Garage snapped glow plug advice

[CHM]

It should be OK and whilst I have every sympathy for the garage having been in this situation a million times they have shot themselves in the foot by starting the job without asking you first. If they had called you and said there was a danger, as there always is, of a glowplug snapping and asked if you want them to carry on at your own risk then they would be Ok but as it stands they should sort it out.

As far as I was able to find out, unauthorised repair is a strong case. The garage admitted it to me privately, but what if it will be my word against theirs when it's in the open and they deny it? I can provide indirect proof (calls time etc) but what in that case?

P.S. Updates so far: spoken to garage again, they say I am a 'difficult customer' and refuse to speak. Sending a recorded letter next...

 

[portland_bill]

P.S. Updates so far: spoken to garage again, they say I am a 'difficult customer' and refuse to speak. Sending a recorded letter next...

'difficult customer' translates into English as "incompetent garage". Not talking to you shows that they are afraid of a big bill for them to fix their mistake, and afraid that they are not competent to do it anyway.

If they were competent, they would fix it, charging you only for the last two glowplugs. The goodwill generated would feel better than if nothing had gone wrong.

Find another garage. As I said before, talking to them will show whether they are competent and willing to get the last two glowplugs out.

Pursue a refund via Citizens Advice, Trade body, such as RMIF, or via your credit card if that's how you paid.

First priority is fixing the car.

 

[CHM]

First priority is fixing the car.

Getting that sorted: the more distant garage i previously used and trust would look at it tomorrow, and will get those plugs removed without taking the head off with a specialised engineer next week. Hope all goes well

 

[F123C]

Getting that sorted: the more distant garage i previously used and trust would look at it tomorrow, and will get those plugs removed without taking the head off with a specialised engineer next week. Hope all goes well

I agree with what portland bill, maggers and oldhammer have said. These glowplugs can break off if you look crooked at them! Another related problem arising in recent years is diesel injectors breaking off in the cyl. head when trying to remove them. FWIW,the U.K. mag. Car Mechanics had an article Feb. 2014 issue dealing with this problem. apparently there are some mobile engineers fully equipped to deal with stuck injectors and poss. broken glow plugs who are called in by garages when they have these sorts of problems, so the expertise is out there. Unfortunately once you even mention poss. legal action, some garages just clam up and won't talk any further or try to remedy the problem! Good luck with this other garage, hopefully they can get the problem sorted.

Al.

 

[CHM]

Thanks to everyone. After talking to the garage several times they agreed a full refund of their bill.
As for fixing the car, I am now in contract with a specialised engine engineer with tools for this engine for the drilling/extraction and thread repair with guarantee of no further repair costs (130 total for 2 glowplugs).