Where's My Car?

[thecatsmum]

My son had some work done on his car last November and paid cash in full...it was only as he was driving away that the mechanic told him that a clip still needed replacing but that the repair was already included in the money he had paid. My son was asked to bring it back in the new year due to staff holidays, etc. He took it in 15 days ago as they already had the part in stock but is still waiting for his car to be ready for pick up. He has been fobbed off every day...'staff busy/off/on a break...and even being told 'we dont want to annoy the mechanic because he might be even slower'...and then not answering their phones at all. Son has had to return to university on the train which means that we will somehow have to get the car to him at further expense and he is having to delay interviews for placements due to all this mess....where do we go from here and where do we stand legally? thanks guys!!

[factor-fiction]

It's a shame he didn't pick it up before he went back to university. He should give a deadline and say he wants some money back if not done.

[Buenchico]

The legal route is to apply for a court order for the return of the car under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977. In practice just threatening to take legal action might do the trick:
"Sir, I demand the immediate return of my vehicle, with the repair that I have already paid for completed. Failure to return my vehicle to me forthwith will result in legal action under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, together with a claim against your company for payment of my legal costs".

Alternatively (and possibly better) simply phone your local newspaper and tell them about it. It's amazing what a bit of press coverage can do in such cases!

[thecatsmum]

Thanks for the reply factor-fiction...he did try to pick his car up before he went back to uni after being told it was ready...then he would get to the garage and 'the mechanic was unavailable, the car bumper wasn't attached, don't have manpower to complete job, it's ready/no it's not/tomorrow/today' and on it goes...

[thecatsmum]

Thanks Buenchico...last chance tomorrow and then a photograph and story will be winging its way to the local paper.