My experience of Geartech Engineering based Thornton Heath...

On 03/01, my 2000 Honda Prelude 2.2VTi developed gear changing problems. After replacing the clutch master cylinder and researching on the internet, the fault was suspect to be related to the clutch bearing. However, this diagnosis was not definite. I decided to get an ATR gearbox (U2Q7) fitted to my car both as an upgrade and to be sure to fix my car's current problem.

I did lots of phoning around getting prices on a new clutch and gearbox. I bought a new Exedy OE clutch kit from Tegiwa Imports for £140. Geartech Engineering said they would supply and fit an ATR gearbox for £425+VAT and that they had the gearbox available ready on the shelf.

Saturday 17/01/09:
I dropped off my car at about 09:00ish and gave them typed instructions to fit a U2Q7 gearbox, my Exedy OE clutch kit (in the boot) and to call me on my land line at work as my mobile has terrible reception at work. I was told that my car should be ready on Monday afternoon.

Monday 19/01/09:
I phoned during the afternoon and was told that my car is not ready and they will call me at lunch time tomorrow.

Tuesday 20/01/09:
Lunch time goes without any phone call.
I receive a missed phone call on my mobile from another mobile, it rang for 2 seconds then hung up. I didn't recognise the mobile number so ignored it.
I tried to call Geartech Engineering to ask if my car was ready and kept on getting their answering machine, no one was answering.
The same mobile number calls again on my mobile, I heard someone say “Geartech" but nothing else due to terrible mobile phone reception at work.
I make numerous attempts to call Geartech Engineering back both on their land line and the mobile number which I now had. No one answered so I left a message on their answering machine to call me back.
I send them an email asking them to call me ASAP.
My dad phones Geartech Engineering and was told they are waiting for a part. May dad calls me. I'm wondering - what part? They said they already had the gearbox.
No one calls me so I call again and this time I spoke to someone who told me that my Prelude gearbox was a "one off" and that they will call me tomorrow at 10:00.

Wednesday 21/01/09:
I could sense this was not going well so decided to start a call log.
10:00 - Received no phone call.
11:15 - I phoned. I'm told they will call me back in an hour. He hung up before I could say anything.
13:20 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. I'm told he will call me back in 10 minutes.
14:30 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Straight to on hold music. I was then told he will call me "straight back" and then he hung up before I could say anything.
15:15 - Received no phone call so my dad phoned them. He informed them that I was getting annoyed and I was considering arranging for my car to be towed away. They sounded surprised / worried and said there was no need for that and they are looking for a gearbox on the internet "as we speak". My dad told them to call me before 16:00 as that is the time I leave work
16:05 - Joe from Geartech Engineering phoned me just as I was leaving (I picked up call at reception). I'm told the gearbox is being delivered tomorrow and he will try and fit it tomorrow. I asked him to phone me as soon as he has it in front of him as I want to make sure it was the correct gearbox (U2Q7).

Thursday 22/01/09:
09:35 - I phoned Geartech Engineering. I was worried that they would fit the gearbox without checking with me first so I wanted to make sure they understood that it was imperative to call me first. I'm told Joe has popped out. I asked to pass message for Joe to call me when the gearbox has arrived, before fitting it to my car.
14:05 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Spoke to Joe and was told that the gearbox hasn't arrived yet.

Friday 23/01/09:
09:10 - I phoned and spoke to Joe. I told him that I need my car back by end of day, with or without the new gearbox. He said labour charge will apply to put my car back together. He asked me to phone back in half hour (I assume he is going to chase up the whereabouts of the new gearbox).
10:05 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Answering machine, no message left.
10:10 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Answering machine, no message left.
10:40 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Answering machine, no message left.
11:15 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Left message on their answering machine asking them to call me ASAP and left both my work land line phone number and mobile number.
11:50 - Received no phone call so I phoned them. Joe was not in but the man who answered said he will get him to call me back within 10 minutes.
12:05 - Received no phone, so left work. My dad kindly picked me up and drove us to Thornton Heath.
13:00 - Arrived at Geartech Engineering and saw my car parked at the side of the road. My dad had my car's spare key with him so we lifted the bonnet and could see that nothing had been touched. My original gearbox was still in-situ. I opened the boot and saw that my new Exedy clutch kit was still in the box, unopened. I walked in to the workshop, asked for my car's key and left without paying a penny.

I'll let you all make your mind up regarding this company and you can take into account my experience of them if you are considering utilising their services in the future.

Hope you at least told em you'll let people kno of their service, or complain to consumer rights or somethin. keepin ur car way too long is one thing. But then tryin to charge you to put it bak together is another....wen they dint even touch it yet. imagine how many people they must hav got free cash from in this way (or tried), if that's wat their service is like.
I had a garage change their quote (once all the bits were taken apart), so i compromise a price wit em. they had the car for a month instead of a week.lol. they did an unbelievably sh*t job AND, wait for it....syphoned my petrol while they had my car.lol. £500 quote that changed to £1000, which i bargained to £800, but u think i paid em a penny of it after that?
I kno a few garages in thornton heath, n usually around that area. i'll b sure to let people know what their service and intentions are like.

Well that was certainly an interesting read. I'll be sure not to ever use them, although thats unlikely due to me living so far away.

I know what you should've done I'd have used the spare key and driven home in the car, would've loved to know how they'd squirm their way out of that one. "Errr... I'm sorry to inform you, but your car has been stolen from our ultra secure premises" or "The gearbox is on order and will take 2 days to arrive" for the next 4 weeks.

Why is it that garages, and other companies for that matter, just think they can lie and get away with it. If you can't meet your potential customers needs, why say you have or can do something you can't

Paul

You should have broken a glass bottle into small pieces, taken it with you, drove your car off and leave the glass on the floor where your car was.........that would have been a "You've been framed" moment for those mother fuc&^*!