you whilst you have been at work.

You may not get loss of earnings, but I think you may well get some free servicing or some extras.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Read their terms and conditions of warranty. Then take it from there. I would advise you to look up contract case law before you make any hasty decisions. Remember time is on your side.

Regards

JD

Their terms and conditions will cover them absolutely. Challenges will have been mounted before so as JD advised check to see if anyone else has been successful.

Ordinarily you wouldn't expect to argue about the terms and conditions of the written contract but its ultimate fairness.

Also major car manufacturers want their customers, especially trade customers, to be good ambassadors for their brand. If you feel or claim that their brand not fulfilling the promises made at the time of purchase, and the brand is suffering because of this problem they will look to rectify the situation and get you speaking about how good their brand is .............. because they know that if you don't their sales and reputation will ultimately suffer.


Write to the dealers head office AND to Fiat UK ................. and let the dealer know you have written to Fiat UK.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

If the car is still in warrenty then you might have some luck.

Make notes of everything the dealer told you i.e. times and dates when they said it would be sorted, then write a letter to the vehicle HQ asking for your loss of earnings.

Give them 7 days to reply, and if they don't send another letter saying you will go to the small claims court if your loss isn't settled. That court will cost you little, and it will cost the vehicle makers a large legal bill which a) he will not be able to recover, and b) could be less than your claim.

Good luck, but keep on banging on or they will forget about you.

_________________
IDFIMH

Fiat Diablo had very similar case here.got vehicle declared not of merchantable quality.Refund on itsway member had to make ONE phone call to us we collect documents.call in briefs,job done.But of course we all know your asst can do it cheaper.Or theres always DIY,member received full refund,and loss of earnings plus other xxs.Not worth £2.25p a week?
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!

_________________
The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

What a load of tosh.

The argument bears no relevance to the merchantable quality of the vehicle ................... the problem is the incompetence of the dealer garage to effect a repair within the agreed timescale.

This is the problem with unions ................ there is no information on vehicle age or mileage YET they build up a persons hope without any evidence to back up your claims.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

at the risk of repeating myself...hear hear

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Are you a Cockney version of Rab C Nesbitt ?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I had the same problem with my hyundai, when it comes to warranty work, it goes bottom of the list. What we need is a manufacturer who gives 5 yrs/unlimited milage warranties and gives you a replacment vehcile when warranty work is carried out.
Lets say the average driver does 40,000 miles a year, that's 200,000 miles over 5 yrs, i think a modern car should last this long without any major problems. If the normal service interval is 10'000 miles, drop it down to every 8000 miles for a cab.
This is one of the reasons I will never buy a new car for cabbing again, I drive a 96 omega now, starter goes wrong, £50 from a breakers and I fit it myself, less time off the road.

_________________
stressed controller!!!

It's a Scottish alcoholic with the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.social conscience?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If you read the post i said very similar.These vehicles have a reputation on occassion deserved.On such occassions its advisable to have competent support,this unfortunate is being advised about the DIY route,i am pointing out the sensible alternative currently followed by680,000 members.As always revealed HERE those SPIVS with the most too lose always lead the attack.Quickly followed by the inexperienced self taught lawyers offering well intended advice of what competence?.The message competent support is available,last year GMB London Region obtained in excess of 3 and a half MILLION pounds compensation on various issues for its members.
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE

_________________
The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Personally I think Baboons should be shot on sight.

http://www.theblackseal.org/currentissue/previews.htm

Baboons should be shot on sight in my book, the little [edited by admin]. Make no mistake, investigators camping near a pack's territory are in for a rough night. Baboons are absolutely fearless. They throw stones, brazenly break into vehicles, steal equipment of all kinds, eat rations and vigorously masturbate at every opportunity. Just like the kids of Moss Side. While they spend their lives bickering and screaming at each other, in combat they act as one. The preferred tactic is to grab a leg and snap it with their immensely powerful jaws. Once downed, the pack tear the victim to pieces. They use this tactic to kill leopards, and have been known to attack human villages in the wild.


Sound words of advice, I think you'll all agree

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

THe hammer and sycle?, stalin?, biggest mass murderer of the 20th century, proud to be accosiated with that GMB, can't beat a bit of communisum, works well all around the world.

_________________
stressed controller!!!

Come on Rambo what on earth has that to do with a drivers Fiat?and our successfully protecting our members.Lets get it straight i have never been a supporter of the Stalinists[tankies]and believe in democracy in particular the freedom of speech,which you might have noticed i make full use of.
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE

_________________
The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.