Misdiagnosed fault by recovery company – can I claim for my costs?

On 15th May I bought a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra from a car dealer. On 3rd July the vehicle broke down - the engine went into limp home mode - and I needed to be rescued. The recovery firm said the issue was with the coil pack and I had the car taken to an independent garage to have the problem fixed.

However, this did not solve the problem and the garage advised that it needed to go to a Vauxhall dealer, as they did not have the specialist equipment. I arranged for the car to be taken to a dealer at my own expense and was told the fuel pump needed to be replaced at considerable cost.

Can the rescue company be held liable for the cost of the repair to the coil as they advised me that this is what needed to be done?

Asked on 20 July 2013 by Captains3

Answered by Honest John
No, the rescue company is not liable because it did not make the repair and you did not pay it to make the repair.

You should have gone to the selling dealer in the first place, but if he doesn't cough up you may still have some success suing him for a "reasonable" contribution to the repair in the small claims track of the county court, stating with www.moneyclaim.gov.uk
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