Can i claim back fitting costs from parts company if they supplied the wrong parts ?

[Supra-Brett]

Ok, heres the story. I went to my local car parts company to get some new brake pads. Gave them all of the car details as requested, they typed it into the computer and out popped the required part No`s which the duely supplied.

 

Next i book my car in at the garage for MOT and service etc (including fitting of the brake pads). I collect the car only to be told that the pads dont fit, and an alternative pair (sent by the same car parts company i used) also dont fit. So thats 2 sets of pads from teh same company that dont fit. I am obviously charged labour by the garage for teh work that they did trying to fit the pads. The bill isnt specifically itemised, but i estimate about £15 to £20 for the labour.

 

So by this point im not happy as ive bought pads in good faith after being told they will fit, they dont fit and i am lumbered with fitting costs anyway. This must happen all the time and garages jkust pass on costs, but because i bought my own pads its easier to see the issue that it causes to the customer in terms of an increased labour bill.

 

I went back to the parts shop and obtained a refund for the pads and asked for the labour charge to be paid also (£15). They wouldent, and get this. next he says that if they did this for every part that they supplied that was incorrect they wopuld go bust. basically it happens all the time. Im now wrinting to head office.

 

Do you think i have a case ? i know its only £15 but its the principle. !!

[Gaz Walker]

You don't have a chance to be honest Brett.

 

It doesn't happen very often but mistakes happen - sometimes it is the the suppliers fault sometimes its there suppliers fault.

 

He's right in that if they covered the labour charges of incorrectly supplied parts they would go bust, there is no way enough margin in car parts to cover things like this.

 

If its a big company, they might send you a letter of apology and a discount voucher off your next purchase!

 

Regards,

 

Gaz.

[Supra-Brett]

You don't have a chance to be honest Brett.

 

It doesn't happen very often but mistakes happen - sometimes it is the the suppliers fault sometimes its there suppliers fault.

 

He's right in that if they covered the labour charges of incorrectly supplied parts they would go bust, there is no way enough margin in car parts to cover things like this.

 

If its a big company, they might send you a letter of apology and a discount voucher off your next purchase!

 

Regards,

 

Gaz.

 

Well that doesnt sound like im going to have much luck, but i just cant believe that this happens so often (according to the manager i spoke to, it happens very very frequently, and the garage who did my service confirmed this and said they just pass on the costs as its not their fault the parts were incorrect).

 

By the sounds of it, car parts suppliers are costing motorists millions each year in labor costs because their databases are incorrect.

 

Basically their mistake becomes the motorists cost, and the more i think about it the more i think it needs sorting out.

 

I will bet a thousand quid that if i go into the same shop in 6 months time with the same information, they will give me the same incorrect parts (i might try this just to make a point)

 

Im going to write off to head office anyway and if that fails im writing to watchdog as i think this is a bigger issue than anyone knows about.

 

OK rant over

 

More comments welcome.

 

Do i need to get off my high horse ? or can i stay on it until i get a refund ?

 

Rant over

[Supra-Brett]

gaz, i ve just realised your from a car parts company, and from the feedback on this forum i should have come to you first as you have an excellent reputation.