a a bad start to the holidays

[wadzy6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wadzy6]

yesterday morning i went to bhss tbs to get my steering problem fixed (wouldnt go back to center), handed over a few hunge in teh arvo and drove home. 200m from my drive way the front went to the right and the ball joint fell off and gouged out my rim. my cv shafted was ripped from the diff and the car was in the middle of the road untill i could get a tow truck to come and thats my holidays and several 4x4 trips that i cant go on untill they open in the new year and hopefully compensate me or fix everything for free and do it good this time. so muchfor steering and brake specialists

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Bugger!!... I'd be getting it checked by someone else once they've fixed up their mistakes!!

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Bugger!!! Hope they come to the party with fixing the stuff up...

[wadzy6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wadzy6]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

as im only 19 im not to sure what to do, should i contact office of fair trading etc etc

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

as im only 19 im not to sure what to do, should i contact office of fair trading etc etc

An option would be to contact the ombudsman for consumer and buniness affairs/fair trading, even if only to ask them for advise on how to proceed. They will probably inform you to let them know if you have any issues getting the company to repair the damage to your vehicle (at no expence to you) or if they refuse... In which case they would get involved...

From what I understand, the repairer is on christmas break? And so far you haven't been able to get in contact with them regarding the issue?

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Make sure you document everything (photo's too), even the towing company, stating time/date etc.. to show it was not long after you picked it up.
Talk to them, give them an opportunity to rectify the issue and replace broken bits. Do not start off 'going off' at them, but if they look like giving you the run around, kindly inform them Office of Fair trading will be contacted if you are not satisfied.

Just remember, keep a cool, calm head about it all....

Good luck mate, shame about the timing...

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Hi Wadzy. I hear your pain. I was once given some really good advise regarding these matters and it has served me well. It goes"Be nice, Be nice, Be nice" when dealing with people who owe you money or service. Take a savvy adult with you when going back to see them (and not a wise guy). Whatever you do, don't do your bun. They will clam up so quick and from then on - litigation (read - everyone loses). Stand your ground firmly but be nice. It is damn hard for a service provider to do the dirt on a person who is being nice and reasonable to them. After the job has been completed to a good standard and you have the keys in your hand, go for the jugular. Cheers, Derb.

[wadzy6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wadzy6]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

thanks guys
today i went passed the shop while on my smoko break and noticed they were open so i popped in and saw the guy who told me my car was safe, i told him my car is stuffed and i wasnt happy with what they initally did. i showed him a picture of the balljoint and cv shaft. he said they checked everything to do with the steering. that says to me they are taking liability. he has organisez for a truck to pick my car up from mine and take it to their shop between chrissy and new years to look at it

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Hi Wadzy,

Playing Devils Advocate here ... hopefully so your fully up to speed on possible outcomes.

You said the ball joint fell off and that in turn caused the CV joint and shaft to part company with the diff.

What did the company actually work on ? I'm thinking if they only worked on your steering rack they may say they did not touch the ball joint etc
So may I ask who diagnosed the initial fault and if its the same company thats good for you if not it will make it harder I believe to get them to take responsibility.

What I mean is if you went in and said "I want my steering rack repaired/rebuilt" they may try and use that as an out.
That said if its the company I have dealt with in the past (long distant past at that) I think they will step up and do the right thing.

Lee

[wadzy6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wadzy6]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

all i said to them about fixing it was, my steering does not return to center and it feels loose and jolts at every bump. they called me the next day and said my bushes on the steering rack are worn etc etc, and said that replacing all that will fix it.

[Seththecursed Member Find all posts View Profile Close Seththecursed]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

I will take a stab in the dark and say it wasn't your rack bushes but your ball joint causing the problem :roll: . The ball joint must have been in a bad way to fail like that so their is no excuse for them missing it.

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

I will take a stab in the dark and say it wasn't your rack bushes but your ball joint causing the problem :roll: . The ball joint must have been in a bad way to fail like that so their is no excuse for them missing it.

Totally agree , in saying this I would imagine they will try to hit you for parts and some labour , don't pay any more for labour and only offer to pay for the ball joint and for them to replace all the other damaged parts at there cost , as it sounds like you would have been up for the cost of the ball joint if THEY had of replaced it in the begining .

[wadzy6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wadzy6]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

good news, got the ball joints replaced, i had to pay for them tho. but they did labour, towing and putting the cv back on with new boot free of charge and my car is back to being what she should be like

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: a a bad start to the holidays

Great news

I think they have jacked it up and its hit full articulation and damaging the last of the steel holding it in. They have done the rack and then put it down again without checking.