2008
If you're hoping to spend more time on the beach than on the hard shoulder this summer servicing the car might well be a wise investment, but make sure you shop around and compare prices advises Consumer Direct.
Problems with car servicing and repairs accounted for more than 23,000 complaints to Consumer Direct last year totalling some £25 million.
Michele Shambrook, Operations Manager for Consumer Direct said: 'Doing your research is vital - ask for recommendations from friends and family, look for garages that are members of professional trade bodies, and ask lots of questions about what the service includes and how much it will cost.'
Every garage has a legal obligation to carry out any service with a reasonable level of care and skill.
Good garages will often have a menu of fixed cost works on display, an affiliation to a trade association (such as the Motor Vehicle Repairers Association) and a defined complaints procedure.
People seeking repairs are also advised to get a written quote (for a fixed price) rather than an estimate and to ask for a price for diagnosis if it's not clear what's wrong.
It's also wise to ask about guarantees on labour and parts, insist on an itemised bill and make sure you keep all paperwork.
People needing advice on all consumer issues can call Consumer Direct North East on 08454 04 05 06.
