Botched maintenance job: What are my legal options for compensation?

Dealing with not quite as extreme a situation myself right now. As-in, a trailer hub install (done as part of a major brake overhaul) done 4 months ago is now leaking, meaning a new hub seal and shoes.

The shop that did the work in the first place has already lost my business for other reasons. At this point it's my word against theirs on an old trailer - no chance in hell they'll ever pay, and I would never give them a second chance to screw it up again.

Sometimes the best return on investment is to get it fixed right (now) and move on, never to call on the first party ever again. Doesn't get your $450 back, but will do wonders for your blood pressure to get it behind you.

If you haven't already heard it from him, he's just going to remind you that the service -did- get you off the shoulder. Beyond that it will just be a pissing contest and a waste of your time.

 

You may have a case if its all documented on the repair order/invoice,but most of us will just take our screwing and not do anything about it.Most of the shops that do work like that know we won`t do anything,or don`t have the time to do anything about it.

 

It depend on what you and/or the driver told him to do and even then if you sue you will only be able to collect accual damages. If the driver told him to fix it soo he can get it back in then he did his job. Not know what was conversated between the parties involved and it will be a he say she say. If you have a work order that say he installed a new valve and he didnt you have a recourse or if you was charged for work not done. I have a stack against Central Carolina Truck but after talking to a lawyer and him tell me what it would cost me up front and what I could expect to get out of it I have written it off as lession learned for now. And I just make sure I check behind any work I have done and know what shop I take it to. Federal government wants you out of business so they cant put more freight on trains so they are not going to write any laws to protect you from being screwed they are in the business of writing laws to ##### up

 

i don't think you really have a say in the matter.

you're out on the road somewhere. and they get you going. not much you can do. specially when the repairs are out of state.

they don't really care. they got you going and will most likely never hear from you again. unless it's a local shop you regularly use.

i had a computer problem once. it had low voltage to the computer that kept triggering the overheat lights and shutting the truck down. the mechanics made a road call. took the steps and panel off to fix the wiring somewhere underneath the cab. and put it back together.

i drove 400 miles. got out for a inspection. and took a nap. finished the 200 mile journey to make delivery and had no steps to climb down.

somewhere in yellowstone there's some steps floating around. and the wrecking yards want $200 for all the stuff to put it back together.

the road call repair bill was $500.

 

What was the problem he went out there to fix?

 

How could a "qualified driver" take a trailer like that and accept it? Sounds like you have "driver quality" problems.

 

Ain't that the truth. Unfortunately road service makes you needy and opens up an opportunity for a dishonest or incompetent service, as if there aren't enough already.

The regular shops do it too. It's taken me nearly a year to find two shops that I trust, one local and another 800 miles away I've never visited personally. I've already had the local one at least two other shop's work, including one that's a branch of their own company in another part of the state. And don't get me started about TS PM service. Never again if I can help it. The last one I supervised (versus sending a driver in to get it done) was -the- last one.

Consequently, over the last couple of months I've enjoyed the ability to schedule repairs for a change. Some stuff I'll do myself if it can be done in the yard where I rent parking, or light work on the tractors if I can bt them to my house and do the work in the driveway. Last week I hung an alternator at the yard and rebuilt a 5th wheel at the house. I don't have a shop to work in, nor the time to do it all myself, or I would.