Advice for how to deal with garage bad service (following dreaded rectifer issue)

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Scarab9, Jan 7, 2016.

  1. Scarab9

    Scarab9 New Member

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    Hey folks,

    hoping someone or a few people can help me work out the best and fairest way to deal with some pretty dire service from a garage I've had. I'm not one to take the p*** but at the same time I don't want to get screwed over here so I'd like to approach the issue with a good idea of what is the norm (minimal dealings with mechanics up until now) - some advice from any pro mechanics would be wonderfully welcome too.

    sorry for the lengthy build up, my question is at the bottom below the stars!

    Had the recitifer blow on my VFR800 V2 (2002). I was not around much and thought it would be easier to bung it in the gararge to get repaired by a pro rather than faff around at home when I was working away quite a bit - normally I will put the effort in myself but it was bad timing. I took it to the garage and over FIVE AND A HALF WEEKS they eventually got it running. They appear to have not even started work on it until 2 weeks after they said they would, they then put in a 'cheap one we found on the internet' rectifier (certainly not what I'd have done as it's an obvious issue on VFR as can be found from the most half hearted 2 min google!) and had the generator rewound (not saying that's necessarily a bad thing but they first said they were getting a new one then when I rang to see if it had arrived they said they'd decided to get it rewound to save a bit of money...not the choice I'd have made!). this in all cost me about £350. When I picked it up I said I'd pay and take it away but that I didn't trust the 'cheap' rectifier as from my knowledge it seemed a bad idea to put anything put the best replacement in and I didn't like that they'd made the decision and also the one to rewind the generator without asking me, but that assuming it ran ok I wouldn't make an issue.

    What's more, they made no attempt at any point to contact me to update me on the status, ask if it was ok to spend the money and make decisions on parts and 'cheap' options, and I had to ring them each time to get an update. They didn't even ring me when it was completed and left it sitting there until I rang again wanting to know what was going on.

    6 weeks later the rectifier blows and has also killed off my battery. I put in a new battery, had to get recovered by RAC (thankfully covered) who helped a much more read up me test and show it was the rectifier, and got me to the garage. The dilemma was take it home, fix it myself, request money back from garage, OR as I was in the middle of moving house the last few weeks, send it back for them to do the job properly. I decided on the latter with advice from the RAC guy and a friend, rightly or wrongly who knows, but with no space to work on it except outside in the rain and being so busy and away quite a bit it seemed a good idea.

    I stated clearly when I took it in again that as well as the presumably not fit for purpose part decision I wasn't happy with the lack of communcation and that after they'd diagnosed (on the off chance it wasnt' the rectifier) that they speak to me about what to put in. This was about 20th Dec.

    Called today (moving day) and the guy said yes it's the rectifier that's gone, we're trying to find you a replacement at the moment.

    This has gone against my wishes of speaking to me about it and I pointed this out and said I'd send them a link to the one I was happy going in.

    (side note, and I'm ringing tomrorow ut may as well ask, does anyone know which is best from Electrexworld - R919 or R929? Both the same spec as far as details given and both recommended for VFR 800 '00 onwards)

    I'm going to send the link tomorrow but

    *** here's my question finally! ***

    I don't know whether to let them get it and fit it and see what invoice they give me before (assuming they try to charge me in full for the new one and some labour, having charged me already for the crap one and labour) argue the invoice then,
    or should I put in the email that I'm expecting a refund of the one that's died after 6 weeks but will pay for the new one - quoting the durability clause in the Sales of Goods act, and potentially having them refuse to do the work, meaning I need to hire a van to get the bike 35 miles to my new home before working on it myself (have a better space for working on it now) ?
     
  2. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Well, first of all. I would not let these folks put any more hands on my bike. They've done enough damage. A regulator and stator swap is an extremely EASY job.

    What exactly did you preauthorize them to do? Did you just sign off on "go ahead and install whatever"? Any reputable shop should let you know the parts they want to order before you authorize service. Close to 400 dollars US for a junk R/R and who knows what quality rewind, with turn around of 5 weeks?! That job should take all of 2 hours at most for a decent mechanic. I would try to recoup whatever money you can (shop credit for tires.. whatever).. Get the quality parts and do the job yourself.

    As for aftermarket parts, I've had good results with an Electrexworld stator. Whatever R/R you want to use, needs to be a decent MOSFET style one. I have one I ordered from Rick's Motorsport Electrics. Has well over 20K miles on it now.

    Whatever you do, you need to remove the plug between the stator and R/R and solder those wires direct.
     
  3. Scarab9

    Scarab9 New Member

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    yeah...I just can't believe it. Nothing was preauthorised other than diagnosis.

    biggest issue I have now is if I take it off them I have to get it 35miles, say £50 van hire which I'd have to pay out, with no guarantee of getting money back. Trying to work out the fastest, cheapest way of getting the right part in basicaly.
     
  4. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    Depending on the roads of the 35 miles, city vs country, You could go there with a fully charged battery, install it and ride home. Have a friend follow. If in doubt take two batteries.
     
  5. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Oh wow, is this going to be a dance. Sorry to hear this shit. SMH. I too wouldn't let them touch anything, they are lucky you don't get legal representation, they owe you now. But in that is the trick. Does one cut your losses and move on? aAt this level and by the sounds of it not atypically an easy thing to find some one else, but like V4toTour says this is a pretty easy procedure. and not that uncommon. But man sounds like you are all ready having issues, so why go back unless you have opened up new dialog that things will be different of a positive outcome in writing. Bottom line they owe you, it was their work that was incompetent. You owe them nothing. don't take the bike to them, you get them to get you at the least a new RR, but I worry in their haste the stator could be an issue as well, so while at it get them to get that new one too at there cost. just my 2 cents, or whats that in British pounds? GL.
     
  6. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    I forgot that squiggly thing he posted for the price is for pounds not euros... so he spent over 500 USD!!

    I'd also file a complaint with your local constables office... for rape.
     
  7. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Yea pretty sad state of affairs when it could have been done in not only less time, but a hell of a lot less £. I hate to read things like this, just wants me to go postal. No need for this shit.
     
  8. Scarab9

    Scarab9 New Member

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    thanks all

    I'm contacting them today and will see what their response is (in writing is the only way I'll discuss it now). Unfortunately the battery won't get me home (I know from all this that it gets me aprox halfway).

    I'm putting my grievances in the email I'm sending along with the link to the new rectifier I want putting in (or will put in myself) and essentially expect to at most pay the extra £20 for the cost of the new one over the cost of the old one - they should be able to get a refund on the original one as it wasn't fit for purpose, assuming they got it from a reputable supplier and it was a recommended part (doubtful!) but either way it's not fit for purpose so their issue not mine. The small amount of labout to fit the new one I consider them putting their mistake right and so not something to be charged.

    We'll see what they think! There'll be a complaint going to Trading Standards and whatever action required to get a refund/compensation otherwise (the cost of public transport and other difficulties from having no other transport during now something like 8 weeks is obscene too).

    Sadly it's come post xmas, post house move, so I'm broke or I'd be doing the van hire now and fitting it myself and arguing the refund later.

    Brightside is I have moved into a house with a yard I can use for working on the bike, and I started with no understanding of the charging system but now pretty much know everything to do with it from all the research so at least I'm learning.

    I'll post up to let you know how things go. Hopefully my next post will be more positive and about enjoying the bike again!
     
  9. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

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    If you paid by CC you could try disputing the charges.

    Regardless, I'd be interested to see what you authorized on the work order when you dropped the bike off the first time. I certainly wouldn't let them touch my bike a second time. I'd be running to jail break my bike from their clutches ...

    There's only two things I'll like a garage touch my bike for .... V-TEC valve clearances (at an official Honda dealership) and safety inspection. Don't wait until after to argue - get it dealt with up front. After might be too late (I would have dealt with it before even picking the bike up the first time) - if they use non-OEM parts or repair those parts, they have an obligation to tell you and give you the choice.

    I do a lot of distance riding, and I want to be confident in the work that was done, so I do it myself. :)
     
  10. vfr brian

    vfr brian New Member

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    I had a shop keep my vtr1000 superhawk for 5 months for an electrical problem, and they STILL charged me $550.00! Lesson learned, fix your own bike, and you'll always be happy with the price, plus, if the work isn't done right, you can't blame any one but yourself!
     
  11. Superskip

    Superskip New Member

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    I'd have a face to face, calmly, and try to judge their intentions - maybe they'd make it right, comping for previous charges. If they give significant attitude, then get my bike out of there never to return, lesson learned. To be followed by a claim in court.
     
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