I want to check my understanding is correct of this as this is only the second time I have filed a claim for Breach of Contract under the above act.
Christmas Eve last year I noticed my blowers started blowing cold and my running temp on the car was barely registering. As I was due to drive from S Wales to Derby boxing day with my partner and two young children I was unsure whether it was safe to do so or indeed if it'd even be comfortable.
I took the car to Halfords. They rang me an hour later and said there was an issue with the back breaking system but they'd manage to fix the problems with the blowers and the running temp. They told me there was a blockage in the air system and it had been corrected and the running temp was fine and the blowers were blowing warm-the car they informed me had been 'rad tested'. I authorised the work on the back braking system to be carried out.
I collected the car but less than a mile away from the centre the temp dropped back down and the blowers were blowing cold. I rang the centre twenty mins later but they were closed.
My trip to derby was postponed due to a sudden family bereavement (my partners grandmother suddenly died boxing day) so we postponed it to the 27th.
I rang halfords on the 27th and they asked me to bring the car back in but I couldnt do so because we were travelling up to Derby that day. I booked the car in for 31st Dec.
When I took the car in I asked another manager what a 'road test' entailed. I was told a 2-3 mile drive in the car and I said I believed that hadnt been carried out because I had driven less than a mile and it was apparant the problem hadnt been fixed. The manager said he's fit a new thermostat at no charge. He rang back up later that day and said the running temp was now normal but the blowers were still blowing cold. He believed there was debris blocking the heater matrix.
Because work with the matrix is labour intensive I decided to take the car away and get cheaper quotes.
The next day I noticed water leaking but thought nothing of it because the cars cooling system had just been flushed and assumed it was residue water.
However the leak persisted but the weather had turned call and as I noticed the water in the morning I assumed this was frost melting.
8 days later driving home late from work the car temp went right up into the red. I had to stop the car 3 times going home to allow the car to cool to allow me to drive home.
The next day I checked the car and there was no water in the car. I once sagain rang halfords. They took the car. Gave me a courtesy car and looked at the car. They fitted a brand new water pump (however they said there was nothing wrong with the old one) but they did notice water leaking from the thermostat they'd fitted.
They tightened it all up and returned the car. No charge was made for this work. They told me upon return of the car the cam belt was seriously frayed and needed changing urgently and the heater matrix definitely needed replacing and they quoted me £620.
At this point I lost faith in their ability to provide an adequate service. I took my car to another garage. This garage told me the cam belt wasnt that bad and it wasnt the heater matrix but the solenoid.
I emailed Halfords. Told them I believed they were in breach of contract and asked for £200 in recognition of repeated visits. I had to drive to Derby with two kids and an upset partner in a freezing cold car and also thsi would help towards my bill with another garage.
They refused. So Ive filed court papers for breach of contract.
Do I have a case here or am I mistaken?
Christmas Eve last year I noticed my blowers started blowing cold and my running temp on the car was barely registering. As I was due to drive from S Wales to Derby boxing day with my partner and two young children I was unsure whether it was safe to do so or indeed if it'd even be comfortable.
I took the car to Halfords. They rang me an hour later and said there was an issue with the back breaking system but they'd manage to fix the problems with the blowers and the running temp. They told me there was a blockage in the air system and it had been corrected and the running temp was fine and the blowers were blowing warm-the car they informed me had been 'rad tested'. I authorised the work on the back braking system to be carried out.
I collected the car but less than a mile away from the centre the temp dropped back down and the blowers were blowing cold. I rang the centre twenty mins later but they were closed.
My trip to derby was postponed due to a sudden family bereavement (my partners grandmother suddenly died boxing day) so we postponed it to the 27th.
I rang halfords on the 27th and they asked me to bring the car back in but I couldnt do so because we were travelling up to Derby that day. I booked the car in for 31st Dec.
When I took the car in I asked another manager what a 'road test' entailed. I was told a 2-3 mile drive in the car and I said I believed that hadnt been carried out because I had driven less than a mile and it was apparant the problem hadnt been fixed. The manager said he's fit a new thermostat at no charge. He rang back up later that day and said the running temp was now normal but the blowers were still blowing cold. He believed there was debris blocking the heater matrix.
Because work with the matrix is labour intensive I decided to take the car away and get cheaper quotes.
The next day I noticed water leaking but thought nothing of it because the cars cooling system had just been flushed and assumed it was residue water.
However the leak persisted but the weather had turned call and as I noticed the water in the morning I assumed this was frost melting.
8 days later driving home late from work the car temp went right up into the red. I had to stop the car 3 times going home to allow the car to cool to allow me to drive home.
The next day I checked the car and there was no water in the car. I once sagain rang halfords. They took the car. Gave me a courtesy car and looked at the car. They fitted a brand new water pump (however they said there was nothing wrong with the old one) but they did notice water leaking from the thermostat they'd fitted.
They tightened it all up and returned the car. No charge was made for this work. They told me upon return of the car the cam belt was seriously frayed and needed changing urgently and the heater matrix definitely needed replacing and they quoted me £620.
At this point I lost faith in their ability to provide an adequate service. I took my car to another garage. This garage told me the cam belt wasnt that bad and it wasnt the heater matrix but the solenoid.
I emailed Halfords. Told them I believed they were in breach of contract and asked for £200 in recognition of repeated visits. I had to drive to Derby with two kids and an upset partner in a freezing cold car and also thsi would help towards my bill with another garage.
They refused. So Ive filed court papers for breach of contract.
Do I have a case here or am I mistaken?