Bodyshop employee caught ragging my fiancee's car

[paulfurn]

WARNING - long post!

 

Hi all,

 

Bit of a weird situation here. Last week my fiancee had a new Veilside bumper put on her FTO, it lasted one day before some cnut whacked it whilst it was parked in a Somerfield car park, splitting it pretty badly. No CCTV, no comeback, no note so that was a bit of a bad start. Anyway, she took it back to the place who had fitted and sprayed the bumper a day before and they said they could repair it. She agreed to leave it with them whilst we were away as the guy seems trustworthy, and he advised he would have it done by the time we got back.

 

We went abroad the next day and returned home a week later.

 

She went to pick the car up on the day we returned. When she arrived the car was gone, and she asked where it was. The owner advised that he had had to take the car home every day as recently their had been damage done to cars left in the yard by vandals (this was later confirmed by the police). As such he wanted it to be safe (fair enough) and to leave her with a full tank of juice before she picked it up, and had sent an employee out to get it for her. We are willing, reluctantly, to give him the benefit of the doubt here.

 

Anyway, there she is waiting for it to return when she hears a loud roar, screeching of tyres and see's every car owners worst nightmare - it was her car being driven by some 18 year old spotty fucking oik who had gone in it to get petrol. He roared up, out of control round the corner, and slammed on obviously not realising who's car it was.

 

When he got out the little fuck didnt even apologise, then tapped the owner on the shoulder and beckoned him towards the back. The owner was very angry with the lad - obviously - and it gets worse.

 

Turns out the spotty oik had also been pulled by the police whilst getting petrol, so that should give you an idea how it was being driven. Scary thing is, that this obviously hadnt stopped him driving it like a twat.

 

TBH I wanted to go round and kick fuck out of the lad, but we decided to do it properly and went to see the police to try and press charges. They were really nice, but advised there wasnt an awful lot they could do as the lad was insured to drive the car through his employment, but they would look into it and pay the spotty oik a visit at the bodyshop.

 

My fiancee was told not to worry about what was said by the police to the spotty oik, and that he had likely been pulled as bobbys on the beat had seen his erractic driving (the officer actually thought she knew who had radio'd in), theyve thought there is no way a lad that young can get insured on a car like that, and radio'd through to a patrol car to pull him up.

 

I am so fucking angry, I want to go round and just punch fuck out of his face until he pisses himself. I want to fucking humiliate him. I personally have put a lot of money into that car for her for it to be nice for her (long story) and Im taking this very personally.

 

Im planning to take her car to a mechanic who had it to do work a few days before we went away, and to ask him to check it out mechanically to see if there is anything wrong now, that wasnt wrong then. If so, its highly likely that this cunt has caused the damage, and as such we can go to a solicitor and look at taking him/bodyshop etc. to court.

 

Im sorry for the long story, but Im at my wits end. I really dont want to end up in a cell again - Im known to them from last year for an incident and hence it would be a silly thing to do. Sadly Im almost certain thats what will happen if I go round on the bounce.

 

But at the same time I dont want to let this cunt get away scott free. I want to lose him his job at the very least, and if I can, sue him for any damage.

 

There is damage to the mud-guard, but the owner, who was very apologetic did order two new ones for her for both sides, and offered to pay for a valet - there was empty coke cans in the back and sweet wrappers - a total lack of respect for her probably because she is a nice girl. Its exactly because of this I want to go round and shake the spotty oik up, because he thinks there will be no comeback from it because she is "just a girl". She looks after that car like its part of her, has an expensive car cover, spends loads on it to keep it tip-top. I know youll probably say its only an FTO, but its her FTO and she looks after it very well. Too see someone doing the above has made my blood boil.

 

Soooo, a bit of advice if you wouldnt mind please guys, Do I take him/the company to court, go to a solictior, or go round and suggest the only way this gets sorted is if he pays for and sprays/fits a new bumper, then we wont take it any further? I know thats unreasonable, I feel stupid writing it, but thats how I feel.

 

Or should we just drop it?

[S7EVE]

It doesnt matter if its a Supra, FTO, Mini, Skoda - its YOUR car! I sympathise with you, I would be absolutely livid!!! I can feel my blood boil writing this!

 

Im wanting to get my Body kit sprayed up and a few body bits touched up, but its stories like this that put the shakes on it.

 

I think in your position I would have just lamped the begga... How the hell did his boss not sack him there and then?!?! But the last thing you want to do is get yourself in trouble, because you can guaranttee you'd end up in worse trouble!! But this 'oik' shouldnt get away with it!!! Its a difficult one, perhaps there may be some legal professionals on the site who will be able to advise you more accurately. Perhaps if he was to cover the respray for you - I dont know. Im putting myself in your shoes and I dont think that punishment would satisfy me...

 

I hope you get things sorted, just dont go doing anything you may regret!

[Nic]

I can totally understand your anger at the situation Paul, but I wouldn't let it get the better of you. I think the sensible thing would be to get the car inspected as you mentioned, hopefully everything will be fine. If all is fine talk to the owner of the place and get him to cover the cost of the inspection, also get him to rectify any cosmetic damage that has been done, I would also ask that the 18 year old gets an official warning for his behaviour. Not much I know, but if the kid values his job, it might make him think twice in future.

 

If there is mechaical damage, which I would doubt, unless he has kerbed it or something, then time to talk to a solicitor, it will be a hard one to prove if it goes to court though, as it will be your word against the owners. Best way would be to settle the matter ammicably, however frustrating that may feel.

[Scoboblio]

Really feel for you mate, I know if it was my car or that of a loved one I'd want to tear the little s**t a new arse

 

Would it be possible to stand round the corner from the garage and film the little bugger ragging other people's cars around? Maybe the police would be more liable to take action with some evidence

[supradibbs]

cant say much more than is already been said mate but its her car no m,atter what it is and does not desevere to have her property treated in such a way demend some kind of comensation

 

How about 20 large club members go round and make the little twat piss his pants

 

Maybe a idea to name and shame the bodyshop to prevent anyone else suffering in the hands of the little chav

[paulfurn]

Many thanks for the comments and the advice/opinions guys. I was starting to wonder if Id grossly over-reacted, but I guess it just feels like her property has been violated.

 

The bodyshop isnt a biggy, its only just opened locally to myself and Im pretty certain there arent any members that local to me. However, Ill get the name and post it up so people can avoid it - it escapes me right now.

 

The scary thing is that the owner said to my fiancee, "he's a bit thick, Ive sacked him a few times now" which leads me to think, if you think he's stupid, and you keep hiring him time and again, then who is the one that is "thick"? Then, on top of all that, knowing all this let him drive a car like that round.

 

I guess Im tied in a way now as the police are involved, and it would be a little daft to react now.

 

I guess we'll get the car checked out, then take it from there. However, as Nic has said its going to be veeery hard to actually prove it was done by the little scrote. She has just had chrome alloys put on which thankfully appear to be undamamged.

 

I guess even if we just went to a solictior and asked him to write them a letter (as only solicitors can ) to put the shits up them then hopefully that will be enough.

 

I just hope that the owner sacks this lad.

 

Thanks again guys really appreciate the opinions.

[terribleturner]

Paul, not good mate. I'd be intrested what the Citizens Advise Bureau have to say?? Plus some sort of Tranding Standards agenise. It's bad enough he was joyriding your Fiancés car, but getting pulled while in it is even worse.

[Bobbeh]

TWOC it was driven with out your consent.

[paulfurn]

Hmm, interesting indeed, thanks very much guys.

 

Ill ring Trading Standards tomorrow and see what advice they can offer, cheers bud, and thanks Bobbeh, - TWOC - I didnt think of that at all.. hmm.

[SUPRALOOPY]

TWOC it was driven with out your consent.

I run a rolls royce and bentley garage.. and get alot of very fast and powerful cars in..and to let an oik drive it let alone give it large would be a get the fuck out offence!!!! if the employer is that stupid then i would wait and then meet him after work and well...............but i would first take the legal approach and see what they will do, if no joy there then name and shame and lets go kick some arse..cos if it was my mrs car she would prob do it her self MAKES ME MAD :thumbdown

[Jspec Germany]

I'd go all routes. Either way,in the end, that kid would get a right attitude adjustment via someone's size 12's to the ribs and teeth. Not that I advocate violence or anything, but sometimes it's the best way and only way that feels like justice. Flowers anyone?

[JohnA]

Every time I've had to *leave* a car in a garage (car with a boost gauge) I have noted down the mileage in front of the garage owner, and made it explicitly clear that NOBODY is to 'test' drive the car in my absense without my explicit permission.

I've never had 'ifs' and 'buts' but if they didn't agree I wouldn't leave the car there, pure and simple.

Suprise visits during random times of the day also help, as long as someone sees that you're watching.

 

If you've been reassured that nobody will 'test' drive the car, and you find evidence that they've lied, then I understand the 'size 12 in the ribs' approach.

But if you've chickened out and said nothing beforehand (like the vast majority of people), then keep your frustration to yourself and put it down to experience.

If it annoys you so much, make sure next time you make it part of the verbal contract with the garage You could then even drive away and withhold payment - and still have a legal leg to stand on.

[roboldham]

Yeh, ultimately it's the bodyshop owner's responsibility if he lets his "thick" (which equals "cheap" by the way) employees out in nice cars (I like FTOs, used to have one before Supes)

 

It is him that will feel it in his pocket and is professional name if this sort of thing happens a lot or gets out - so my approach, if you are still unsatisfied in any way (YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER PAYING HIS MORTGAGE), would be directly through him.

 

It's up to you what you want to see and an "outcome", but in my experience in the way the mind works in these matters, if the owner makes the oik write you a personal letter (assuming he can write) or at least makes contact personally with your missus on some level with an apology, then you can just put it down to his youthful exuberance.

 

The guy will probably never be able to afford a nice motor like an FTO.

 

R

[Jspec Germany]

Every time I've had to *leave* a car in a garage (car with a boost gauge) I have noted down the mileage in front of the garage owner, and made it explicitly clear that NOBODY is to 'test' drive the car in my absense without my explicit permission.

 

I apply this same policy and haven't met with any opposition. When you own cars like we do, people understand your desire to watch after them.

[far]

bad news Paul dude as suggested, always note down mileage, I would personally push for a free fix of the bumper at least for compensation

[raymanuk]

It's one of my biggest fears, leaving my car to get sorted and they drive it like an idiot. I would persue this on all legal channels and definately name and shame.

 

Not enough people complain or follow through a bad service or lack of it. So these garages will carry on. If more people stood up and shouted we might get better service and may get rid of these cowboy garages.

 

If the guy had to re-hire him after firing him?!?! Cowboys. I am sure they can do their job but this reminds me of a conversation I had with another member in reading. There are some places that look after your car as if it was theirs and take pride over their work. Then there are others that will get your car fixed but the quality of work/cleanliness and general treatment was poor.

 

 

Definately give trading standards a call.

 

Cheers,

Ray

[JohnA]

I would have thought that when you leave a car in a garage for repairs, it is *reasonable* to have members of staff driving it for testing purposes before it is handed back to you.

As long as they are qualified (driving licence) and insured, there is not much you can do legally, except if you can prove that illegal acts were performed or damage resulted while it was in their custody.

 

Tricky one.

[Ark]

It never pays to do anything in the heat of the moment, because there are always repercusions. Been there before, and while it does make your blood boil, and frustrates the heck out of you, it is only a car (yeah, I know...) and it's not worth getting locked up over!

[Ark]

I would have thought that when you leave a car in a garage for repairs, it is *reasonable* to have members of staff driving it for testing purposes before it is handed back to you.

 

What possible reason can there be for a body shop to test drive a car? If it was in for mechanical work, then sure, I can buy that, but a spray job?

[JohnA]

They can always claim that they had dismantled this and that and they wanted to make sure that everthing was neatly back in place without rattles etc.

If they like they could even refuse to accept responsibility for their work if they are not allowed to test drive afterwards. Yes, I've heard that! Cheeky....