Robert,
I would start by writing very detailed account, in letter form,of the
situation including all conversations you have had with the mechanic. In
your conclusion I would state, that you want the car repaired and that you
expect to hear from him within a specified time (14 days is reasonable to
me) of his receipt of the letter as to his intentions. Send the whole thing
with a return receipt (you can pay a bit extra and have it delivered
directly to him as opposed to who ever receives mail for the shop). If this
doesn't get a response I would send another letter stating that he has seven
days to respond or you will seek legal advice, if he doesn't respond either
retain an attorney or call the state department of consumer affairs. They
often will intercede on behalf of dissatisfied consumers. The key is
remaining firm and following through..The bottom line is most lawyers (I
think) will start off with the letter writting thing anyway so do that part
your self. You probably have a case of some kind. It might pay to call
your consumer affairs office to check on the laws that protect you in this
case.
Good luck
-----Original Message-----
From: robert weeks <robert@woozy.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Sunday, November 16, 1997 11:18 AM
Subject: need advice (kinda long)
>Hello listees,
>
>I have a particularly sticky problem whic I could use some advise on:
>
>A few months ago I brought my 1969 Midget to a local mechanic for a
>valve job and a new clutch. I had just moved into town and was still
>living out of boxes so I figured it would be easier to have someone
>else deal with this problem. The mechanic works only on British cars
>and came highly recommended.
>
>The original estimate was $1100 about $700 less than I had been quoted
>in NY. By the time the car came back it cost me $2400. Part of the
unexpected
>expense was all new seals on the tranny. I got the car back and the tranny
>leaked worse than ever, so back into the shop for a new rear tranny seal
>gratis. I had all new engine seals and gaskets installed at this time. All
of
>the new gaskets and seals now leak profusely.
>
>Cut to last week, I went to change the oil in the car and found that the
shop
>had left the pressure plate and spring out of the oil filter. 2000 miles
>since last oil change with pretty much no filtering mechanisim. Now the
>car burns oil and has very low oil pressure, this was not the case before
>the previously mentioned events. I've called the mechanic twice to try to
>rectify this situation and he says he is baffled as to why the filter was
put
>together like that. He says he'll think about what he is going to do about
it
>and then never calls back.
>
>Now he is telling me I had bottom end rattle when the car was originally
>brought in (not true). Do I have any legal recourse here? Everything is
>documented as far as his work and diagnosis and in his diagnosis there
>is no mention of bottom end rattle. I feel this guy owes me an engine
>rebuild. Am I just dreaming?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Robert Weeks
>Durham NC
>1969 Midget
>http://www.woozy.com/midget/
>
>
>
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