my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

[MissFM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

"the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music"

but I do see what you mean - will be more careful in future:fish:

[CleverClogs]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

thanks for everyone's advice...more please!!!. This is most informative and is helping me to believe that i am correct in thinking he has "done something wrong". As for the potential criminal side of things...i agree...i'll let trading standards look into that. Its too complicated for me to know one way or the other. If its ok here is the letter i am going to write to the mechanic. Do you all think its appropriate? Cheers again.

It looks OK, but how do you know that he did fit the replacement engine? After all, you only/mainly have his word for that and you have established that he is a habitual liar. For all you know, he might just have cleaned the old engine a bit and sold the replacement.

[bluebottle]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Typical Italians.

Had it been built on a Friday?

(Sì, lo sapevo che la cinque cento ha il suo motore nella parte posteriore.)

Reminds me of some graffiti I saw on an advertising hoarding advertisement for the Fiat Strada when it was in production. The text of the advertisement read -

"The Fiat Strada. Designed by computers. Built by robots. Silenced by lasers."

After which someone had added -

"Driven by morons."

[bluebottle]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

If what the mechanic has done has put your car in a condition that it is now classed as BER (Beyond Economical Repair), that is, you are now in a worse position that you were before he got to work on it, there may be a case for questioning not only his competence, but whether he should, in fact, be carrying out repairs on motor vehicles for remuneration at all. Does this garage carry out MOT Tests? If it does, VOSA should really be informed as they oversee the MOT system and this could raise questions about MOT Tests that have been carried out there.

You will probably need to seek professional legal advice from your local Law Centre or the Community Legal Service, both of whom can offer free legal advice and/or free or very low-cost legal assistance. If your car is now only fit for dismantling for spares, I would be inclined to go after this garage for a replacement vehicle, ideally, one that this mechanic hasn't gotten his hands on.

[domcarlin]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Good thinking cleverclogs. I'll instruct the Chrysler mechanic to check the engine number (is it the VIN?) against the chassis number. How crazy would he be if he had done that! and not even changed the engine. I'll be adding that to my list of things to check! Brilliant.

[CleverClogs]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Reminds me of some graffiti I saw on an advertising hoarding advertisement for the Fiat Strada when it was in production. The text of the advertisement read -

"The Fiat Strada. Designed by computers. Built by robots. Silenced by lasers."

After which someone had added -

"Driven by morons."

[enquirer]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Tip: Always write a letter on the assumption that a judge who knows nothing will be reading it later. Thus, avoid intemperate language and lay out all the facts extremely clearly.

[MissFM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Enquirer this is exceptionally good advice and applicable to all - many thanks indeed!

[domcarlin]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Morning all

Just been dreaming overnight about my problem....

With regard to the "without prejudice, save as to costs" that a member kindly advised i head my letter with. Does anyone have any more thoughts on this? I'm thinking about the pros and cons of having this on my letter.

Pros..if i've made a boo boo in my letter it can't be used against me in a potential court settlement, i guess I've made an offer in the letter, in that if i get my car repaired and i'm happy with it, i'll settle with him just paying the repair bills. If any complications then arise i may be a bit stuffed as he would be able to use my letter against me and say "hey...hold on he agreed to this and that and i have proof"...

Cons...i would LOVE to able to use this letter in a potential court case...in the unlikely event it should arise. Reason being...if he responds to it, and does not argue the fact that i have said he lied to me...i believe this will stand me in good stead later down the line. If i head the letter as advised i won't be able to do this.

Problem i have is this...with regard to him lying about taking the car to the specialist...i have physical evidence (phone calls made and received at the times I've said, for arranging appointments etc...times and dates (no content) and eye witnesses who saw me drop off the car on the morning it went for its phantom service (his assistant and another colleague) and pick up the car (my girlfriend) and photos of my milometer (dated and timed before and after the phantom service)...BUT...i'm thinking he could just turn around and lie again and say "i never agreed to take it to the specialist in the first place, he was just bringing it to me for another repair attempt". I know i'm probably being paranoid but i do think he is a bit crazy and there is a small chance he may do this. Anyway...that's the big reason i'm thinking i SHOULDN'T put "without prejudice" on my letter. Any acknowledgement of my letter without a denial of his lies would mean i have evidence that he has in fact lied to me.

Apologies if you think i'm over-complicating things or verging on paranoia but i do want to make the right decision on this. The letter is being posted tomorrow morning...recorded delivery. Help please.

[MissFM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Can't help. sorry - but maybe someone here could explain in easy-to-understand terms what the advantage (to the OP) would be in putting "without p. save as to c." - it's really hard to understand. To the layman (such as myself!) it just looks as if the evidence would then not be able to be produced in court until after the judgment - please correct???

[enquirer]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Without prejudice is really intended for negotiations. As this has been going on for some time without any result, you have reached the stage of a demand.

Giving a clear timeline, state the facts of the matter in detail and indicate what you expect to be done, or will yourself do, about it. Give a short, but reasonable deadline for his reply, and sit back.

Head the letter 'Letter before Action'.

[PlanB]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Following our conversation on the morning of 05/01/2013 in which you openly admitted lying to me about work which you said was carried out on my car by Chrysler of Preston, but which in fact wasn’t, I have sought advice on how best to proceed. . . . .


. . . . . .I intend to take the car to Chrysler of Preston (Riversway Motor Park, Admirals Way, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 2TY) for the repair work to be done. I am aware that I am under a legal duty to keep my claim as a small as is reasonably possible. As a result I invite you to forward to me the details of any work you say you have already carried out on the car.

I liked your original letter in post # 28 where you set out what the garage did wrong (failed to repair your car for which you paid £x), what you expect it to do about it (refund the money you've paid him and pay for the remedial work you intend to have done elsewhere), and what will happen if he doesn't (you'll seek further legal advice - although I'd be inclined to go to the next level and say you'll issue legal proceedings against him if you can't reach agreement by a specific date).

I think you'll be on stronger ground if you find out first what is actually wrong with the car and what it'll cost to put it right and present him with the facts. Can you get a written estimate from the Chrysler dealer detailing this. Send that together with your letter which you could head 'Letter of Claim' (or Letter Before Action). Also attach a diary of events listing the dates you took the car back and what happened each time including the photos you have of the speedometer etc.

I've noticed that he said that he took your car to Chrysler of Preston and you intend to do take it to Chrysler of Preston. Would it be the same one? In which case they'll be able to support your evidence that he lied, by his own admission, when he said he took it there if they can deny this which is better than referring to an unrecorded or witnessed conversation which could be dismissed as 'hearsay' .

One last thought. Did you pay for the original repair with cash or by credit card? Because if it was the latter then under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you may be able to involve the credit card provider in your claim which could help. Read this:

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.u...itcards-31.htm

[IanM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Others have already said most of what i would have said if i was on earlier but i still have a couple of questions:,

What make is the car and what year?

When the warning light comes on does anything on the car not work?

Which 2 extra parts did he fit and for what reason?(he must have thought these parts would have sorted the problem so must know what he thought was wrong)

[Edit], okay, 3 questions.....
[2nd Edit], okay, 5 if we're being picky....

Hello all...

just looking for opinions/advice on what action is correct to take in my circumstances. In August i had a replacement engine put in my car (it was second hand). Parts and labor were paid for and the mechanic returned the car stating it was running perfectly. He informed me "he would not guarantee the engine BUT would put right any fault caused by his workmanship, should any arise, at no cost to me". Within 1-2 days the engine warning light came on for the first of many times. Each time i return the car he says he has done work on it and when i pick it up the warning light has gone off (as a note it is possible to simply switch the light off without doing any work on the vehicle). Inevitably within 1-2 days the light comes on again and the car goes back to him when i am next off work. The car has been returned to him between 10-15 times and he has been unable to find the problem that is causing the light to continuously come on. Since the initial payment for the work carried out he has fitted 2 more parts at a cost of £160...none of which made any difference. In December he finally admitted he was struggling and agreed to have the car seen to by a specialist garage. He phoned me in December telling me the appointment was on 04/01/13. During conversations about the appointment i became slightly suspicious that something wasn't right about what he was telling me (he didn't seem to know the location of the garage yet he was a local man...i'm not a mechanic...but i knew where he was saying he was going to take the car). The specialist garage is a little under 12 miles from his garage in terms of a return journey. When i dropped the car off to him on 04/01 in the morning i recorded the mileage on my car. I left it with him and he phoned me later that day to say the car was back and the issue was still unresolved. The following day i went to collect my car and had an in depth conversation with him about what the mechanic at the specialist garage had done, said and recommended. The conversation lasted 5-10 minutes and ended with an apology from him saying he was doing everything he could to fix the problem and that he felt terrible that i had to keep coming back. I took my keys after agreeing a further appointment at a larger specialist garage. On returning to my car i noted the milometer again. It hadn't moved. (no...the car wasn't taken on a pick-up...it is perfectly drivable). I immediately re-entered the garage and asked him for the phone number of the specialist garage...the name of the mechanic...and a copy of the report they produced. After some walking back and forward and playing with his mouse pretending to look up something on his computer he openly admitted he had lied to me and that the car had not gone to the garage at all...he said he had been too busy. I took my keys and told hime he would be hearing from me. I have subsequently found out that he wasn't "too busy"...and that an appointment had never been made in the first place. He has therefore lied to me in December when he told me about the appointment...lied to me about a service that he said was carried out and wasn't...and in admitting to this lie...has lied about the reason he didn't take it.

I am in the process of trawling the internet to find out the correct process i should follow to sort this out. I believe he has breached the contract he entered into with me when he did work on my car. I have quite understandably lost all faith and trust in a) him and b) his ability to fix my car. Any advice on where i stand and especially on what my next move should be would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read my tale of woe.

Dom

[MissFM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

but still hard to understand how it helps the OP

[IanM]

Re: my mechanic admitted lying to me...to my face

Hi MissFM, my brother is a mechanic and i could have asked him for some advice on why the warning light keeps coming on and what the problem may be, and whether the car is screwed or not, can't get an accurate answer from him without the facts.

but still hard to understand how it helps the OP