Law on getting car back from mechanic

[whiskeysheri]

My friend's car has been in with a mechanic for over a month now. It wasn't starting, they told her what the problem was and gave her a quote. Now, she's phoning them daily and being fobbed off every time- being told it won't start again now! Where does she stand with this? She relies on her car for her work, but is worried about losing it with them, as they, effectively, "hold the cards" and are pretty free to up the bill, as they wish.

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[boxtops]

Inform Trading Standards - or, tell the mechanic that if she doesn't get it back, fixed, in a week, that's what she'll do.

[jaycee401]

My son in law runs a car repair garage in a workshop which is owned by Mr A. Mr A leases one half of the building to Mr B who runs a car valeting business. My son in law had a lease for the first year of him running his business. But mr A has not renewed the lease. My son in law pays his rent each month to Mr B and obtains a receipt. something seems a bit fishy to me, I didnt realise he paid his rent to Mr B and not Mr A. Also is it not illegal that my son in law has no lease. My son in law has been there since August 2010.

[jaycee401]

oops posted in the wrong bit - sorry!!!

[d9f1c7]

Go there pay what is reasonably owed and take the car away. I don't see any difficulty here. Is there some sort of dispute? Need the full story really.

[tonywiltshire]

If the trader has not started work in a reasonable time or finished in a reasonable time you can make “time being of the essence”, what is reasonable depends on the circumstances, the conditions in the trade concerned or circumstances outside the trader’s control.
I would suggest you write to the trader, keeping a copy, stating you are relying on the original estimate of £? and wish to have the car returned by ? time being of the essence.