How cheeky have the garage been here???

Question

My sister-in-law's car broke down on her return from visiting us. My husband towed her back and deposited the car at the garage over the road from us. They did a brief check on it the following day and told her it would need far more money than she had for a thorough check, and far, far more money than she has for a new engine which is would more likely need. She decided to scrap it and the garage said they could do this but would she please send up the log book before they could do anything with it. They reckoned they could get her £60 for it.

She sent it up and I popped in today to see what was happening - not really expecting any money for it! Anyway, they put a new engine in it and put it on ebay. !! It didn't even make half of what they were expecting so it's now for sale in freeads.

Can they do this?? I can't decide how cheeky this is!

I was likening it to someone nicking something out of our skip and selling it - surely that's ok, to take advantage of someone's trash??

Answer 1

Mickey take are not the words i would use,Being conned is nearer.Phone trading standards see what they think.

Answer 2

I'd say it's legit.  Diagnostics alone is usually about $70 PER HOUR - and that's just to find out what's wrong.  If it's been slow at the shop there, they are paying their mechanics to sweep floors etc.  So, if they wanted to fix it up - they can do so at a much lower cost than the average person.  If they want to sell it, they can do so.  Definitely sounds legit to me ESPECIALLY since it IS clearly displayed for the general public to see - including the person who previously owned it (or at least friends/relatives).

Answer 3

they bought her broken car, fixed it, and are now reselling it? what's so shady/illegal about that?

Answer 4

I reckon it's legal. But I would avoid that garage - and when I come to scrap my car I'LL be sending the logbook off to make absolutely sure it is scrapped, I'd hate it if I saw someone driving my baby when I wanted her dead!!

Answer 5

send it into watchdog

little buggers!

Answer 6

Nothing illegal, possibly a good thing as they have "recycled" an old engine and an old car which would have gone to the scrap yard.  I suspect that if you tell all your friends what has occurred one or two may decide to avoid using this garage.

I had a similar experience but the garage never said up-front what they would do with the vehicle.

Answer 7

They can do that if your sister in law was that silly as the garage did nothing wrong.

Answer 8

Why do people always assume the worst about garages? (no, i do NOT work in a garage!)

If they - or any other garage - were to have repaired the car the labour cost along would have been at least £30 an hour and quite a few hours would have been needed.  They gave her average scrap value which at the time, was all it was really worth.  They have sourced a s/h engine and fitted it during slack periods and are now taking a justified profit. It is not sharp practice.