Just a quick Q and census of opinion, following recent work to my Stilo.

I reported to the garage that the clutch was sticky and that I would like it investigating. They came back to me, saying that the clutch was worn and needed replacement. No bother. I'd already got the clutch kit and slave cylinder in the boot.

They used the parts supplied and cleaned up some others. Put it back together. Said it was fine and gave it me back. Told me if there was a problem to give them a call. On the way home from them it was great. But I took it out a few days later and it stuck. I called them and booked it back in. I took it out for a small drive over the weekend and it stuck again. It went back into them on Tuesday and on the way to them it behaved itself again. So I do appreciate that it was possibly an easy miss.

But I've picked the car up today. I feel a bit miffed. They're charging for the extra work and a new master cylinder. I consider this to be wrong, because they've already been paid to take the car apart,investigate and fix the problem.

I protested and they reduced it down to the cost of the cylinder and 30 mins labour (all plus VAT of course). But I really do still feel a bit aggrieved.

I can appreciate that they've spent more time on my car and bought a part for it. I also know it's easy to miss a problem. But it seems wrong. If I'm at work and miss a fault on a machine, we don't charge the customer to go back again. So why have I been charged here?

Is my logic wrong or should I take my complaint further?

Seems like incorrect diagnosis the first time. Regardless of whether the clutch benefited from replacing or not, this was not the cause of the reported problem.
Therefore, they should be looking at the real cost of replacing the master cylinder, and that should be all you pay. If the cost of replacing the clutch was more, they owe you a refund.
As you supplied the parts for the first repair, they only charged for labour. If however, the cost of parts and labour to replace the master cylinder was more than the labour of the first repair, they could ask you to make up the difference.
Ultimately, your cost should not be more than a normal master cylinder replacement.

Hi Nigel. How are you?

I do see what you are saying. I'd not wanted to take it that far.

I suspected the clutch was very worn and a faulty slave was the cause of the stick. In any case it's been an issue since I had the car. For my own piece of mind I would've wanted to change the clutch and slave or have the work done anyway. Since I'm planning on keeping the car for another 2 or even 3 years I'll get the use of it. So I'm happy to be charged for this.

But I was miffed when they asked me to fork out again. They tried to say it was a separate issue, but I stood my ground and said that to me I'd reported a sticky clutch, paid for a sticky clutch to be fixed but still wound up with a sticky clutch. Regardless of where the fault was and it's erratic behaviour (i.e. it didn't happen to me on the drive from or to them) that it was still missed and a recall.

I've asked the receptionist to get the owner to give me a call next week. It's a shame. Up until this I'd been really happy with the work done & customer service. I'm hoping they see some sense and we can reach a compromise.