Consumer Guarantee Act on faulty repair??

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MagicSquirrel

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#182433 15-Oct-2015 16:03

Alternator in our car failed about six months ago and we got it repaired by local dealer.
Dealer organised a replacement part from some company in AKL that sells refurbished alternators.
Alternator came with 12 month warranty.

Now replacement alternator packed up too and we took the car back to same garage.
I just got a call saying that alternator is free but we have to pay for labor cost which in this case is about $250 because "alternator warranty was provided by other company"

This doesn't sound quite right to me?? I do not have any contract with this 3rd party who provided refurbished alternator.
Is dealer just trying to pick my pockets or do they actually have rights to charge the labor from me under CGA?

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#1407330 15-Oct-2015 16:12

He is trying it on. You are correct that as your dealer supplied the alternator he is responsible for replacing it if it failed.

Fred99

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#1407342 15-Oct-2015 16:30

$250 sounds like a very steep labour cost to replace an alternator. I'd have expected perhaps 1 hour labour maximum, unless it's extraordinarily complicated to get access to it (possible but unlikely).
But anyway, you shouldn't be paying anything at all.

MagicSquirrel

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#1407344 15-Oct-2015 16:36

Fred99: $250 sounds like a very steep labour cost to replace an alternator. I'd have expected perhaps 1 hour labour maximum, unless it's extraordinarily complicated to get access to it (possible but unlikely).

It actually is extraordinary complicated and requires removing bumper, one headlamp housing, power steering pump bolts etc. and wiggling alternator out from underneath the car :)

Goosey

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#1407345 15-Oct-2015 16:37

When my VW alternator packed up, it was replaced and a 12 month warranty for part only and I was informed this at the time. All labour cost was to be mine if it did packed up within 12 months, which was fair sounding to me. Depending on the car, an alternator can be tricky to get out and in again (i.e. radiators, hoses, belts, other things crammed in the way of access).

Was there any small print on the invoice pointing out that warranty was for parts only?

MikeB4

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#1407347 15-Oct-2015 16:41

MagicSquirrel:
Fred99: $250 sounds like a very steep labour cost to replace an alternator. I'd have expected perhaps 1 hour labour maximum, unless it's extraordinarily complicated to get access to it (possible but unlikely).

It actually is extraordinary complicated and requires removing bumper, one headlamp housing, power steering pump bolts etc. and wiggling alternator out from underneath the car :)

That is a lot of work, $250 does not sound unreasonable

ubergeeknz

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#1407349 15-Oct-2015 16:50

MagicSquirrel:
Fred99: $250 sounds like a very steep labour cost to replace an alternator. I'd have expected perhaps 1 hour labour maximum, unless it's extraordinarily complicated to get access to it (possible but unlikely).

It actually is extraordinary complicated and requires removing bumper, one headlamp housing, power steering pump bolts etc. and wiggling alternator out from underneath the car :)

I thought mine was difficult and I only had to undo one engine mount and jack the engine a bit to get clearance

MagicSquirrel

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#1407350 15-Oct-2015 16:50

MikeB4:
That is a lot of work, $250 does not sound unreasonable

Yep, I agree with that, and the amount in this case is irrelevant.
I'm interested in the legal side of charging labor fees.

Is repair considered as service or combination of goods & service?

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wellygary

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#1407351 15-Oct-2015 16:57

MagicSquirrel:
MikeB4:
That is a lot of work, $250 does not sound unreasonable

Yep, I agree with that, and the amount in this case is irrelevant.
I'm interested in the legal side of charging labor fees. Is repair considered as service or combination of goods & service?

A warranty can be "parts only" but I think it needs to be specified, best check the fine print...

Handle9

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#1407352 15-Oct-2015 16:57

MagicSquirrel:
MikeB4:
That is a lot of work, $250 does not sound unreasonable

Yep, I agree with that, and the amount in this case is irrelevant.
I'm interested in the legal side of charging labor fees. Is repair considered as service or combination of goods & service?

The labour cost is a consequential loss caused by the defective alternator, therefore is considered part of the supplied solution. The only exceptions would be if you free issued them the alternator to fit, or if the alternator was replaced under warranty and the original 12 month warranty had expired. Below has some good detail.

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/consumer-guarantees-act

ubergeeknz

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#1407354 15-Oct-2015 17:03

wellygary:
MagicSquirrel:
MikeB4:
That is a lot of work, $250 does not sound unreasonable

Yep, I agree with that, and the amount in this case is irrelevant.
I'm interested in the legal side of charging labor fees. Is repair considered as service or combination of goods & service?

A warranty can be "parts only" but I think it needs to be specified, best check the fine print...

What's written in the warranty does not matter one jot. One cannot contract out of one's obligations under the CGA.

Fred99

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#1407365 15-Oct-2015 17:36

MagicSquirrel:
Fred99: $250 sounds like a very steep labour cost to replace an alternator. I'd have expected perhaps 1 hour labour maximum, unless it's extraordinarily complicated to get access to it (possible but unlikely).

It actually is extraordinary complicated and requires removing bumper, one headlamp housing, power steering pump bolts etc. and wiggling alternator out from underneath the car :)

What kind of car?
<for future reference as something to avoid>

surfisup1000

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#1407390 15-Oct-2015 18:22

Fred99:
What kind of car?
<for future reference as something to avoid>

Given that every model of car in the world will have suffered a mechanical issue from time to time I'm guessing your cars-to-avoid list will be rather lengthy.

Regardless, the dealer must pay for repairs... outrageous yet common what they are trying to do to you.

You can either pay up and make life easy...

Or, argue and fight (and inevitably win as the dealer is in the wrong) which might end up in the disputes tribunal though.

MagicSquirrel

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#1407393 15-Oct-2015 18:29

Fred99:

What kind of car?
<for future reference as something to avoid>

Ford Ka. Not sure if that even classifies as 'a car' :)

surfisup1000

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#1407395 15-Oct-2015 18:29

Handle9:
The labour cost is a consequential loss caused by the defective alternator

The CGA does not really define the term 'repairs', but most normal people would assume that repairs includes both parts and labour.

The labour is not really a consequential loss. Consequential loss is the damage or loss done to other things due to the failure in question. eg, if i bought a new car tire which burst prematurely causing me to destroy a fence then the fence repairs would be considered consequential loss.

surfisup1000

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#1407396 15-Oct-2015 18:30

MagicSquirrel:
Fred99:

What kind of car?
<for future reference as something to avoid>

Ford Ka. Not sure if that even classifies as 'a car' :)

Beats a smart car ha ha.

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