I think I may have been ripped off...

[PB260Z]

+1 on someone local to help.

 

Worse case maybe someone on here knows a good workshop up that part of world who would be willing to give an assesment of the mechanical condition of the car for a nominal fee.

 

I am not saying that you should use them to support your case againt Brakes Plus but more to give you a clear picture of what has and has not been done.

 

Rest assured not all workshops are like these guys.

 

Cheers

 

PB

 

 

[zed74]

My guess is Underwood Brakes Plus?

 

A few years back they did some technical brake talk stuff for the club & they didn't seem unreasonable.

 

Hope it's not them - BUT if so you may be able to tackle the issue with some assistance from Alan Stean (Z Car Man) who has used these guys.

 

Just speculating - but let's get the name & location out there

 

You saud it is a Brakes Plus shop, which one?

So that others up here will know NOT to go there.

 

I would also be very interested to know the names of the two blokes who, apparently, race , Z cars, as there is a pretty tight fraternity of Z car racers up here and we all pretty well know each other.

 

Brakes Plus = Midas Mufflers for all repair work, it now seems.

 

You must persue this, the list on page one here is quite explicit in work requirement, and all work can be fairly clisely calculated out on time with the MTAQ service job time allowances.

 

It very much seems that there has been price gouging on the majority of the work done, the fact that the car is old has no bearing, do you think a tough looking bloke with plenty of mates would stand for a 6k bill to have this work done on his 1976 HX Holden sedan?

Same era car, same amount of problems occur.

 

Yep, whats these blokes names, and where is the shop???

[gav240z]

It pisses me off that this type of bs still happens in this day and age.

 

I guess you can sleep well knowing that your wheel nuts were tightened by the torque master system. What a relief.

 

best story I heard was a BMW dealership trying to tell a guy his power steering needed replacement. The customers reply "why good sir my 30 year old bimmer has no power assisted steering."

[KatoKid]

Unfortunately the Brakes Plus / Midas style franchised workshops have notorious reputations for inflating bills and finding all sorts of work that doesn't need to be done. Pursue these pricks and make sure the car is delivered back to you with all repairs effected and running correctly.

 

Best to try and a more reputable operator for future work or even pay someone local on this forum to help you do it yourself. Plenty of people on here can tell you where to source parts and how much to pay for them and then suggest how to go about it.

 

I feel for you and good luck with getting it sorted.

[zanzee01]

Hi everyone, thanks for your comments.  I'd got a bit disheartened with the whole idea but feel much better now.

 

Yes, it was Brakes Plus at Underwood, the bloke who said he had raced was Brett and the other bloke, John has done work on zeds apparently. Oh! And I told a lie before, they had it for about a month, not 6 weeks, in all fairness.

I have had a little luck today, mum got the tail lights working, and adjusted the angle of the indicator/headlight assembly and I can now get the indicator to work if I press it down a few times.

Am going to take her up to Noosa tomorrow for the Christmas Drinks in QLD, I am learning to keep my revvs up to stop the snuffing- everyone thinks I'm a hoon already so may as well make it sound like it too LOL 

[peter t]

If you want any help just shout. I am not that far from you at Loganholme and have a good knowledge of how these old girls work and where to get parts etc. Help is just a mouse click away, that is why we are on this great forum.

[zanzee01]

Thanks peter t, I will keep that in mind  I should meet you tomorrow with any luck.

I agree this forum is great 

[KatoKid]

peter t is a multiskilled legend, as proven by his build. Well done for putting your hand up pete, that's the viczcar way!

[MickieB]

My father actually used to manage a Midas store. He ended up resigning because they expected him to rip off everyone who came through the door.

[KatoKid]

Too true MickieB, I was once in a role that got me very close to some franchises and I really detested what I saw. How they were taught to gouge everyone that came in the door, there was never any repeat business as they burnt eveyone on the first visit.

[Zedback]

Zanzee, I don't get on here much but I'm about half a minute away from you (just off 2nd hill on Thompson Rd).  I'm no expert but PM me if you need a hand. Mike

[stevofoxono]

Mike you're being moddest you're a god!

 

[zanzee01]

Hi Mike,

 

Thank you  Hopefully I will have some joy tomorrow- otherwise...

 

:)

[Scottz]

Just a few words - SMALL CLAIMS COURT.

Get the paper work and go through the process.

Contact Motor Trades Association of Qld and Qld Transport for information - where to go, what to do, etc...However MTAQ can only assist if the repairer is a MTAQ member and they are a bit of a toothless dog. Qld Transport can get them for a dodgy rwc, but that doesn't fix your car, and they can advise where to get an inspection. Same with RACQ to find an inspector. (Are you a RACQ member?).

Get some advice from a lawyer before proceeding with small claims court. Lawyer will advise if you take action against the 2 dodgys, the franchise owner or franchisee. General rule - go for everyone.

Give the dodgy boys a chance to respond first, I'm sure they will decline. Write a letter to the business owner and franchise company and make an official complaint. Threaten to take it to the media (TV, newsprint and radio) and you should get a response.

Find an expert to back your story and determine if any work was done at all - easiest place is Qld Transport Vehicle Inspection. (Problem is they will make you tow it, if it's as bad as you say, and that's a cost you don't need). Take lots of photo's in advance.

 

Sort out your options, then lodge the forms and get them in court.

 

Contact legal aid if you think a lawyer is out of your budget and contact the Office of Fair Trading. You can submit an on-line complaint form at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.

 

You said mum helped you with a couple of items, so I'm guessing no dad about. Got any brothers? Put them to task.

Do you use social media? If yes, then use it to spread the word. Use every available resource and keep at it.

Sometimes a long road but the smile at the end is worth it.

[dat240z]

Tough lesson learned mate, and i feel for you. But this type of story really emphasises why this site is so valuable to us z owners, and particularly the newer less experienced operaters here. Just post a question regarding quote/price/help etc before jumping in based on what a money hungry mechanic says. The people on here are only after one thing - to see a nice z on the road as opposed to this type of business who are only after your hard earned!!

 

As the saying goes - "It's better to ask a silly question, than to make a silly mistake". Plus it can save you a small fortune.......

[gav240z]

Tough lesson learned mate, and i feel for you. But this type of story really emphasises why this site is so valuable to us z owners, and particularly the newer less experienced operaters here. Just post a question regarding quote/price/help etc before jumping in based on what a money hungry mechanic says. The people on here are only after one thing - to see a nice z on the road as opposed to this type of business who are only after your hard earned!!

 

As the saying goes - "It's better to ask a silly question, than to make a silly mistake". Plus it can save you a small fortune.......

 

That's exactly 1 of the reasons I started the site in the first place. The best thing about a community is you can get feedback from the community on who to go see and who can help with your vehicles issues.

[chris240]

Well said Michael..

[zanzee01]

You said mum helped you with a couple of items, so I'm guessing no dad about. Got any brothers? Put them to task.

Yes, mum has had zeds in the past so knows a bit more than me about some things- nah, no dad, no brothers, no sisters. They are training dogs to drive in NZ though and we have plenty of those! LOL 

 

this site is so valuable to us z owners

That's exactly 1 of the reasons I started the site in the first place. The best thing about a community is you can get feedback from the community on who to go see and who can help with your vehicles issues

- yes I agree, I'll definitely be going about it in a different way next time.