To be absolutely spitting tacks about this

Love the name, Pearl Bet you're not...

You can report the garage to Trading Standards. And really you should. I’ve had the same kind of thing in the past.

Turns out the only qualified mechanic had left but they were still trading under his name and the certificates he left behind.

It might be a good idea to stick to a garage which specialises in your marque of car.
I recently was told by Kwikfit that the weird grinding noise coming from under the bonnet of my Golf was to do with the timing belt and was a £800+ job. I took it to the Volkswagen concession and they said it was just a pump: less than a third of the cost.
I usually like my local Kwikfit guys and I don't think they are dishonest at all but I do think consulting someone who knows that particular car very well is useful.

I found a garage years ago who I trust and know don't rip me off, and I've pretty much stuck with them even though they aren't that convenient. (They are on the good garage scheme ) I bought a used car with a three year warranty from a reasonable sized dealer, but could see distinct signs of ripping off the single female i.e. Everything being fine but two months later it needed several hundred pounds of repair not covered by the warranty and they panicked when I wanted to know why there had been no sign of this a few weeks before. The final straw was being told I would need new tyres soon. I went back to my original garage and they did replace the tyres- two years later

I absolutely HATE going to garages.... Not surprised you are spitting feathers chewbacca I think I would have taken for a second opinion elsewhere long before this but...depends where you live and how many there are around.

In my experience I tried out lots of garages and then found a really good one I trusted and stuck to it.

Not sure what you can do though other than let all and sundry know how bad they were so that it is boycotted? They will only deny there was a problem when they saw it if you complain to them.

Try AA - I agree. It is so easy to be taken for a ride.

I am lucky that my SIL is a car mechanic (NOT a grease monkey!!!) and he checks ours over if there is anything we are worried about.

If the first garage is a registered Vauxhall Service Centre then go straight to Head Office Customer Service and complain- loudly !!.

They are incentivised by Vauxhall to meet certain standards.

I'm going to ask to see the old worn out parts when I go to pick the car up later today; just to reassure myself that they've done what they say they've done.
I'm not in the AA but, once I've scraped some money together, I'm going to join. Completely lost my trust in this car and would value knowing that assistance was just at the end of the phone.
Yes glammanana garage #1 is registered for MOT testing and, in the past, they've done mine.

Chewbacca Is the first garage registered for MOTs if they are get in touch with people who run the MOT register and report them.

www.goodgaragescheme.com/

association.

Why does my desktop keep posting mails on its own account when I am half way through typing them?

Chewbacca, I know exactly how you feel. Some years ago I got a new company car. From the start the braking was poor. I took it back to the main dealer three times complaining about the brakes. They insisted there was nothing wrong with them. Then someone at work suggested I used a garage near the office that would collect from work and deliver back the same day.

The day before it was due to go in. I was on the M25, It was tipping with rain, no one was doing more than 50. There was an incident in front of me, I tried to brake and nothing happened. Thankfully, because of my worries about the brakes I had left a very large gap between me and the car in front, so eventually I hit her very gently and damage to both cars was not too bad and no-one was hurt.

The new garage handled all the repairs. When the car returned the brakes were working properly. Too long ago for grandchildren but I could have been killed or killed someone, or been badly injured.

I would get a report from the AA and complain loudly to the original garage and their trade as

I use a small garage close to where I work . It is a member of the Good Garage Scheme and almost all of their work comes from word of mouth. I never feel “talked down to” or that I am being ripped off at all and they give very good f we advice too.

I can understand you feeling mad chewy I would be the same. Does the GGS operate where you are ? I agree the 1st garage has behaved very badly. Did the 2nd garage show you the broken spring? Worn pads ? Mine always keeps the things they have replaced to show me or DH what they have done.

I was going to mention the AA. I had a similar problem which my garage man couldn't find. I had to wait until the car broke down completely - in the rain, dark and rush hour! Luckily I didn't have GC in the car I was on my own.
The AA came, identified the problem and towed me home.
I changed my garage after that.

If you need an impartial verdict, perhaps the AA would be able to inspect your car, Chewbacca. I remember that this used to be a service they offered - I used it when my 18-year-old son bought a complete wreck and with the AA's report I was able to get his money back for him.
OMG, I have just realised that this must have been 30 years ago. DS is a middle aged dad now.

My first thought was the same as Nina's but you have to go with how you feel about them.

I would be furious as well Chewbacca If you are convinced the second garage is right then I would be having strong words with the first one. If they belong to a trade association you could voice your concerns to them.

I've had to trust the 2nd garage nina; I knew that something was wrong, and was getting worse by the day, and so went to them on the recommendation of a colleague. I expect it's become more expensive now because the damage has gone further and more needs to be done to put it right. And as the MOT was due this month, and it would failed that without the work being done, I've no choice but to pay. I keep thinking of all the times I've had GC in my car during the holidays. And what could have happened.

Do you trust the new garage ?Are you sure they didn't see "mature female" I sincerely hope not.
If you think they are honest then a strongly worded written complaint is called for addressed to the organ grinder and not the useless grease monkeys from the first garage.
Also if your on FB I would name them on a local page.
Disgracefuly inept I'm angry for you.