Worst customer service, EVER!

Motorcycling
1

Hi All

I just want to run the following past you guys and get your opinion, sorry it’s a bit long, but please bear with me…

My bike went in for a service with a bike shop that will not be named, as it is still ongoing. This was on the 27th July for an MOT, a timing belt change and a service. This was origonally quoted at around 450-500quid.

On the 6th August, I went to pick the bike up and was presented with a bill for 850.91 as they had to fit a new set of tyres to get it through the MOT. A bit steep I thought, but if the bike was all sorted I should have been good to go.

Went outside to start the bike and click- nothing, Battery dead. Called the guy out, and he was all apologetic and proceeded to jump start the bike. Bike started first time, but immediately smoke started pouring out of the lower fairings and the voltage was down to about 10.1 volts and not rising. I asked the guy to stop the bike and he assured me that the smoke was only excess oil coming off the exhaust down pipe. He tried to re-start it, but after 5 minutes of running about the car park, it hadn’t started and he was worn out.

He then pulls out an Escort van, pops the bonnet and connects a big pair of jump leads to the van battery. He then asks me to hold the leads on to the bike battery as the clips were too large for the terminals. As soon as I touch them to the bike - BANG and SPARKS! Even the fans ran backwards. It turns out the guy had connected the leads BACKWARDS on the van!! This blew the 40amp starter fuse and at least 2 other 5amp fuses. Even after changing out the fuses there was still no start as the ECU light was on. The guy then gave up, apologised again and wheeled it back inside with a promise that I will have the bike back by Monday at the latest.

Its now the 28th August and they STILL have my bike! It turns out the ECU has gone and will need a replacement. The shop owner is not putting his hands up to it and I have just been informed by the owner that he is waiting for the mechanic to come back on Tuesday(!) to see if HE will pay for the damages! He has even suggested that the ECU will be so much aggro that the bike will be written off!! AAAAaargh!!!

Any ideas as to what I should do? Leave the bike there and hope I don’t get presented with another enormous bill or immediately take the bike out of there and take them to court??

T.

2

Hello.

That is very poor…

I would be suprised if the owner can ‘wash their hands’ of it…if the mechanic is a direct employee and not contracted or self-employed, you (and he) would be covered by public liability insurance…if they have it.
It is not your responsibility to have to pursue the mechanic in question, as you were paying the shop for services.

HTH

:slight_smile:

3

Blimey, that’s a shed load you didn’t deserve.

Start a journal now writing down every thing you can remember with dates, times places, what was said and so on in as much detail as you can honestly remeber. Keep accurate notes in the journal of everything that occurs in the future.

Why? 'Cos your going to have to start a Small Claims Court action sooner or later if your not going to be ripped off.

(Your being ripped off anyway if they want £350 for a pair of new tyres.)

Oh, there is a “Praise or shame” thread on the Forum.

4

Oh mate sorry to hear this. I hope you come out of this ok.The garage owner sounds like a cross between Frank Spencer and Mr Bean . . .

5

Try your local trading standards too - there’s stacks of info on the main trading standards website with things to put in letters to the garage.

Good luck

6

I would ask them for the bike back, collect it and ask another shop, preferably a franchised dealer or an established, reputable specialist, to give you a full written run down on the state of the bike, work done, work still to be done and faults. Until you know that you don’t know what you need to ask for financially.

Sounds a terrible situation. Is it a Ducati ?

7

We’ve sympathised and advised. Is there any further info. on this?

8

Yes, sorry OG

I called them again, and bizarrely the bike is now fixed (!?!) Go down there the next day and the owner now puts it down to bad earths and a faulty ignition switch. Bike seems OK apart from a massive dead spot at around 8k which wasn’t there before. They have even offered to fit a PC3 to fix the dead spot (at my expense) as it has an after market exhaust on it.

In the end, I think it will be my word against theirs, I could go thru all the legal stuff but tbh I am worried that i’ll be throwing a load of good money after bad and still be left high n’ dry. I’m lookin for a PC3 or 5 on ebay as we speak and hopefully that will sort it. :cool:

T.