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RT Mechanics – Volvo Specialist’s Repair Gone Wrong!

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Old Oct 9th, 2009, 20:07   #21
Rnash2002
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Originally Posted by GregE102 View Post
Hi Rnash

I only posted after Russ said he would not discuss the matter with me any more.

Today I sent RT Mechanics an email asking who their legal customer services representative is? so i can make contact with them.

Trading has now closed for the week and RT Mechanics have now again refused to contact me again for the second time.

They have My home phone number, Mobile & Email but still I have heard Nothing?

I chose to use email as it shows a record that i have tried to contact them if needed.

So now It looks like i will have to contact trading standards and see what the next corse of action is?

Cheers Greg
Like i said i would have done what you have done and keeping record of the conversations (emails) is a must.
Just sorry to see you cant get this sorted out like adults.
But i would like to point out at no time am i slating Russ as ive never met the guy or been to his place of work.Just stating that you have done the right thing and i would have done the same no matter who the company was.
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Old Oct 10th, 2009, 16:55   #22
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Hello there

Did you problems get resolved?

Cheers Greg
Yes I took it to another garage! Namely my local Volvo dealership who cost the same in total as the independant but sorted it first time without p*ssing me about for 1 1/2 years with a dodgy handbrake.

I haven't read it all but it does look a least like RT Mechanics tried to make amends to a degree, my garage just kept replacing handbrake cables whilst the 'warranty' on the crap caliper they fitted/badly refurbished my old one ran out (with me paying for the priviledge). Eventually resulting in a handbrake that kept ceasing on one side every time I parked. Only way to free it was to drive the car back and forth 5-10 times until it freed... This was after 1 1/2 years of binding rear brakes and 3/4 trips to the garage with the same problem (all whilst taking time out've work) until the caliper finally had enough. Binding brakes do not equal a pleasurabe drive, particually when I went to hilly Devon with a car full of people! Last time I took it to garage they said it was fine, literally 2 minutes driving away I smelt burning brakes...
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Old Oct 10th, 2009, 18:57   #23
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Hi Greg,

Happy to hear that your dad's doing well after his surgery.

Sad to hear about the ongoing saga,as said hopefully you both use this week-end to think hard and long about what you want with eachother(RT+you)

And hopefully sort this one out,it's always a shame if something like this happens(loss of trust from both sides)especially when as said by the both of you,when you had a good relation(costumer/garage)

Hope this will get a happy ending.

Gr,walter
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Old Oct 10th, 2009, 22:07   #24
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Yes I took it to another garage! Namely my local Volvo dealership who cost the same in total as the independant but sorted it first time without p*ssing me about for 1 1/2 years with a dodgy handbrake.

I haven't read it all but it does look a least like RT Mechanics tried to make amends to a degree, my garage just kept replacing handbrake cables whilst the 'warranty' on the crap caliper they fitted/badly refurbished my old one ran out (with me paying for the priviledge). Eventually resulting in a handbrake that kept ceasing on one side every time I parked. Only way to free it was to drive the car back and forth 5-10 times until it freed... This was after 1 1/2 years of binding rear brakes and 3/4 trips to the garage with the same problem (all whilst taking time out've work) until the caliper finally had enough. Binding brakes do not equal a pleasurabe drive, particually when I went to hilly Devon with a car full of people! Last time I took it to garage they said it was fine, literally 2 minutes driving away I smelt burning brakes...

Hi Andy

I am glad you have now found a Garage your happy with and they have resoled the mystery and fixed the problem, but don't make the same mistake as me and trust them 24/7 Keep them on your toes or before you know it you will have spent a small fortune, like me.

Regards Greg
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Old Oct 10th, 2009, 22:08   #25
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Hello All

I just thought I’d write down a précis of my initial post as having re-read it, I suspect it may have been a little bit difficult to follow. I hope it will also summarise the outstanding issues.

After collecting my car from some routine maintenance at RT Mechanics In July, after the 200 mile drive home, I straight away discovered the following issues:

1. The car had shot most of oil out due to poorly fitted oil cooler pipes, a job which had been carried out by RT Mechanics on that visit. The result was an oil level which was so low that it did not even register on the dipstick.
2. My newly fitted washer pump did not work.
3. I had a 3" downpipe fitted which appeared to rattle.
4. I had been over-charged for parts.

I reported the mechanical issues to Russ at RT Mechanics and my car was then towed at my expense to my local Volvo dealer. I paid out of my own pocket to travel around whilst my car was with the dealer and also for the rectification work. I collected it from the dealer and after 50 - 60 miles of normal driving could hear a very slight knock. Russ did subsequently refund me for the work carried out by the Volvo dealer.

Russ arranged to have the car picked up and leave a loan car; I should make clear that it went wrong after my father had spoken to Russ on the phone about the issues and about what Russ was going to do to put the car right. When my father repeatedly asked what rectification work was going to be carried out, and how much it was likely to cost, he did not get a straight answer. I was away on work at the time and un-contactable. My father wasn't happy with the lack of any kind of information and given he was aware how much I had spent on the car, with RT Mechanics, and its resulting state, he refused to send the car. Whist some may believe that was wrong, I will not blame him for simply looking out for his son.

As soon as I returned I personally apologised to Russ for the loan car issue and redelivered the car, at my expense, to RT Mechanics, with list of my complaints and the knocking noise, which had gotten worse.

1. Russ fitted yet another new washer pump (which coincidentally still doesn’t work correctly).
2. The rattle he claimed was the heat shield and that he’d fixed it - it still rattles now and again
3. Having carefully looked through my invoices, I noticed some discrepancies and Russ repaid me for charging me twice for the oil cooler pipes and for two air filters, which I had been charged for eventhough they had never been actually fitted.

Russ had carried out some valeting work on my car - it still wasn't done to my satisfaction.

Russ claimed the knocking noise was from a wheel bearing and not my engine at all and that every thing was fine – he also claimed that running the oil level low (such that it didn’t register on the dipstick) would not have caused any damage.

By this time I had lost all faith in his abilities and skills and did not trust or believe what he was saying so I collected my car, at my expense, from RT Mechanics and took it to another mechanic who changed the wheel bearing which had failed. I should also once again point out that had the hub nut had not been re-fitted properly – this would have been removed by RT Mechanics when they replaced the CV gaitor (which has turned out to be the incorrect one for my car). The wheel bearing might not have failed so soon if that nut had been correctly fastened.

The original knocking noise when you lift you foot of the gas was and is still there. Another Mechanic has said he could hear it as clear as day.

All I want out of this are my expenses for the excess travel, any further over-charges for items which have not actually been fitted, and whatever it costs to have my car put back to a condition whereby I can continue to enjoy it – I don’t see how that’s too much to ask. I have been a loyal customer of RT Mechanics (just checked and in the last 3 years alone I’ve spent £11149.39 with Russ) who has been caused hassle and extra costs for a job that went wrong and I have been left out of pocket due to the incompetence and negligence of RT Mechanics. I am still not driving my car as I do not want to cause any further damage, until I can get it fixed. I’m sure you’re all aware of the way in which Russ publicises the work he has done to his own car – is it unreasonable for me to expect the work being done to my car to be of the same standard given I’m paying for it?

As some of you are aware, my father has recently undergone cardiac surgery so not having my car in a reliable and driveable state has meant I have had to hire a car for the last 4 days, at my expense, so that if I have to, I can drive to the hospital in a hurry 100 miles away. I was always under the impression that I was getting "The Best" of everything, hence why I was paying top dollar, but these recent issues and Russ’ refusal to now engage with me on them have seriously dented my confidence in RT Mechanics.

And finally, on the issue of my claim to have recorded a conversation with Russ, I can confirm that nothing of the sort took place and I apologise unreservedly for that. I was at a point where frustration got the better of me and I thought it would expedite the repairs to my car. However, if that is the one and only issue which is going to be harped on by RT Mechanics and others, in defence of the poor work which has been carried out on my car, then I will feel that to be very unfortunate.

In my email correspondence to Russ, I have indicated to him that I expect a reply on how he proposes to resolve the matter, by Monday 12th October 2009 – I will still afford him that deadline before I consider what I need to do next.

Hope this clears it up a bit

Thanks All
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Last edited by GregE102; Oct 10th, 2009 at 22:21. Reason: Said the wrong thing oops!
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Old Oct 11th, 2009, 01:14   #26
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Greg, all the best for your father, and please don't let the car issue become all consuming....
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Old Oct 11th, 2009, 01:52   #27
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I think that represents your situation much better Greg...well done!

Let's look at this from a worst-case scenario point of view - if you have suffered a bearing failure somewhere in the bottom end, I don't think there can be *much* doubt regarding what caused it. Certainly, given the cost of a 100k-mile-old T5 engine (£300 maybe?) and a few hours labour, it would make a lot of sense for Russ to put that straight for you, regardless of the element of doubt about the blame. It's what a certain mechanic in Bromsgrove should have done...and look where not doing that got him.

Good luck with it.

cheers

James
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Old Oct 11th, 2009, 11:51   #28
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Hi Andy

I am glad you have now found a Garage your happy with and they have resoled the mystery and fixed the problem, but don't make the same mistake as me and trust them 24/7 Keep them on your toes or before you know it you will have spent a small fortune, like me.

Regards Greg
I know what you mean! Infact the same Volvo garage whilst originally checking out my cambelt for free ( it was making an unusual noise) mentioned the cambelt was too tight so I asked to book it in to be changed (as well as my aux belt which had little cracks). Unfortunately whilst looking at the cambelt they somehow managed to break the coolant level sensor... After picking up the car (after taking a day off work) to my dismay I could still hear the cambelt noise and the aux belt hadn't been changed. Turns out they had somehow not written this down even though its what I specifcally requested when I booked the car in and why I took the day off and got a courtesy car to do it! So if I hadn't asked them to weld my exhaust (which they kindly added to the 'list') it would have only been booked in for the coolant sensor change that they accidently broke in the first place!

I did however get it booked in again and they changed the belts as requested along with the tensioner at my request and touch wood the noise, whilst still there to a small degree, sounds healthier. And all for I feel a reasonable cost for a main dealer so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt this time. However this is a similar sort of thing that started with my last garage and it went downhill from there, I just hope this isn't the case this time!

I've read your summary and I'm sorry to read of your issues. Its even more annoying when you travelled so far (hoping for the best service) and get let down especially when you've spent so much with them in the past

Sorry to hear about your dad and I wish him a speedy recovery.
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Old Oct 11th, 2009, 16:30   #29
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Quote GregE102:

"All I want out of this are my expenses for the excess travel, any further over-charges for items which have not actually been fitted, and whatever it costs to have my car put back to a condition whereby I can continue to enjoy it – I don’t see how that’s too much to ask. I have been a loyal customer of RT Mechanics (just checked and in the last 3 years alone I’ve spent £11149.39 with Russ) who has been caused hassle and extra costs for a job that went wrong and I have been left out of pocket due to the incompetence and negligence of RT Mechanics. I am still not driving my car as I do not want to cause any further damage, until I can get it fixed. I’m sure you’re all aware of the way in which Russ publicises the work he has done to his own car – is it unreasonable for me to expect the work being done to my car to be of the same standard given I’m paying for it?"

Greg, you are not being unreasonable, it is their obligation both morally and legally to refund your expenses and return your engine to it's original condition even if this had been the very first work they had carried out on your car and you've got a very strong case for 'Small Claims Court'. I think you have been very good natured and patient, far more so than myself or many other consumers would have been
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Old Oct 11th, 2009, 21:59   #30
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Not being a regular reader on this forum, due to all the harm that was inflicted upon it some time ago by reckless people out to trash the directors and all the club stood for, I am totally incensed by liable statements made against one of the very best and consciences mechanics I have ever had the pleasure to do business with.

Russ and his brother Andrew have looked after my car, along with my wife’s Celica, for over 4 years now, he was recommended to me by several VOC members, and in turn I have recommended him to at least 6 people I know who have Volvo’s.

We have all found him to be vey consciences in all the work he has carried out, and at no time found any issues in his workmanship.

A couple of months ago, I left my interior light on, and killed an aging battery, he volunteered to deliver and fit the replacement battery F O C, prior to that, I broke a headlamp wiper blade, not knowing exactly what part was broken, he supplied all the parts available on sale or return, and he delivered them as well. Oh, re the battery, although new, he was not happy about the state the battery turned up, and said he will replace it with a better one, his view of it, that it had been kicked around the floor.

My comments are made to try and balance the negative comments made by Grege102, and may I just add, that it is quite obvious that this chap has not gone about his grievance correctly, apart from the fact he has admitted to being a liar, he has not given RT the chance to respond to his deadline of the 12th October, by posting this 4 days early.

There are always 2 sides to a grievance, and I am very pleased to see that RT Mechanics have not lowered them selves into responding on line, and trust they don’t, but put this into the hands of their solicitors, but better still, grege102 should now try to make the peace by continuing this grievance off line, and preferably by letter as things used to be sorted.
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