Good - maybe this will make a difference - surely an MP can have an impact - these guys are just ripping people off - I got lucky - I was about to take my car to them after what sounded like a reasonable quote but checked with Google just to see if there was any feedback - and found this place - which has no doubt saved me much time money and hassle - let us know how you get on with Piara. Regards, James.
Mr Piara S Khabra,
MP Ealing Southall,
House of Commons,
London,
SW1A OAA
09 July 2007
Full Version: WARNING: HEATHROW MOTORS: DO NOT USE!
Yep... fire a letter off and copy it so all your friends can send one in their name....
Remember the MP has changed to Virendra Sharma MP
And to everybody else who is reading this and wants to take some effective action (1) Print off as many of as many pages of this Invision Board as you can and attach them to a letter to the MP advising this company has for at least the past three years and more continued to fleece the public. (2) Copy the relevant parts of my letter to the Senior Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards, Doug Love, and include a copy of your letter to Virendra Sharma (also include a copy of your letter to Doug Love in your letter to Virendra Sharma MP. (3) Copy both letters for your friends to send in their name and repeat the process above. (4) If you can spare the cash send it by recorded delivery (approx £1.30...not registered approx £4.50) so that you have proof of delivery.
(See copies of my two letters on page 10 of this topic)
Come on!!!!
Virendra Sharma MP
MP Ealing Southall,
House of Commons,
London,
SW1A OAA
[/quote]
Remember the MP has changed to Virendra Sharma MP
And to everybody else who is reading this and wants to take some effective action (1) Print off as many of as many pages of this Invision Board as you can and attach them to a letter to the MP advising this company has for at least the past three years and more continued to fleece the public. (2) Copy the relevant parts of my letter to the Senior Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards, Doug Love, and include a copy of your letter to Virendra Sharma (also include a copy of your letter to Doug Love in your letter to Virendra Sharma MP. (3) Copy both letters for your friends to send in their name and repeat the process above. (4) If you can spare the cash send it by recorded delivery (approx £1.30...not registered approx £4.50) so that you have proof of delivery.
(See copies of my two letters on page 10 of this topic)
Come on!!!!
Virendra Sharma MP
MP Ealing Southall,
House of Commons,
London,
SW1A OAA
[/quote]
QUOTE (HEMvictim @ Mar 22 2008, 02:05 PM) 
For further information I am adding the following to the above letter
With regards to the compensation I would like to draw your attention to the following to which you are bound
“The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires a supplier of a service acting in the course of business in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to carry out that service with reasonable care and skill and, unless agreed to the contrary, within a reasonable time and make no more than a reasonable charge.”
“ If a supplier of a service breaches the conditions of a contract (for example by failing to carry out the work ordered) the consumer has a choice either to affirm the contract (treat it as still in existence) and claim compensation from the trader for his failure to carry out what was agreed or rescind (cancel) the contract.”
You have breached these terms due to the failure to address the faults with the car when it was initially with you and when it was returned to you two weeks later
“If the supplier does not carry out the work with reasonable care and skill the law treats the matter as a breach of contract and the consumer can seek redress. Often reasonable compensation in these circumstances will be repair or replacement.”
You have breached these terms due to the state of the drivers seat and foot well and the disconnection of the fan and incorrect fitting of the air box and the problem which became apparent with four coils which was not an issue prior to the vehicles return to you
“If no agreement has been made with the supplier about completion of the work, or about the charge to be made, then if it is not completed within a reasonable time or the price is unreasonable, this is also treated as breach of contract and the consumer may be entitled to compensation.”
You have breached these terms due to the extended time you held the vehicle
“Any goods supplied in the course of the service must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose. If they are not the consumer is entitled to a repair, replacement or compensation.”
You have breached these terms due to the fact that inferior parts were used and that the engine was 2nd hand and not remanufactured/reconditioned as stated
“ A supplier of a service who has broken a contract may also be liable for any consequential loss which is suffered by the consumer. Ultimately it would be for the courts to decide whether or not a breach of contract has occurred and the redress, in the form of damages (compensation), to which a consumer might be entitled.”
You failed to contact me at any time except to inform me when money was involved, causing me to take time off unnecessarily, at a cost to myself. Because of the extended time you held the vehicle it caused major inconvenience to myself and my wife as we both required the use of a car
With regards to the compensation I would like to draw your attention to the following to which you are bound
“The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires a supplier of a service acting in the course of business in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to carry out that service with reasonable care and skill and, unless agreed to the contrary, within a reasonable time and make no more than a reasonable charge.”
“ If a supplier of a service breaches the conditions of a contract (for example by failing to carry out the work ordered) the consumer has a choice either to affirm the contract (treat it as still in existence) and claim compensation from the trader for his failure to carry out what was agreed or rescind (cancel) the contract.”
You have breached these terms due to the failure to address the faults with the car when it was initially with you and when it was returned to you two weeks later
“If the supplier does not carry out the work with reasonable care and skill the law treats the matter as a breach of contract and the consumer can seek redress. Often reasonable compensation in these circumstances will be repair or replacement.”
You have breached these terms due to the state of the drivers seat and foot well and the disconnection of the fan and incorrect fitting of the air box and the problem which became apparent with four coils which was not an issue prior to the vehicles return to you
“If no agreement has been made with the supplier about completion of the work, or about the charge to be made, then if it is not completed within a reasonable time or the price is unreasonable, this is also treated as breach of contract and the consumer may be entitled to compensation.”
You have breached these terms due to the extended time you held the vehicle
“Any goods supplied in the course of the service must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose. If they are not the consumer is entitled to a repair, replacement or compensation.”
You have breached these terms due to the fact that inferior parts were used and that the engine was 2nd hand and not remanufactured/reconditioned as stated
“ A supplier of a service who has broken a contract may also be liable for any consequential loss which is suffered by the consumer. Ultimately it would be for the courts to decide whether or not a breach of contract has occurred and the redress, in the form of damages (compensation), to which a consumer might be entitled.”
You failed to contact me at any time except to inform me when money was involved, causing me to take time off unnecessarily, at a cost to myself. Because of the extended time you held the vehicle it caused major inconvenience to myself and my wife as we both required the use of a car
Hi I too believe i have become one of the many unlucky Heathrow Engines customers....would love to know if you have obtained any response/recompense re: your letter?
QUOTE (duped2 @ May 19 2008, 12:03 PM)
Hi I too believe i have become one of the many unlucky Heathrow Engines customers....would love to know if you have obtained any response/recompense re: your letter?
Here is the hard truth.... you will get nothing out of Heathrow Engine Centre!!
If you read back through the postings i.e. page 10,9, etc you will see posting of mine showing how you might get some money back via comprehensive insurance if you have it??
The letters are an idea to get some heat on the company and hopefully some payback for them and perhaps some for customers although this is unlikely as they will just wind things up. My letters to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards) and the MP have not yeilded anything.
Bar my faith in people I would say that the folks down at Ealing Trading Standards have to be on a back-hander as they seem to think Heathrow Engine Centre are kosher!! THE MIND BOGGLES!! (And I sent them everthing I had including prints from this board showing continued fleecing of the public)Nonetheless write to both Doug Love and the MP and include your experiece plus prints from this board to show they are still doing the dirty.
My only other advice to ALL VIEWING AND WRITING ON THIS BOARD is to go to the Virendra Sharma MP surgery with your complaint. If you also write to your own constituency MP it is likely he/she might get on the blower to Virenda which may also better the odds of getting some action against Heathrow Engine Centre.
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour)
House of Commons, London SW1 0AA
Tel: (020) 7219 6080
Fax: (020) 7219 3969
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Surgeries
Every month at Southall Town Hall and Northfields Library. Telephone (020) 8571 1003 to make an appointment.
I AM WILLING TO MEET UP WITH A FEW OTHERS WHO FEEL THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE TAKEN TO TASK. EVEN IF THERE IS NO FINANCIAL WINBACK THERE WILL SATISFACTION IN CLOSING THEM DOWN FOR A WHILE[color="#FF0000"][/color]
So come on
improve your karma and pay it forward.... in the words of that capitalist user of third world children... JUST DO IT!!
I really wish I had of read or at least researched more into this company. They currently have my car. It's now been 5 weeks. I blew the head on my Jeep Grand Cherokee. They quoted me £2750.00 to get it fixed, so they picked it up from the garage I had had it at, who diagonised the problem. Due to get it back after 1 week. I got it back nearly 4 weeks later. Sunday just gone. Only to find it was covered in grease and dirt though out the inside. They had put the wrong battery back on (mine being perfectly fine and relativly new) Only to put the bonet down and dent it, as the wrong one on was far to large. A few other bits and bobs on my car wrong, I go to drive my car only to find it unable to drive. As whenever you steer it makes a hidiously large knocking noise and jolts the car. Which to me sounds like the drive shaft! They collected it yesterday. And I have been on the phone every hour trying to find out what's going on. And no one seems keen to help me. Just now infact they transfered me to another caller, who is also going through the same ordeal! You really don't think when you have engine troubles, and you need it repaired quickly to investigate a company. I know my engine is rare to buy brand new as apparently big 4 lt lumps like mine are so hard to break they just don't sell them. So I was limited on where to go.. but I JUST did not expect this. It's costing me a fortune to be without my car. And costing a fortune for those monkeys to fix it. And it's looking now that I won't have it back for quite some time. All depending on how they want to deal with. I've already been told that they picked my car up from the garage as it is. Failing to realise I have not only used that garage ever since I have driven. AND I've known most of the mechanics since I was 3!! Who are willing to write a statement stating how it left them to go to Heathrow Engines. They are also trying to tell me that the battery that's on now is the original one. Which clearly it's not as it's the wrong one for my car. AND I have an invoice for the original battery that was fitted 2 months ago. And... ARGH springs to mind. I apologize. The rantings of a woman who JUST wants her car back. I live in the middle of the fens and 5 weeks without a car here is madness! I really have no faith in this company. And only today started to investigate. Trading standards were not very helpful.. and it really is not looking promising about my car!
Thank you for all who posted on here. It's been immensly helpful! Thank you.
Rebecca
Thank you for all who posted on here. It's been immensly helpful! Thank you.
Rebecca
QUOTE (Bexrated @ May 20 2008, 05:47 AM)
I really wish I had of read or at least researched more into this company. They currently have my car. It's now been 5 weeks. I blew the head on my Jeep Grand Cherokee. They quoted me £2750.00 to get it fixed, so they picked it up from the garage I had had it at, who diagonised the problem. Due to get it back after 1 week. I got it back nearly 4 weeks later. Sunday just gone. Only to find it was covered in grease and dirt though out the inside. They had put the wrong battery back on (mine being perfectly fine and relativly new) Only to put the bonet down and dent it, as the wrong one on was far to large. A few other bits and bobs on my car wrong, I go to drive my car only to find it unable to drive. As whenever you steer it makes a hidiously large knocking noise and jolts the car. Which to me sounds like the drive shaft! They collected it yesterday. And I have been on the phone every hour trying to find out what's going on. And no one seems keen to help me. Just now infact they transfered me to another caller, who is also going through the same ordeal! You really don't think when you have engine troubles, and you need it repaired quickly to investigate a company. I know my engine is rare to buy brand new as apparently big 4 lt lumps like mine are so hard to break they just don't sell them. So I was limited on where to go.. but I JUST did not expect this. It's costing me a fortune to be without my car. And costing a fortune for those monkeys to fix it. And it's looking now that I won't have it back for quite some time. All depending on how they want to deal with. I've already been told that they picked my car up from the garage as it is. Failing to realise I have not only used that garage ever since I have driven. AND I've known most of the mechanics since I was 3!! Who are willing to write a statement stating how it left them to go to Heathrow Engines. They are also trying to tell me that the battery that's on now is the original one. Which clearly it's not as it's the wrong one for my car. AND I have an invoice for the original battery that was fitted 2 months ago. And... ARGH springs to mind. I apologize. The rantings of a woman who JUST wants her car back. I live in the middle of the fens and 5 weeks without a car here is madness! I really have no faith in this company. And only today started to investigate. Trading standards were not very helpful.. and it really is not looking promising about my car!
Thank you for all who posted on here. It's been immensly helpful! Thank you.
Rebecca
Thank you for all who posted on here. It's been immensly helpful! Thank you.
Rebecca
Good luck, hope all goes well with your Jeep!
QUOTE (Garciaaa @ May 20 2008, 11:20 AM)
Good luck, hope all goes well with your Jeep!
Just spoke to them, they told me to come collect it and they wont fix the problems they have created. 3k and my car is still unable to drive! They're rather rude also. Though not suprised there! I feel a court case coming on!
Good luck
QUOTE (Bexrated @ May 20 2008, 12:19 PM)
Just spoke to them, they told me to come collect it and they wont fix the problems they have created. 3k and my car is still unable to drive! They're rather rude also. Though not suprised there! I feel a court case coming on!
Hello Rebecca.....
Really sorry you are yet another person who is being fleeced by this awful company.
I was stung last year in March/April and have only this March recieved some money back but only through my comprehensive insurance. If you have comprehensive insurance you might have a chance [see my posting on page 8 "Post#138" username Big Daddy]. I will be happy to provide you a more thorough description of the process if you contact me through this board if indeed you had comprehensive insurance.
Whilst court action might sound reasonable I have only heard of one person on this board recieving any money back and that was some time ago. I have registered with a data company that sends reports of the CCJs for this company and thus far we are in double figures. Remember a CCJ does not mean they have to actually pay you anything. As you have already experienced these are nasty, aggressive, stuff on your shoe types and they just will not fork out money. This would leave you with the option of paying for bailiffs and there is one report on the net of there being little to on their site that is worth taking. Personally... yes by all means go to court but it will be long and drawn out and the best you can hope for is a CCJ agains the company.
As I am continuing to reiterate the best thing to do (only because it may at some point get them closed down) is to write to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards. Write about your experience and copy some pages of this board to him. Also copy that letter to the Southall MP and visa versa. Upto now their response has been inept (in fact I will shortly post their response to me from last year). I have posted copies of my letters to them on page 10 "Posting#199" and "Posting#200". As mentioned above the MP for Ealing Southall is Virendra Sharma.
Finaly I do think that if several of us meet up at Virendra Sharmas surgery it might progress things along. My situtation is now resolved somewhat however I am more than willing to put time and effort into making these people feel the heat. Would you attend the surgery?? I am going to look for an intemediary body/person that we can all contact so that people on this board can have some security about who they are agreeing to meet. As posted above it is also worth writing to your own MP (with printed copies of this board) and asking for his assitance in encouraging Virendra Sharma to look into this properly.
Again, I smell a rat down in Ealing Trading Standards..... 2+2 does not make 5 and one wonders if they have dirty oily hands???
Keep in touch
Big Daddy
I have just written to the Ealing Times to see if they are interested in the story.............. [/color]
To whom it may concern
Please see the link below that relates to a company that operates in the Borough of Ealing/Southall who go by the name of Heathrow Engine Centre.
I believe things are hotting up as this company continues to fleece people using the same procedure it has done for years with impunity.
Page 11: [color="#0000FF"]http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200&gopid=1724612&#entry1724612
Page 10: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200
All eleven pages of this board are about the same company. The first was posted February 7th 2006 although this company also traded as Rivermead Engineering and possibly Heathrow Motor Services.
If you go to page 10 of that site and look at posting #199 there is a description of the essential process of the scam.
These people are not unknown to watchdog and they found them to be aggressive and nasty when they attempted to 'out' them.
More importantly you will note that Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards has been contacted and provided an enormous amount of evidence[Posting#199 - page10]. Thier response was 'they seem to be operating within the Law'. A short search on the internet will show that this is far from the case. An additional letter to the Ealing/Southall MP also did not get a response [Posting#200 - page 10]
It is high time they were exposed!!! I believe it would make a good story and also it might jump start Ealing Trading Standards and the Ealing/Southall MP into action.
Regards
Big Daddy
To whom it may concern
Please see the link below that relates to a company that operates in the Borough of Ealing/Southall who go by the name of Heathrow Engine Centre.
I believe things are hotting up as this company continues to fleece people using the same procedure it has done for years with impunity.
Page 11: [color="#0000FF"]http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200&gopid=1724612&#entry1724612
Page 10: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200
All eleven pages of this board are about the same company. The first was posted February 7th 2006 although this company also traded as Rivermead Engineering and possibly Heathrow Motor Services.
If you go to page 10 of that site and look at posting #199 there is a description of the essential process of the scam.
These people are not unknown to watchdog and they found them to be aggressive and nasty when they attempted to 'out' them.
More importantly you will note that Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards has been contacted and provided an enormous amount of evidence[Posting#199 - page10]. Thier response was 'they seem to be operating within the Law'. A short search on the internet will show that this is far from the case. An additional letter to the Ealing/Southall MP also did not get a response [Posting#200 - page 10]
It is high time they were exposed!!! I believe it would make a good story and also it might jump start Ealing Trading Standards and the Ealing/Southall MP into action.
Regards
Big Daddy
Not sure what happened to the board above....
To whom it may concern
Please see the link below that relates to a company that operates in the Borough of Ealing/Southall who go by the name of Heathrow Engine Centre.
I believe things are hotting up as this company continues to fleece people using the same procedure it has done for years with impunity.
Page 11: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200&gopid=1724612&#entry1724612
Page 10: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200
All eleven pages of this board are about the same company. The first was posted February 7th 2006 although this company also traded as Rivermead Engineering previous to this.
If you go to page 10 of that site and look at posting #199 there is a description of the essential process of the scam.
These people are not unknown to watchdog and they found them to be aggressive and nasty when they attempted to 'out' them. I have written to Watchdog however at this point they do not feel another 'sting' would achieve anything.
More importantly you will note that Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards has been contacted and provided an enormous amount of evidence[Posting#199 - page10]. His response to me was 'they seem to be operating within the Law'. A short search on the internet will show that this is far from the case. An additional letter to the Ealing/Southall MP also did not get a response [Posting#200 - page 10]
It is high time they were exposed!!! I believe it would make a good story and also it might jump start Ealing Trading Standards and the Ealing/Southall MP into action.
Regards
Big Daddy[color="#000000"][/color]
To whom it may concern
Please see the link below that relates to a company that operates in the Borough of Ealing/Southall who go by the name of Heathrow Engine Centre.
I believe things are hotting up as this company continues to fleece people using the same procedure it has done for years with impunity.
Page 11: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200&gopid=1724612&#entry1724612
Page 10: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=207194&st=200
All eleven pages of this board are about the same company. The first was posted February 7th 2006 although this company also traded as Rivermead Engineering previous to this.
If you go to page 10 of that site and look at posting #199 there is a description of the essential process of the scam.
These people are not unknown to watchdog and they found them to be aggressive and nasty when they attempted to 'out' them. I have written to Watchdog however at this point they do not feel another 'sting' would achieve anything.
More importantly you will note that Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards has been contacted and provided an enormous amount of evidence[Posting#199 - page10]. His response to me was 'they seem to be operating within the Law'. A short search on the internet will show that this is far from the case. An additional letter to the Ealing/Southall MP also did not get a response [Posting#200 - page 10]
It is high time they were exposed!!! I believe it would make a good story and also it might jump start Ealing Trading Standards and the Ealing/Southall MP into action.
Regards
Big Daddy[color="#000000"][/color]
QUOTE (Big Daddy @ May 20 2008, 04:12 PM)
Hello Rebecca.....
Really sorry you are yet another person who is being fleeced by this awful company.
I was stung last year in March/April and have only this March recieved some money back but only through my comprehensive insurance. If you have comprehensive insurance you might have a chance [see my posting on page 8 "Post#138" username Big Daddy]. I will be happy to provide you a more thorough description of the process if you contact me through this board if indeed you had comprehensive insurance.
Whilst court action might sound reasonable I have only heard of one person on this board recieving any money back and that was some time ago. I have registered with a data company that sends reports of the CCJs for this company and thus far we are in double figures. Remember a CCJ does not mean they have to actually pay you anything. As you have already experienced these are nasty, aggressive, stuff on your shoe types and they just will not fork out money. This would leave you with the option of paying for bailiffs and there is one report on the net of there being little to on their site that is worth taking. Personally... yes by all means go to court but it will be long and drawn out and the best you can hope for is a CCJ agains the company.
As I am continuing to reiterate the best thing to do (only because it may at some point get them closed down) is to write to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards. Write about your experience and copy some pages of this board to him. Also copy that letter to the Southall MP and visa versa. Upto now their response has been inept (in fact I will shortly post their response to me from last year). I have posted copies of my letters to them on page 10 "Posting#199" and "Posting#200". As mentioned above the MP for Ealing Southall is Virendra Sharma.
Finaly I do think that if several of us meet up at Virendra Sharmas surgery it might progress things along. My situtation is now resolved somewhat however I am more than willing to put time and effort into making these people feel the heat. Would you attend the surgery?? I am going to look for an intemediary body/person that we can all contact so that people on this board can have some security about who they are agreeing to meet. As posted above it is also worth writing to your own MP (with printed copies of this board) and asking for his assitance in encouraging Virendra Sharma to look into this properly.
Again, I smell a rat down in Ealing Trading Standards..... 2+2 does not make 5 and one wonders if they have dirty oily hands???
Keep in touch
Big Daddy
Really sorry you are yet another person who is being fleeced by this awful company.
I was stung last year in March/April and have only this March recieved some money back but only through my comprehensive insurance. If you have comprehensive insurance you might have a chance [see my posting on page 8 "Post#138" username Big Daddy]. I will be happy to provide you a more thorough description of the process if you contact me through this board if indeed you had comprehensive insurance.
Whilst court action might sound reasonable I have only heard of one person on this board recieving any money back and that was some time ago. I have registered with a data company that sends reports of the CCJs for this company and thus far we are in double figures. Remember a CCJ does not mean they have to actually pay you anything. As you have already experienced these are nasty, aggressive, stuff on your shoe types and they just will not fork out money. This would leave you with the option of paying for bailiffs and there is one report on the net of there being little to on their site that is worth taking. Personally... yes by all means go to court but it will be long and drawn out and the best you can hope for is a CCJ agains the company.
As I am continuing to reiterate the best thing to do (only because it may at some point get them closed down) is to write to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) for Ealing Trading Standards. Write about your experience and copy some pages of this board to him. Also copy that letter to the Southall MP and visa versa. Upto now their response has been inept (in fact I will shortly post their response to me from last year). I have posted copies of my letters to them on page 10 "Posting#199" and "Posting#200". As mentioned above the MP for Ealing Southall is Virendra Sharma.
Finaly I do think that if several of us meet up at Virendra Sharmas surgery it might progress things along. My situtation is now resolved somewhat however I am more than willing to put time and effort into making these people feel the heat. Would you attend the surgery?? I am going to look for an intemediary body/person that we can all contact so that people on this board can have some security about who they are agreeing to meet. As posted above it is also worth writing to your own MP (with printed copies of this board) and asking for his assitance in encouraging Virendra Sharma to look into this properly.
Again, I smell a rat down in Ealing Trading Standards..... 2+2 does not make 5 and one wonders if they have dirty oily hands???
Keep in touch
Big Daddy
Hello there Big Daddy,
Thank you SO much for replying with all of that. VERY useful indeed. Infact this whole board is. I was a little upset earlier over the ordeal, but finally I have just taken the quality time needed to look through this thread properly. And I am just in such shock at the countless victims of this company. I too, like everyone else was only quoted a certain amount and it soon rose when they got the car. Obviously I got it back Sunday and since then they have had it back. I took photos of all the damage I could see on the motor, and luckily have a statement from a the garage it left to go to HEC stating how it left them. Which I am hoping will provide good evidence in whichever avenue I have to venture down.
As it stands now, my husband HAD to call them. They have agreed to fix the bonet and replace their battery with god only knows what. As for the problem due to it not driving, they claim it's the transmission box and it has nothing to do with them. And it was like that when they got it. Which is utter cod's wallop! They told my husband.. a rather lovely chap called Jerry White (who abused me and threatened me on the phone) that they will delivery the car once ready. Nice as pie to my husband and very helpful. So what to do now. Tomorrow my husband is going to chase what the situation is and when the car will be delievered. We are ready to go straight to our credit card company as our first means of getting our money back. Fully prepared for the fact that once we have the car inspected there is going to be considerable damage still. Basing that on the fact we got it back, after they said all the work was done, and I had a dent in the bonet from a wrong sized battery, my front speakers no longer worked, My front seat is ripped, the car was literally covered in oil and grease inside, and obviously this new problem of the drive shaft or as they like to call it the transmission box! And that is only surface damage. I dred to think what's underneath.
So thank you again for your advice. I do have fully comp insurance, and will talk to my insurance comapny tomorrow about the situation. In the mean time I fully intend on doing all I can along with all of you on this board to do what we can to get these idiots shut down. Laughably one chap tried to tell me that because I am a woman that I know nothing about cars, and I had to point out that I come from a rather large motor trade family, and have grown up around the industry for 28 years. Needless to say, he shut up!
Such a headache. My husband has just found out the VAT fraud part of all of this. So the VAT can expect a call from me in the morning. along with Ealing Police, and who ever else I can contact.
Lets see if I get my car back.... And in the condition it left here! Doubtful.
Thank you again.
QUOTE (Bexrated @ May 20 2008, 08:21 PM)
Hello there Big Daddy
Thank you SO much for replying with all of that.
Thank you SO much for replying with all of that.
Hello again please find below a synopsis (sent to somebody else) of my route in claiming back through my insurers who were Churchill. Yes you absolutely should get your money back through the credit card company, although as you know this will not resolve the damage to the car.... I will send an attachment privately to you through this board so look for it in your in box (under 'My Controls')... the attachment will give you an idea of how I positioned my case.....
Regards
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________
STEPS TO TAKE......
Sounds like you had comprehensive insurance... (1) Go and get the car... (2) If you haven't yet paid and are going to pay the money get somebody (a good friend or family) to pay it on a credit card and pay them(your friend/family) back. This way you/they will almost 100% be able to get the money back from the credit card company as they will be jointly liable... it might take a while but it will come back. (3) Once you have the car get a report done with digital pictures. My people would not want to get involved again. I don't think those dum dums at HEC would do anything but my people do not want to push their luck. Possible AA or RAC or any other reputable person/business although remember there will be a lot of engine work that will require heavy machinery.
(4) Once the report has confirmed shoddy work and 'detriment to value' i.e. you can make a case for maliscous damage to your insurers. Forget what your insurers say when they kick back and stick to your guns... you know you will not get anything out of Heathrow Engine Centre so keep to the insurer route. Send your insurers a copy of the report and make the case that Heathrow EC have damaged your car on the inside i.e. they have not attempted to do the work to an acceptalbe level and have caused detriment to value. Persist with your insurers and insist that they send an assessor to inspect your car (this is easier if your car is dismantled... if the garage will keep the car on their premises dismantled so much the better) (5) If the assessor/insurers disagrees with you insist on arbitration which should be part of your policy.. you will have a good case as malicious damage on the inside is no different to malicious damage on the outside . All else failing go to the Insurance Ombudsmen and make your case against the insurer i.e. damage to the inside of the vehicle is the same as damage to the outside of the vehicle. (6) Once you have the report from your garage write to the Credit Card Company and ask for the money back on the basis they are jointly liable. You shouldn't have a problem here as long as you have taken your vehicle back to Heathrow EC to allow them to make right the work i.e. consumer law requires you to allow the tradesman/business to make right their work or else you invalidate your consumer rights. Even if you havn't done this I think the credit card company will probably play ball if the report shows very shoddy, inept work. (7) Be persistant, go step by step, don't lose heart. (8) Write to Doug Love (Snr Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards and the Southall MP... it will be good for your 'karma'... help others and you will be helped.
CLAIMING THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE
This is the way to position you comprehensive insurance claim. Take a look at the steps above if you get an initial knock-back. Remember insurers are not going to base a pay out on sentiment or sympathy so make your case on the facts and insist on an assessor going out to inspect the damage. It might well be worth you being there at the assessment and perhaps a qualified mechanic (who's on your side) to point out the damage and consequencial detriment to value.
What if you only have third party insurance?
It remains the sad fact that those with only third party insurance have a much harder route. Again I will reiterate your letters to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer) Ealing Trading Standards and Virendra Sharma MP Ealing/Southall will add to the weight of evidence againt HEC. [Copies of my letters to these people can be found on page 10 of this topic on postings #199 and #200] In addition attending Virendra Sharma surgery would add weight to the whole issue against Heathrow Engine Centre... see posting #204.
RE: Claiming via comprehensive insurance
I am writing to you regarding the above claim **********
I have recently spoken to the engineer who carried out the assessment of the damage to the vehicle. He advised that he had not forwarded to you the reports collated by the garage. Please find both reports enclosed which provide essential evidence with regard to my claim.
If I may reiterate the basis of my claim is not mechanical failure, breakdown or breakage but damage and detriment to value, in that it is clear from the reports there was not intention to carry out the reconditoning and installation with reasonable care and skill. Therefore the damage and detriment to the vehicle is of a maliscous nature and as such covered under Section B ‘Damage to your car’.
I am therefore making the case that damage and detriment to value caused whilst ‘installing’ a reconditioned engine is the same as damage and detriment to value caused in what might be considered a typical/standard accident where a claim would be made. I am therefore also making the case that the damage may be considered malicious.
Yours sincerely
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________
One of the good points about this process is that when your insurance company pay out they will attempt to get their money back of Heathrow Engine Centre via their Business Liability Insurance i.e. somebody bigger than ourselves applies some heat!!
QUOTE (Big Daddy @ May 19 2008, 04:27 PM)
Here is the hard truth.... you will get nothing out of Heathrow Engine Centre!!
If you read back through the postings i.e. page 10,9, etc you will see posting of mine showing how you might get some money back via comprehensive insurance if you have it??
The letters are an idea to get some heat on the company and hopefully some payback for them and perhaps some for customers although this is unlikely as they will just wind things up. My letters to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards) and the MP have not yeilded anything. Bar my faith in people I would say that the folks down at Ealing Trading Standards have to be on a back-hander as they seem to think Heathrow Engine Centre are kosher!! THE MIND BOGGLES!! (And I sent them everthing I had including prints from this board showing continued fleecing of the public)
Nonetheless write to both Doug Love and the MP and include your experiece plus prints from this board to show they are still doing the dirty.
My only other advice to ALL VIEWING AND WRITING ON THIS BOARD is to go to the Virendra Sharma MP surgery with your complaint. If you also write to your own constituency MP it is likely he/she might get on the blower to Virenda which may also better the odds of getting some action against Heathrow Engine Centre.
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour)
House of Commons, London SW1 0AA
Tel: (020) 7219 6080
Fax: (020) 7219 3969
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Surgeries
Every month at Southall Town Hall and Northfields Library. Telephone (020) 8571 1003 to make an appointment.
I AM WILLING TO MEET UP WITH A FEW OTHERS WHO FEEL THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE TAKEN TO TASK. EVEN IF THERE IS NO FINANCIAL WINBACK THERE WILL SATISFACTION IN CLOSING THEM DOWN FOR A WHILE[color="#FF0000"][/color]
So come on improve your karma and pay it forward.... in the words of that capitalist user of third world children... JUST DO IT!!
If you read back through the postings i.e. page 10,9, etc you will see posting of mine showing how you might get some money back via comprehensive insurance if you have it??
The letters are an idea to get some heat on the company and hopefully some payback for them and perhaps some for customers although this is unlikely as they will just wind things up. My letters to Doug Love (Senior Enforcement Officer for Ealing Trading Standards) and the MP have not yeilded anything.
Bar my faith in people I would say that the folks down at Ealing Trading Standards have to be on a back-hander as they seem to think Heathrow Engine Centre are kosher!! THE MIND BOGGLES!! (And I sent them everthing I had including prints from this board showing continued fleecing of the public)Nonetheless write to both Doug Love and the MP and include your experiece plus prints from this board to show they are still doing the dirty.
My only other advice to ALL VIEWING AND WRITING ON THIS BOARD is to go to the Virendra Sharma MP surgery with your complaint. If you also write to your own constituency MP it is likely he/she might get on the blower to Virenda which may also better the odds of getting some action against Heathrow Engine Centre.
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour)
House of Commons, London SW1 0AA
Tel: (020) 7219 6080
Fax: (020) 7219 3969
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Surgeries
Every month at Southall Town Hall and Northfields Library. Telephone (020) 8571 1003 to make an appointment.
I AM WILLING TO MEET UP WITH A FEW OTHERS WHO FEEL THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE TAKEN TO TASK. EVEN IF THERE IS NO FINANCIAL WINBACK THERE WILL SATISFACTION IN CLOSING THEM DOWN FOR A WHILE[color="#FF0000"][/color]
So come on
improve your karma and pay it forward.... in the words of that capitalist user of third world children... JUST DO IT!!
Many thanks Big Daddy for all the advice.
They currently have my car for the third time ........ i'm making it my last as it's costing me a fortune in hire car charges. I think i will just have to cut my losses and take another route and then try all your great advice on trying to get my money back through credit card and fully comp insurance. But I totally agree these people should NOT be able to get away with it. Will keep you updated.
They currently have my car for the third time ........ i'm making it my last as it's costing me a fortune in hire car charges. I think i will just have to cut my losses and take another route and then try all your great advice on trying to get my money back through credit card and fully comp insurance. But I totally agree these people should NOT be able to get away with it. Will keep you updated.
here is another complaint !
this time from Germany !
i requested a quote for a Land Rover Engine, LR88 2,25l Diesel,
what i got is a Santana engine, somehow put together,
i paid the total invoice amount via bank transfer, but got a dunner letter from my credit card institue !
what i didn't know, they had charged my credit card with 1,000 GBP !
the last 4 weeks at minimum 2 phone calls per day several eMails and one FAX last week,
====> no response !
so i am looking for ways to solve the problems, from here, Germany !
Cheers,
Uwe
this time from Germany !
i requested a quote for a Land Rover Engine, LR88 2,25l Diesel,
what i got is a Santana engine, somehow put together,
i paid the total invoice amount via bank transfer, but got a dunner letter from my credit card institue !
what i didn't know, they had charged my credit card with 1,000 GBP !
the last 4 weeks at minimum 2 phone calls per day several eMails and one FAX last week,
====> no response !
so i am looking for ways to solve the problems, from here, Germany !
Cheers,
Uwe
this www.reconditioned-engines.co.uk is a link to Heathrow Engine Center, or Hallmead Services Ltd.
see the original chat entry WARNING: HEATHROW MOTORS: DO NOT USE!
you recognize, when you are already trapped !
see the original chat entry WARNING: HEATHROW MOTORS: DO NOT USE!
you recognize, when you are already trapped !
and this is another one:
www.secondhand-engines.co.uk
www.secondhand-engines.co.uk
Well they have another victim now, I only got to find and read this forum after they took my car on their tow truck and I googed the Company to get the phone number. And what will not suprise you all, is that a simple replacement engine quoted as £995 has now reached £2500 approx.abliet- no payment has been made-but what do I do now- it is obviously madness to make any payments to them- but £400+ vat to take my engine out & put it in my boot is way over the top-mind you, thats if they have even got that far.
Has any one been to see the garage, how easy would it be to access my vehicle to see if they engine has been removed, because if it hasnt been touched, then I am happy to pay them their £70+ fee for towing. Any suggestions??
I emailed the Trading Standars for Ealing nearly 2 weeks ago-suprise, suprise-no response!! Maybe if I complain, I'll get £50 compensation-that will help towards the tow fees!
Has any one been to see the garage, how easy would it be to access my vehicle to see if they engine has been removed, because if it hasnt been touched, then I am happy to pay them their £70+ fee for towing. Any suggestions??
I emailed the Trading Standars for Ealing nearly 2 weeks ago-suprise, suprise-no response!! Maybe if I complain, I'll get £50 compensation-that will help towards the tow fees!
another name in the game:
MPH ENGINEERING LTD, WEMB
this company charged my credit card !
without authorization, without a receipt or document or any information for me, of course !
does somebody know that company ?
MPH ENGINEERING LTD, WEMB
this company charged my credit card !
without authorization, without a receipt or document or any information for me, of course !
does somebody know that company ?
As i was reading all of this,I felt very sad and angry.I found their advert in the L200 owner's club so I tought they were reputable.They quote me with a very good deal so I took the plunge only to heard from them that I need to spend at least £3500 twice the amount they quoted me.They had my car now which they dismantled the engine already.
They were really nasty when I said to ceased the work and I need to pay them around £700 to get my car back.
How could these people still in business??????????
Seems like someone is protecting them....
They were really nasty when I said to ceased the work and I need to pay them around £700 to get my car back.
How could these people still in business??????????
Seems like someone is protecting them....
QUOTE (Phoenix2b @ Jun 12 2008, 08:57 PM)
Well they have another victim now, I only got to find and read this forum after they took my car on their tow truck and I googed the Company to get the phone number. And what will not suprise you all, is that a simple replacement engine quoted as £995 has now reached £2500 approx.abliet- no payment has been made-but what do I do now- it is obviously madness to make any payments to them- but £400+ vat to take my engine out & put it in my boot is way over the top-mind you, thats if they have even got that far.
Has any one been to see the garage, how easy would it be to access my vehicle to see if they engine has been removed, because if it hasnt been touched, then I am happy to pay them their £70+ fee for towing. Any suggestions??
I emailed the Trading Standars for Ealing nearly 2 weeks ago-suprise, suprise-no response!! Maybe if I complain, I'll get £50 compensation-that will help towards the tow fees!
Has any one been to see the garage, how easy would it be to access my vehicle to see if they engine has been removed, because if it hasnt been touched, then I am happy to pay them their £70+ fee for towing. Any suggestions??
I emailed the Trading Standars for Ealing nearly 2 weeks ago-suprise, suprise-no response!! Maybe if I complain, I'll get £50 compensation-that will help towards the tow fees!
Contact Watchdog again
They have a new victim, me.
I found out about them from this forum after i had returned my car due to the 'recon' engine using too much oil.
All of the problems reported with Heathrow engines previously apply here for me also.
I am $1700 out of pocket i have no car and they won't/can't tell me when or if i can get it back. I am waiting for the second bill to arrive before they let me pick it up. I guess then i ahve to embark on a similar epic legal battle as mentioned previously befor ei can get recompense for shoddy or not undertaken work.
I found out about them from this forum after i had returned my car due to the 'recon' engine using too much oil.
All of the problems reported with Heathrow engines previously apply here for me also.
I am $1700 out of pocket i have no car and they won't/can't tell me when or if i can get it back. I am waiting for the second bill to arrive before they let me pick it up. I guess then i ahve to embark on a similar epic legal battle as mentioned previously befor ei can get recompense for shoddy or not undertaken work.
THE ONLY WAY TO SWING A CAT
Twelve pages of victims should help everybody understand that until HEC choose to close down of their own accord or go into liquidation there will a whole lot more victims.
THE ONLY WAY ANYBODY IS GOING TO GET SOME SATISFACTION IS TO GET THE LOCAL MP INVOLVED....
So (1) go to the Virendra Sharma MP surgery with your complaint. If you also write to your own constituency MP it is likely he/she might get on the blower to Virenda which may also better the odds of getting some action against Heathrow Engine Centre.
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour)
House of Commons, London SW1 0AA
Tel: (020) 7219 6080
Fax: (020) 7219 3969
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Surgeries
Every month at Southall Town Hall and Northfields Library. Telephone (020) 8571 1003 to make an appointment.
Also write to Doug Love the Senior Trading Standards Enforcement Officer of Ealing (Southall) Trading Standards... frankly their lack of action begs belief and one wonders if HEC pay for all their advertising, however when attending the MPs surgery it will stand you in good stead to say you have writtent to them (and also know of others who have written to them to no avail). Be sure to include prints from this board... all 12 pages if possible. [Also see the letter I wrote to them on posting #199 on page 10.
Doug Love
Senior Enforcement Officer
Ealing Trading Standards
Ealing Council
Perceval House
14/16 Uxbridge Road
London
W5 2HL
PLEASE, I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AND GOT SOME MONEY BACK THROUGH MY COMPREHESIVE INSURANCE (posting #213/#214) HOWEVER THIS IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE ROUTE AND NOT A ROUTE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE OR YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO TAKE ON THE 'WORLD'. IT WILL START WITH ONE OR TWO WRITING AND SEEING THE SOUTHALL MP AND OTHERS WILL FOLLOW AFTER YOU POST YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS BOARD.
Come on chaps and ladies.... do yourself a favour!!! 
Twelve pages of victims should help everybody understand that until HEC choose to close down of their own accord or go into liquidation there will a whole lot more victims.
THE ONLY WAY ANYBODY IS GOING TO GET SOME SATISFACTION IS TO GET THE LOCAL MP INVOLVED....
So (1) go to the Virendra Sharma MP surgery with your complaint. If you also write to your own constituency MP it is likely he/she might get on the blower to Virenda which may also better the odds of getting some action against Heathrow Engine Centre.
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour)
House of Commons, London SW1 0AA
Tel: (020) 7219 6080
Fax: (020) 7219 3969
Email: sharmav@parliament.uk
Surgeries
Every month at Southall Town Hall and Northfields Library. Telephone (020) 8571 1003 to make an appointment.
Also write to Doug Love the Senior Trading Standards Enforcement Officer of Ealing (Southall) Trading Standards... frankly their lack of action begs belief and one wonders if HEC pay for all their advertising, however when attending the MPs surgery it will stand you in good stead to say you have writtent to them (and also know of others who have written to them to no avail). Be sure to include prints from this board... all 12 pages if possible. [Also see the letter I wrote to them on posting #199 on page 10.
Doug Love
Senior Enforcement Officer
Ealing Trading Standards
Ealing Council
Perceval House
14/16 Uxbridge Road
London
W5 2HL
PLEASE, I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AND GOT SOME MONEY BACK THROUGH MY COMPREHESIVE INSURANCE (posting #213/#214) HOWEVER THIS IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE ROUTE AND NOT A ROUTE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE OR YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO TAKE ON THE 'WORLD'. IT WILL START WITH ONE OR TWO WRITING AND SEEING THE SOUTHALL MP AND OTHERS WILL FOLLOW AFTER YOU POST YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS BOARD.
Come on chaps and ladies.... do yourself a favour!!!
Skin a cat!!!
Ok... I decided to lead by example and rang the House of Commons number.....
I left a message and am now also ringing the constituency number to arrange an appointment....
The constituency number is 0208 571 1003.....
If you ring as well and ask to meet at the same appointment it will add clout....
If you do so please post your appointment date on this site.....
As always..... Big Daddy
Okay, as soon as i get a chance today i am going to start calling MP's, Trading standards and insurance companies to see what i can do. 
They called me yesterday very agressive and said to me that I can only have my car back if I paid them in cash.
I said no payment will be made in cash.
Did contact trading standard though but I need to sent letters to HEC before they can do something...why????????????
HEC told me that if I dont paid them,they will scrap my car... .
CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN ADVICE,,,,please.
I said no payment will be made in cash.
Did contact trading standard though but I need to sent letters to HEC before they can do something...why????????????
HEC told me that if I dont paid them,they will scrap my car...
.CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN ADVICE,,,,please.
???
I didn't think they could insis't on cash only up front like that. Have you paid by card already or at any point previously?
They are obviously worried that you will call the card company and cancel payment after you have the car back.
Have they given you any timescale for the scraping of the car?
This is threatening behaviour and borders on menacing i think the local constabulary would be interested.
I didn't think they could insis't on cash only up front like that. Have you paid by card already or at any point previously?
They are obviously worried that you will call the card company and cancel payment after you have the car back.
Have they given you any timescale for the scraping of the car?
This is threatening behaviour and borders on menacing i think the local constabulary would be interested.
No,I have not paid any amount to them and just today they phone me again if I wont take my car
they will scrap it.I dont know what to do,so confused if I will take my car back and paid by my card
seems they are winning...
What should I do????????
???
I didn't think they could insis't on cash only up front like that. Have you paid by card already or at any point previously?
They are obviously worried that you will call the card company and cancel payment after you have the car back.
Have they given you any timescale for the scraping of the car?
This is threatening behaviour and borders on menacing i think the local constabulary would be interested.
[/quote]
they will scrap it.I dont know what to do,so confused if I will take my car back and paid by my card
seems they are winning...
What should I do????????
???
I didn't think they could insis't on cash only up front like that. Have you paid by card already or at any point previously?
They are obviously worried that you will call the card company and cancel payment after you have the car back.
Have they given you any timescale for the scraping of the car?
This is threatening behaviour and borders on menacing i think the local constabulary would be interested.
[/quote]
I cannot believe this is happening. I had a quote today and was considering to send my car there. You guys have saved me. Don't mean to rub in, just want to say the biggest THANK YOU ever. Got a call from Gary today with a very reasonable quote, new engine, 0 miles from the factory!! 5 years guarantee. Explained the problem, engine has just been steam cleaned to show coolant and oil leak, completely damaged. He said he would email me with the quote. Never did. I guess he thought that he can clean my engine and spray it silver now... I don't know and I don't care if I never hear from him again. If he does e-mail I shall send the link to this blog.
How on earth is this company still being allowed to trade??????? Is someone there not hearing it all. Has anyone posted to say a good thing about his cowboys??? Where is Mr. Sodding Purdey Mickey Mouse MD? It makes me sick to think I could have fallen of this scam. Thank you, thank you for ever and ever. Good luck to all you you who are pursuing revenge, I hope you get it. Come on Watchdog, do something for these people!!
How on earth is this company still being allowed to trade??????? Is someone there not hearing it all. Has anyone posted to say a good thing about his cowboys??? Where is Mr. Sodding Purdey Mickey Mouse MD? It makes me sick to think I could have fallen of this scam. Thank you, thank you for ever and ever. Good luck to all you you who are pursuing revenge, I hope you get it. Come on Watchdog, do something for these people!!
Do you still have keys to your car Ken Ken?
Can't you break in to their yard and steal the car back?
Can't you break in to their yard and steal the car back?
Guys,
Guys,
Guys,
Guys,
sorry about the last post, i hit tab return too early,,, Doh.
I managed to get my car back off them last week. It has taken five weeks to get it back (second time) and to say its a mess is a bit of an understatement. I got it back by just turning up and bluffing that i had been told it was ready to pick up.
I now need to get it fixed locally and work out my legal position wrt to getting recompense for the work charged and not done.
I don't think i will be succesfull in getting much back any time soon.
When i turned up to get my car back they were supprised to see me and wanted to know who had said i could pick it up. I bluffed a bit and they said they would get it. After a while one of the mechanics turned up with a broken gas nipple (looks like it was broken whilst off the engine) and said the car didn't run. I said it wasn't a problem and took the car anyway. It runs of sorts but took a bit of nursing home.
I wouldn't recomend just turning up to everyone. I had a good idea my car was still a runner and that they were bluffing whilst thinking of imaginative new ways to charge me.
sorry about the last post, i hit tab return too early,,, Doh.
I managed to get my car back off them last week.
It has taken five weeks to get it back (second time) and to say its a mess is a bit of an understatement. I got it back by just turning up and bluffing that i had been told it was ready to pick up. I now need to get it fixed locally and work out my legal position wrt to getting recompense for the work charged and not done.
I don't think i will be succesfull in getting much back any time soon.
When i turned up to get my car back they were supprised to see me and wanted to know who had said i could pick it up. I bluffed a bit and they said they would get it. After a while one of the mechanics turned up with a broken gas nipple (looks like it was broken whilst off the engine) and said the car didn't run. I said it wasn't a problem and took the car anyway. It runs of sorts but took a bit of nursing home.
I wouldn't recomend just turning up to everyone. I had a good idea my car was still a runner and that they were bluffing whilst thinking of imaginative new ways to charge me.
QUOTE (John @ Jul 16 2008, 03:17 AM)
Do you still have keys to your car Ken Ken?
Can't you break in to their yard and steal the car back?
Can't you break in to their yard and steal the car back?
HELLO,
I still got my spare keys.
YEAH WHY NOT,BUT NOT A GOOD IDEA I SUPPOSED BECAUSE THEY CAN CHARGE ME
WITH ROBBERY FOR BREAKING IN.
I might try a diferrent tactic but am not paying any penny to them.Thats am sure.
To get my car running correctly since i got it back has taken:-
spark plug (wrong fitted)
gas nipple (Deliberatley broken)
Numerous hose clips/clamps. Many hose clips were missing/not fitted causing loss of vacum. Bracketry for the gas system was also misssing/never re-fitted.
2 tins of degresant. Inlet mabnifold and throttle body was heavily coated in oil.
Several hours of diagnostics and investigation as to why it wouldn't run
Oh yeah, a tub of oil. It didn't have enough in when returned and it is still burning more than it should. Pah, that was why it went back in the first place.
When i returned to pick my car up there was another long face in the reception muttering that he wished he had never let them have his car. He was contemplating just leaving it with them and writing it off.
Ken-Ken so how do you propose to get your car back without paying?
spark plug (wrong fitted)
gas nipple (Deliberatley broken)
Numerous hose clips/clamps. Many hose clips were missing/not fitted causing loss of vacum. Bracketry for the gas system was also misssing/never re-fitted.
2 tins of degresant. Inlet mabnifold and throttle body was heavily coated in oil.
Several hours of diagnostics and investigation as to why it wouldn't run
Oh yeah, a tub of oil. It didn't have enough in when returned and it is still burning more than it should. Pah, that was why it went back in the first place.
When i returned to pick my car up there was another long face in the reception muttering that he wished he had never let them have his car. He was contemplating just leaving it with them and writing it off.
Ken-Ken so how do you propose to get your car back without paying?
Why should I pay them......They dont do any work on my car?
They just dismantled it.....maybe I will pay for the haulage when they
picked my car but thats all.
They called me again,they want me to say they can scrap my car.But know
avail,if they do it without my approval they are liable.Contacted my insurance
company already they said I can claimed if things go that way.
I end up buying a little car now for work.
They just dismantled it.....maybe I will pay for the haulage when they
picked my car but thats all.
They called me again,they want me to say they can scrap my car.But know
avail,if they do it without my approval they are liable.Contacted my insurance
company already they said I can claimed if things go that way.
I end up buying a little car now for work.
QUOTE (ken-ken @ Jul 31 2008, 01:41 PM)
Why should I pay them......They dont do any work on my car?
They just dismantled it.....maybe I will pay for the haulage when they
picked my car but thats all.
They called me again,they want me to say they can scrap my car.But know
avail,if they do it without my approval they are liable.Contacted my insurance
company already they said I can claimed if things go that way.
I end up buying a little car now for work.
They just dismantled it.....maybe I will pay for the haulage when they
picked my car but thats all.
They called me again,they want me to say they can scrap my car.But know
avail,if they do it without my approval they are liable.Contacted my insurance
company already they said I can claimed if things go that way.
I end up buying a little car now for work.
Sorry dude, i wasn't suggesting that you should pay, i was just wondering if you had found a way of getting your pile of bits back without having to part with hard cash.
Having just read all the above writings I am totally in shock I cannot belive that this company is trading and getting away with it what the hell does TRADING STANDARDS stand for if they are allowing them to continue.. I only found out about this website on taking my car for its first service and getting into conversation with a fella who had his first service and had seen this website after the works had been carried out I am in shock I was in shock when taking the car to the centre on seeing the state of the place it is a complete mess NOT at all like its website advert which I believe is false advertising and agaisnt the LAW??? My experience with the Engine Centre from Hell or should it be CENTER (the american version of which they are now using as the previous name Heathrow Engine Centre Limited is liquidated and has been since 1990 so by changing to CENTER and dropping the limited makes them legal to trade).
My story so-far...
My car had been off the road for sometime due to it being the engine as I knew by previous evaluations I shopped around after having got really a high price for a new engine I happened to come across yes the dreaded Heathrow Engine Center and received a quotation from a lovely man called gary the quotation was sent via email for the price of £2200 inc VAT for the folllowing:-
Supply & fit a fully re-manufactured exchange engine
Engine Oil, oil filter & fittings gaskets are included in the price
All engines fitted in our own workshop
Up to 5years warranty/60,000 mile warranty
Low cost recovery can be arranged
I thought lovely I will soon have my car back on the road and agreed a month later to get it pick-up the date came and the truck came to pick it up doubts were put in my mind when I seen the truck and driver not your average collection guy but I thought what the hell give them the benefit of the doubt I should have realised when the driver continued to sing their praises of how good a company they were! So off my car went and I was told I could have it back in 4-5 days a day later I received a call to say that the cost had increase as their were additional items recommended to replace I asked for a full report of the costs and received a list for the following costs:
Engine
Recovery
Surcharge crank shaft and 1 rod
Clean breather system
Crank sensor (fault)
Battery (dead)
Sundries (nuts, bolts & jubillie clips)
Apparantly these were the minimum items requried to fit engine so the quote had gone from £2200 to now £2,928.10 on the same quote the additional items were as follows:-
Auxillery belt (cracked & perished)
Air filter (dirty)
Re-gas air conditining
Spark plugs poor (funny as they had only bee repalced 6months before the car broke)
Thermostate
Clutch
Gear box oil
Anti freeze
This was for a total of £463.00 now taking the quotation to £3,391.00 they had also stated on the report that if I did not want to proceed with the job the charges to date are £528.75 for labour to remove and dismantle the engine and recovery if required these items would be place in the boot as they had already dismantled the enigne and found the above faults I now know from reading on this site that they had not and its all a scam to make money BASTARDS!!
I managed to get the quotation down to £3,300.oo agreed with Martin and I was happy and a bit apprehensive about it but I want ahead and paid full amount after asking if I can pay deposit his words were he would not be able to carry out the work until the money had been paid in full I did find this strange but again thought it will be ok.
Money was taken and it was agreed that I would have delivery the following Tuesday that day came and I took time off work and waited and waited I eventually called and was told that there was a problem with a part and it would be in on Tuesday so I wont get delivery until Thursday again I took a day off waited and no phone call again I called and asked to speak with the manager as I wasnt happy with the service in my opinion they should called me and notified me not me calling them to confirm I ended up having a very heated argument with I think it might have been Martin and he ended up putting the phone down on me in the end my partner took over as I was so angry with their customer service that I could not speak to any of them without getting angry, he was then told that I was very rude I thought I have every right to be you Arsehole. My partner was then told that he would get a call to confirm delivery never received one and everytime he called he was told he would get a call back he also asked to speak with the Managing Director but was told he was never there he told them that if the car was not with us by the day arranged that he would be at their premises to pick the car up eventually managed to speak with them and it was arranged for the car to be delivered to a garage so it can have its MOT this was done 4 weeks after the inital collection of which it should have been 4-5 days everything seem to be ok with the car, but on collecting the car from the MOT garage I noticed a big dent in the back by the petrol cap but I thought maybe it had been hit whilst outside the MOT garage as its a very narrow lane asked the garage and he said no it was not done there I have now realised that its due to this Engine Center however approaching them I would only get an answer of it wasnt us same as I got when I realised that my locking nut was missing and that they had swopped one of the nuts on the wheels with a bigger one their answer was we havent lost it and had not touched the wheels (yes I know different) so I had to fork out £80 for new locking nuts.
So as far as getting the car and doing my 500 miles @ 50mph the car has sofar work ok then on visiting the workshop and seeing the state and speaking with that fella and getting another bill for the service and oil/oil filter of which I could have done myself this was paid with shock to another company the same day I had to have my wheels re-balanced and their is now a problem with a fitting on the front tyre and this is making the tracking faultly and needs to be replaced within the next month, this is probably due to them they have more than likey swapped something??? I made a trip down the M4 this weekend and everything seem to be okay apart from the fact that the car has lost its power and seems more like my first car an escort and not a Jag as it is now the car continued to shake and it didnt seem itself and that is what made me visit this site and I am so angry and happy that I did I will now get the car checked fully and after reading stories about the engine never being replaced I will be checking that to see if I have had a replacement I will keep you informed.
I had time to check the website that I originally found and guess what it no-longer exists but when you put in re-condiditoned engines the site that I seen from their name comes into view I am very angry to think that myself and others have been dubbed into believing that this company is of a high quality standard and that we paid for work and items that are more than likely parts from other cars or just our parts that have been adepted somehow. Again I will be checking over the car and if I do find fault with it I will do my best to get this company closed down for good and never be able to trade again as there are only so many times a company can keep going into liquidation before the government are suppose to take action. I am a bit concerned to that fact that they are trading as one name but yet we are paying into an account of another that is not legal surely? I will be doing alot of research to find out more. I will also be looking into what Trading Standards are suppose to do for us customers.
Sorry for the long-winded story but I am so angry I had to write as I thought.. I will keep all informed about the car!!!
My story so-far...
My car had been off the road for sometime due to it being the engine as I knew by previous evaluations I shopped around after having got really a high price for a new engine I happened to come across yes the dreaded Heathrow Engine Center and received a quotation from a lovely man called gary the quotation was sent via email for the price of £2200 inc VAT for the folllowing:-
Supply & fit a fully re-manufactured exchange engine
Engine Oil, oil filter & fittings gaskets are included in the price
All engines fitted in our own workshop
Up to 5years warranty/60,000 mile warranty
Low cost recovery can be arranged
I thought lovely I will soon have my car back on the road and agreed a month later to get it pick-up the date came and the truck came to pick it up doubts were put in my mind when I seen the truck and driver not your average collection guy but I thought what the hell give them the benefit of the doubt I should have realised when the driver continued to sing their praises of how good a company they were! So off my car went and I was told I could have it back in 4-5 days a day later I received a call to say that the cost had increase as their were additional items recommended to replace I asked for a full report of the costs and received a list for the following costs:
Engine
Recovery
Surcharge crank shaft and 1 rod
Clean breather system
Crank sensor (fault)
Battery (dead)
Sundries (nuts, bolts & jubillie clips)
Apparantly these were the minimum items requried to fit engine so the quote had gone from £2200 to now £2,928.10 on the same quote the additional items were as follows:-
Auxillery belt (cracked & perished)
Air filter (dirty)
Re-gas air conditining
Spark plugs poor (funny as they had only bee repalced 6months before the car broke)
Thermostate
Clutch
Gear box oil
Anti freeze
This was for a total of £463.00 now taking the quotation to £3,391.00 they had also stated on the report that if I did not want to proceed with the job the charges to date are £528.75 for labour to remove and dismantle the engine and recovery if required these items would be place in the boot as they had already dismantled the enigne and found the above faults I now know from reading on this site that they had not and its all a scam to make money BASTARDS!!
I managed to get the quotation down to £3,300.oo agreed with Martin and I was happy and a bit apprehensive about it but I want ahead and paid full amount after asking if I can pay deposit his words were he would not be able to carry out the work until the money had been paid in full I did find this strange but again thought it will be ok.
Money was taken and it was agreed that I would have delivery the following Tuesday that day came and I took time off work and waited and waited I eventually called and was told that there was a problem with a part and it would be in on Tuesday so I wont get delivery until Thursday again I took a day off waited and no phone call again I called and asked to speak with the manager as I wasnt happy with the service in my opinion they should called me and notified me not me calling them to confirm I ended up having a very heated argument with I think it might have been Martin and he ended up putting the phone down on me in the end my partner took over as I was so angry with their customer service that I could not speak to any of them without getting angry, he was then told that I was very rude I thought I have every right to be you Arsehole. My partner was then told that he would get a call to confirm delivery never received one and everytime he called he was told he would get a call back he also asked to speak with the Managing Director but was told he was never there he told them that if the car was not with us by the day arranged that he would be at their premises to pick the car up eventually managed to speak with them and it was arranged for the car to be delivered to a garage so it can have its MOT this was done 4 weeks after the inital collection of which it should have been 4-5 days everything seem to be ok with the car, but on collecting the car from the MOT garage I noticed a big dent in the back by the petrol cap but I thought maybe it had been hit whilst outside the MOT garage as its a very narrow lane asked the garage and he said no it was not done there I have now realised that its due to this Engine Center however approaching them I would only get an answer of it wasnt us same as I got when I realised that my locking nut was missing and that they had swopped one of the nuts on the wheels with a bigger one their answer was we havent lost it and had not touched the wheels (yes I know different) so I had to fork out £80 for new locking nuts.
So as far as getting the car and doing my 500 miles @ 50mph the car has sofar work ok then on visiting the workshop and seeing the state and speaking with that fella and getting another bill for the service and oil/oil filter of which I could have done myself this was paid with shock to another company the same day I had to have my wheels re-balanced and their is now a problem with a fitting on the front tyre and this is making the tracking faultly and needs to be replaced within the next month, this is probably due to them they have more than likey swapped something??? I made a trip down the M4 this weekend and everything seem to be okay apart from the fact that the car has lost its power and seems more like my first car an escort and not a Jag as it is now the car continued to shake and it didnt seem itself and that is what made me visit this site and I am so angry and happy that I did I will now get the car checked fully and after reading stories about the engine never being replaced I will be checking that to see if I have had a replacement I will keep you informed.
I had time to check the website that I originally found and guess what it no-longer exists but when you put in re-condiditoned engines the site that I seen from their name comes into view I am very angry to think that myself and others have been dubbed into believing that this company is of a high quality standard and that we paid for work and items that are more than likely parts from other cars or just our parts that have been adepted somehow. Again I will be checking over the car and if I do find fault with it I will do my best to get this company closed down for good and never be able to trade again as there are only so many times a company can keep going into liquidation before the government are suppose to take action. I am a bit concerned to that fact that they are trading as one name but yet we are paying into an account of another that is not legal surely? I will be doing alot of research to find out more. I will also be looking into what Trading Standards are suppose to do for us customers.
Sorry for the long-winded story but I am so angry I had to write as I thought.. I will keep all informed about the car!!!
I have had a successfull court case against HEC, however they have still not forwarded cheque, the next step is to get their Bank details for the court in order they can stop it, I do nor have their Bank details in any of their correspondece can anyone out there help me.
If you are planning to take them to court it is worthwhile the court has orderd them to pay me £2000.00, which should have arrived by cheque 2 days ago, now I need their Bank details,
PLEASE PLEASE Help.
If you are planning to take them to court it is worthwhile the court has orderd them to pay me £2000.00, which should have arrived by cheque 2 days ago, now I need their Bank details,
PLEASE PLEASE Help.
Nice story about you retiring from the Armed Forces after serving in the Gulf and setting up Heahtrow Motor Services, Iam a serving soldier in the RAF Regiment, and understand that servicemen are supposed to be Honest, Trustworthy, Honourable and Sincere, however after dealing with your Company since Last April my wife and I are out of Pocket to the sum of £5,500.00 and not to mention the stress and inconvenience you have caused to the point that we had to instruct the court to get my car back. Your company has caused us nothing but stress and financial costs way beyond the initial cost. To this point your company had until last week to post me a cheque for the claim amount the court has awarded us, this was due last week and we have still not recieved it, do the honourable thing and pay up, you are a disgrace to the Armed Forces and I'm bloody annoyed that you have mentioned in your post on this site that you were a member of the armed forces, what does that say.
One very, very unhappy customer
Pay Up.....................................................
One very, very unhappy customer
Pay Up.....................................................
QUOTE (Peter Purdy-Morris @ Mar 19 2008, 03:44 PM)
It has come to my notice the Invision Power blog and the miss information and propaganda on it. For the record I would like to submit the following documents to state who I am and my background and my company name, number and details.
“Heathrow Engine Center” is the trading name of Hallmead Services Limited who is registered at company’s house as a private limited company, please find a copy of the certificate of incorporation and also our vat registration certificate supplied to us by Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise on our website as I was unable to upload these documents so please go to www.heathrowengines.co.uk/1
I would at this stage like to state that Hallmead Services Limited is no way associated in any way with any other business or trading name of any other company listed on this blog other than that of MPH Engineering Ltd who are my very accommodating landlords and gave me this opportunity to rent from them a fully equipped and furnished operation after I retired from my tour of duty in the gulf after many years as a bomb disposal operative with the royal ordinance be it for a short while in the private sector operating in the gulf, prior to this I was an operative in the UK with the royal engineers.
Hallmead Services Ltd still accepts & honours the warranties of Heathrow Motor Services under an agreement with MPH Engineering Limited. So this is me and my company and I will now be keeping a regular eye on the blogs and personally answering all your questions & queries but should you wish to contact me in private instead of through the forum please feel free to do so at peterpurdymorris@btconnect.com goodbye for now and look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Yours Sincerely
Peter Purdy Morris
Managing Director
“Heathrow Engine Center” is the trading name of Hallmead Services Limited who is registered at company’s house as a private limited company, please find a copy of the certificate of incorporation and also our vat registration certificate supplied to us by Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise on our website as I was unable to upload these documents so please go to www.heathrowengines.co.uk/1
I would at this stage like to state that Hallmead Services Limited is no way associated in any way with any other business or trading name of any other company listed on this blog other than that of MPH Engineering Ltd who are my very accommodating landlords and gave me this opportunity to rent from them a fully equipped and furnished operation after I retired from my tour of duty in the gulf after many years as a bomb disposal operative with the royal ordinance be it for a short while in the private sector operating in the gulf, prior to this I was an operative in the UK with the royal engineers.
Hallmead Services Ltd still accepts & honours the warranties of Heathrow Motor Services under an agreement with MPH Engineering Limited. So this is me and my company and I will now be keeping a regular eye on the blogs and personally answering all your questions & queries but should you wish to contact me in private instead of through the forum please feel free to do so at peterpurdymorris@btconnect.com goodbye for now and look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Yours Sincerely
Peter Purdy Morris
Managing Director
I know the justice system generally take a long time, but have these people even been brought up on criminal charges yet? Surely this has to be criminal?
christ almighty!
I wish this had been up at the top of the google search when i originally looked.
Probably looks all so woefully familiar, but heres my tuppenceworth:
Email 1:
16 Jan 2008
Thanks for your enquiry.
Supply and Fit a fully remanufactured exchange engine £1495 inc. vat.*
Plus collection of £450+VAT
ü Engine oil, oil filter & fitting gaskets are included in the price
ü All engines fitted in our own workshops.
ü Up to 5 year / 60,000 mile warranty available (subject to conditions)
Email 2:
5th March 2008.
Re: Renault Scenic – ******* -reg
We have removed and dismantled the engine from the above vehicle and, after discussion with you, report as follows:-
Minimum Items required to fit engine
Engine £1272.34
Recovery £ 450.00
Surcharge – Head (warped) £ 275.00
Timing Belt Kit (Tensioner Noisy) £ 123.00
Air Filter (very dirty) £ 27.00
Clean breather system (can cause oil leeks if blocked) £ 48.00
Battery (dead) £ 59.00
Thermostat (rec) £ 19.00
Flush oil Cooler £ 30.00
Sundries – Nuts, bolts, clips, etc as required £ 25.00
Sub total £2328.34
Vat £ 407.46
TOTAL £2735.80
Additional Items/services recommended
Air-conditioning (regas) £ 80.00
Aux Belt (poor) £ 41.00
Clutch (80% worn and burnt) £ 116.00
Turbo (oily) £ 595.00
Gearbox Oil £ 25.00
Antifreeze £ 18.00
All of the above prices exclude VAT.
Please call me to discuss.
Regards
Martin
Workshop
0208 744 7007
I had pretty much the same response as everyone else when I queried the increased cost. As I live over 300 miles away, I was left with little option other than to pay.
When I turned up on the day to collect, it wasn't ready, and I had to stay overnight in London at my own expense.
When i returned the next day, at the time agreed, I ended up sitting around for 6 HOURS in their crappy, freezing waiting room, with many other disgruntled customers with not even the offer of a cup of tea.
Finally, got to pick my car up and had to drive 300 miles back at 50mph. When I got to Watford I had to fill up for petrol. Filled up, went to start the car, and it was dead.
Called out recovery, who told me I had a flat battery. 'Thats impossible' is said, showing the mechanic the receipt from the garage - 'I've just had a new one installed'.
The mechanic laughed and said 'thats a standard factory issued Renault battery, and looking at the connections, its never been off the car since it was delivered as new to the forecourt'.
Needless to say, it did it again, the next time I stopped, and I eventually got home 11 hours after setting off at 4am.
I contacted them, and told them about the batterry, and they promised to send me a refund for the new batterry, fitting costs and my train ticket down.
Despite, emails and phone calls since then I am yet to receive this money.
Now I feel this is slightly differend to the othe problems on here, as they have CLEARLY DEFRAUDED ME by charging me for a new battery and not fitting it.
Surely this can be reported to the Police?
I wish this had been up at the top of the google search when i originally looked.
Probably looks all so woefully familiar, but heres my tuppenceworth:
Email 1:
16 Jan 2008
Thanks for your enquiry.
Supply and Fit a fully remanufactured exchange engine £1495 inc. vat.*
Plus collection of £450+VAT
ü Engine oil, oil filter & fitting gaskets are included in the price
ü All engines fitted in our own workshops.
ü Up to 5 year / 60,000 mile warranty available (subject to conditions)
Email 2:
5th March 2008.
Re: Renault Scenic – ******* -reg
We have removed and dismantled the engine from the above vehicle and, after discussion with you, report as follows:-
Minimum Items required to fit engine
Engine £1272.34
Recovery £ 450.00
Surcharge – Head (warped) £ 275.00
Timing Belt Kit (Tensioner Noisy) £ 123.00
Air Filter (very dirty) £ 27.00
Clean breather system (can cause oil leeks if blocked) £ 48.00
Battery (dead) £ 59.00
Thermostat (rec) £ 19.00
Flush oil Cooler £ 30.00
Sundries – Nuts, bolts, clips, etc as required £ 25.00
Sub total £2328.34
Vat £ 407.46
TOTAL £2735.80
Additional Items/services recommended
Air-conditioning (regas) £ 80.00
Aux Belt (poor) £ 41.00
Clutch (80% worn and burnt) £ 116.00
Turbo (oily) £ 595.00
Gearbox Oil £ 25.00
Antifreeze £ 18.00
All of the above prices exclude VAT.
Please call me to discuss.
Regards
Martin
Workshop
0208 744 7007
I had pretty much the same response as everyone else when I queried the increased cost. As I live over 300 miles away, I was left with little option other than to pay.
When I turned up on the day to collect, it wasn't ready, and I had to stay overnight in London at my own expense.
When i returned the next day, at the time agreed, I ended up sitting around for 6 HOURS in their crappy, freezing waiting room, with many other disgruntled customers with not even the offer of a cup of tea.
Finally, got to pick my car up and had to drive 300 miles back at 50mph. When I got to Watford I had to fill up for petrol. Filled up, went to start the car, and it was dead.
Called out recovery, who told me I had a flat battery. 'Thats impossible' is said, showing the mechanic the receipt from the garage - 'I've just had a new one installed'.
The mechanic laughed and said 'thats a standard factory issued Renault battery, and looking at the connections, its never been off the car since it was delivered as new to the forecourt'.
Needless to say, it did it again, the next time I stopped, and I eventually got home 11 hours after setting off at 4am.
I contacted them, and told them about the batterry, and they promised to send me a refund for the new batterry, fitting costs and my train ticket down.
Despite, emails and phone calls since then I am yet to receive this money.
Now I feel this is slightly differend to the othe problems on here, as they have CLEARLY DEFRAUDED ME by charging me for a new battery and not fitting it.
Surely this can be reported to the Police?
OK here is my dilemma..i payed for an engine to be fixed by heathrow engine centre,when i complained he told me i was a c@#t and to get my self down there in a threatening manner ..now the guarantee was for 5000 miles then they had to service it(small print) or they would just pay for parts ,it was the head gasket that went and then that broke the cylinder head,they after a lot of hassle gave me a reconditioned head and i had to pay for it to be fitted with another company(Mitsubishi)a few weeks later the engine went again and mitsubishi sent the cylinder head of to be pressure tested and it failed,which is the reason the engine went..so far this has cost me £5000,and i still have to get another engine fitted,all i want back from them is the £5000.i will pay for it to be fitted again with Mitsubishi this time...can you tell me if i have a case with small claims,i made a complaint with the police at the time about being threatened by them and with trading standards...
by the way this site helps
by the way this site helps
How I wish I had seen this site before dealing with this company. However reading some of the entries, I think I probably have got off lucky. The timing belt on my Astra went and I was told I would need a new engine. I couldn't locate a 2nd hand one locally so I went on the internet. Hallmead Engines were the only company who responded to offer me an engine so I accepted, then they came back and said my engine was a specific kind and they didn't have one but would try. They then offered me another engine for about £200 more than the first and as I felt I had no choice, I agreed. After many calls, the engine arrived some weeks later and judging from the amount of work my garage had to put into it, I would think the engine had not been reconditioned at all. Perhaps it's been fortunate I lived too far away to even consider letting them do any work on the car, I do have an engine but they never picked up the old engine on which £100 + VAT had been paid as a deposit, so I've lost that as well. It has probably cost me double what it should have had I managed to find an engine locally. I bought a used engine before from a company from the North of England over the internet and had no problems at all so it's a pity a company like this will cause mistrust of more genuine busnesses.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.