Feel really stupid, don't know where to turn

[H]

Hi

I bought an old Honda this summer to practice on and take my test on and a few days ago it developed a short in the wiring somewhere so I took it to a local garage who came highly recommended. The problem I had with it was when the indicator was on, both would light up, there were no other problems with the bike. I was quoted £20 as the mechanic thought it would be simple to fix and therefore charge me for a hours labour. Well, when I called in for it today, he had upped his fee to £40 as he said it had taken more time than he thought it would. Anyway, he goes to show me the indicators, only they were not working, neither was the break light or the horn. The only thing that worked was the front light. When I pointed this out he got really nasty with me (in front of two other customers) and told me to shut up (he actually shouted at me) I was nearly in tears so went outside to get some air. When I went back in he was fiddling with the wiring and managed to get the indicators to flash but very weakly (they were very bright before) and when he tried the horn the headlight came on which again I pointed out, more fiddling and he managed to get the headlight to work again but now the horn will not work which he blamed on my battery (which by the way is new and I have had the bike running almost every day) I asked him why, if it was the battery, was one of the indicators flashing brighter than the other (though not even fractionally as bright as when I took it in) and he just said "don't know". When I asked him about the horn he turned round to me and said "look I worked on this bike most of yesterday afternoon and I am sick of it, now just take it away and don't ever bring it back. Oh, and I will only charge you £20 because I should not have shouted at you. When I asked him for the receipt he refused. So I take the bike because I just want to get out of there and got someone to follow me home. Indicated where I should have but when I got home she said that neither were showing. So I am stuck with a bike in worse condition than when I took it to the mechanic. No horn or indicators, totally humiliated and feeling rather ripped off and verbally abused. I phoned trading standards but they said I did not have a leg to stand on as I did not get a receipt and I should go back for one and to get the bike sorted. Oh yeh right............. single female going into the place I was basically intimidated by someone who looked like he could smash bricks with his forehead to let him know what my "rights as a consumer" are.

Now I don't expect to get anywhere legally with the garage (not part of a chain) but would like to know if anyone has any ideas on what I can do. Is there anyone I can report him to as the majority of his business is cash-in-hand (I did not know before I took it there) or anything else I can do.

And please don't say "it was only £20" as I feel that is a lot of money to get the bike back in worse condition and will now have to find another garage to repair the damage he has done.

H

[Mr.Everready]

What a bastard
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[sv_cath]

Where do you live H?
If I were you I'd find a few male bikers to back me up and go back to demand your receipt. Tell him why and say that you won't take things any further if he actually fixes your bike there and then.
I know in this day and age us girlies shouldn't have to rely on men to back us up, but with neanderthals like this mechanic around sometimes you don't have a choice.
And make sure he knows you'll name and shame him - bad press travels much faster and further than good.

Good luck!

[McJamweasel]

Is there someone who can go with you back to the garage to get a receipt/get them to sort it?

Although, given what they have done it does seem like you should give that place a wide berth, cut your losses and bad mouth them to all and sundry. Come on, name names.

Also, where are you as there may be someone on the board who would be willing to come and have a look for you.

[OT]
Newbies take note: that is how to construct a post if you want good karma - one post, no ratings and already half way through her first green blob.
[/OT]
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[NickD]

If there's a lot of cash in hand work going on, you could always give the inland revenue a call. If he has casual staff, it might be worth checking with the IR and the DSS as to whether or not they are supposed to be working there. Make sure those you speak to know what this asshole's like, as reputation is very important to small businesses. Alternatively, you could pay him a return visit with some 'friends'.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[H]

Unfortunately, don't know any male bikers (wish I did LOL) I live in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. I hate to admit it but I am sitting here nearly in tears to top it all (and something I should have been highly suspicious of) is he asked me to bring the haynes manual along for it and has ruined it, someone trod on it, it's covered in black gunge and oil..... Don't get me wrong, I did not expect it to be pristine when I got it back but he could not even respect the fact it was my property he trod all over. G0d, I am soooo upset right now, feel like firebombing his garage (with him in it), if only I could get hold of some explosives......

H

[stinkwheel]

If you don't think you can get back at him legally, name and shame then. You cannot be held as liabelous from a simple statement of facts. Post the above story on every chat board you can, but include the name and address of the garage. The internet is a very powerful tool, did you happen to notice how many active members there are on this board alone?

The VAT office and the inland revenue would probably be very interested in the fact that he took a cash payment for work and refused to issue a reciept...just if you happened to want to drop him in the poo.

If you say where you are, I am sure someone can help you with your bike.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[NickD]

Don't let it upset you, the world is full of dickheads and you're bound to come across one from time to time. I'm originally from up that way (Swinton), so I may know the place. Name & shame.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[Bendy]

There are a few fairly large BCF members near Donny who I'm sure would be happy to accompany you back to the shop should the need arise.

But yes, I'd go with the name and shame, drop him in it to the Inland Revenue and get some local recommendations on places that will fix your bike properly.

[Demonic69]

Give us a shout H Could be Fun!
Stew's really local and I'm only 2 mins away if you're having problems.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[H]

I would love to name and shame but am in the unique predicament that the person who recommended him works in the unit above him and is my next door neigbour so he knows where I live and has my mobile number so I feel vunerable, geeeezzzz I sound really pathetic don't I. Feel it too. Somebody slap me please my cheeks are burning.

H

[Bendy]

Okay, leave it a few months and then report him to the Inland Revenue.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[H]

Demonic69

Are you in Doncaster then?

H

[Demonic69]

I'm just up the A1. Stew will probably know though
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Ste]

Are you after the receipt because he damaged your Haynes manual?

If you do actually feel like "if I tell anyone this happened he'll do something to me or my property then as hard as it will be, report him to the police for intimidation, would expect they'd go and inform him about what he is leaving himself open to legal and to stuf..

As said above, name and shame the garage, he sounds like a total prick and a place to avoid. You are not at all liable for telling the world what he has done.

[stinkwheel]

Sayers?
Body shop UK?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Big Pete]

you really do need to name and shame the guy, you should also tell the person that recommended him to you about his behaviour as well. You could be saving someone else from a load of grief. When your neighbour hears how the mechanic was, hes likely to be pissed of with the mechanic not you.
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Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk

[izzi81]

Wow.. and I thought I got a bit of a hard time when I went to get my fairing plastic-welded, that was nothing compared to what that guy did to you! Absolutely appalling... I'm not sure I'd care if he was recommended by people I knew, I'd still be naming + shaming. Surely whoever it was who recommended him, or knows him, didn't expect you to be treated like that?

I'd definitely get some of the guys from here to go along with you and get that receipt. You'd be doing nothing wrong by doing that, you're perfectly entitled to a receipt - it's his problem if you have to have 2-3 guys along with you to get him to give it to you!

I know exactly how you feel about being tearful and angry - I'm quite a forthright person but often end up being fairly pathetic when suddenly confronted by someone acting like that. It's only afterwards that I wish I'd been more up front with them.

Meet up with some guys from here. Get them to go with you. I'm sure you'd feel better to watch them give him a talking to
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"The problem with the French is they have no word for 'entrepreneur' " George W Bush
Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese
https://www.bikepics.com/members/izzi81

[H]

Hi Ste

No, was after the receipt to prove that he had done the work on the bike. The haynes manual just added insult to injury! Trading standards said that I should go back and ask him to repair the bike and if not write him a letter telling him that I will take the bike elsewhere and bill him for the work, but without a receipt I cannot go through the process. Would not want to return there anyway, even with a load of tough bikers, think I will cut my losses and think of something really devious (report him to the inland revenue as suggested) when all this blows over.

I really do not feel like I can name him, though I want to (really desperately) as I do not want to make a bad situation worse.

I really appreciate everyones support though.

H

[Ste]

How do you know that he didn't actually spend 2 hours on the bike? His intital estimation was incorrect I expect because what he thought was probably wrong with the bike wasn't and he was trying to find the something else. Would expect he rounded the time up a bit, but the Haynes Manual having grease on it surely confirms that it has been used rather than left in his office or at the side somewhere.

[Bendy]

Ste, I believe the point is that the bike is now in worse condition than when it went in.

[H]

Thanks Bendy

My point exactly.

Can anyone recommend a decent bike mechanic in Doncaster as I cannot ride it very far with no indicators.

H

[RiderOfTheSto...]

[Gazdaman]

Bleh, name and shame him, if not for any other reason than to save other bikers of the same problem.

I think you need to put this down to experience, you just had an unlucky choice in finding that garage. Hopefully you can just take the bike to someone else who'll fix it properly and you can go on your way.

I'd definately recommend you name and shame though. All the time you stay quiet he's still getting business, if he's so much of an a-hole then what are you worried about?

Gaz

[stinkwheel]

Ste,

He may well have done but sending a bike in with both flashers coming on at once then getting it back in an unroadworthy state with the whole electrics system tied in knots and being charged for the priveledge does not sound like work was carried out "Using reasonable skill and care." Supply of goods and Customer Services Act 1982....(you might want to use that phrase in any letters you write)
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.