Terms & Conditions
In leaving your vehicle with us for repair or modification you acknowledge and agree to all terms listed below
Warranties
all new exhaust systems carry 12 months/12000 miles warranty including catalytic converters. All warranties are subject to fair wear and tear and any claims must be accompanied by the original invoice/receipt. Exhaust repairs carry no warranty. Should it be suspected that any form of abuse or modification has taken place to components fitted or procedures carried out by AA Silencers staff all warranties are void.
Catalytic Converters
It is essential that all new catalytic converters are run in correctly. They should be run at fast idle for at least 20 minutes after fitting, and then at approx max 50% throttle and 50% revs for 50-100 miles afterwards. Failure to carry this out will result in premature failure and should it be suspected that this has taken place warranty is void. Should the car display any engine malfunctions or evidence of a running condition that may affect the cat all warranty is void.
Payment Terms
Unless an approved credit account is in place payment must be made in full before the vehicle is removed from the premises. Payment is accepted in cash or via debit/credit card. A charge of two pounds is applicable to all card transactions under thirty pounds. Should payment be disputed the vehicle will remain in possession of AA Silencers until the dispute is settled.
Keys and immobilizers
It is the customers responsibility to provide all keys, immobilizers, codes and instructions for operation when leaving the vehicle. Should we not be given locking wheel nut keys the use of removal tools may be applied. This is in accordance with the customers request to carry out work requiring the removal of wheels and AA Silencers will not be held responsible for damage to locking wheel nuts as a result of removal.
Estimates
all pricing given is an estimate only. No quotes are given as a set final price and are not to be taken without a degree of flexibility under any circumstances. All quotes are given in good faith taking in to account all aspects of repairs as can be seen prior to the commencement of work. Should further costs be incurred during repairs the customer will be contacted where possible to obtain consent. Should consent not be possible repairs will continue up to a total value of fifty pounds above the original estimate. This is to avoid any delay in repairing the car and returning it as efficiently as possible.
Staff
Despite efforts to mechanize our workforce we are regrettably currently forced to employ almost entirely human staff. As a result it may occasionally be necessary for them to stop working to eat, go to the toilet or go home to sleep. We apologise for any delay this causes with your repair. Due to the fragility of human nature our staff may respond negatively or emotionally when abused or threatened. This is due to the pride and effort with which we work to provide the best service possible.
General
Whilst AA Silencers will take every possible step to ensure the security of your vehicle we can not accept responsibility for the vehicle whilst on the car park or for personal possessions left in the vehicle.
Vehicles will be road tested after any relevant repairs or at customers request. New brake pads will require bedding in for approximately 100 miles, during this period heavy or prolonged braking should be avoided. Wheels will be tightened to the correct torque but may require checking after 200-400 miles. Please contact us for any checks recommended after your repair.
Should a fault occur on a vehicle whilst on road test that is unrelated to repairs carried out or that AA Silencers have not been made aware of AA Silencers shall accept no responsibility for the subsequent repairs. These can be quoted and repaired at additional cost but it must be accepted that cars can fail at any time, whether driven by the owner or a third party and as such whilst on road test vehicles are not insured against all failures of all components, only those relating to repairs as covered by our warranties.
Estimates for repairs will be given based upon the symptoms presented by your car at the time of initial inspection. This does mean that further issues may manifest themselves as the job progresses. Should issues arise we will keep you informed and work with you to resolve them, but additional work will carry an additional charge, and will take more time to resolve.
If a customer requests additional work to be carried out above that for which the vehicle was booked in, please be aware we may not have the time to carry out this work immediately. We will gladly accommodate any additional requests as soon as possible, but additional work does carry an additional charge.
If a vehicle is being MoT’d, we are not responsible for the results of the MoT test. If we have to give you bad news, please do not assume it is our fault. An MoT inspects elements of a vehicle that are not covered on a service (emissions, brake balance etc) and are subject to human discretion regarding wear. An MoT only tests the safety of a vehicle at the point of test. The test is not concerned with serviceability. If your car fails unexpectedly we will endeavour to resolve these matters as quickly as possible. But we cannot know whether or not your vehicle will fail prior to the test and in what manner it will fail.
Cars may fail at any time, for any reason. If an unrelated fault occurs whilst your car is with us, it is not automatically our fault.
If a customer wishes us to fit their own parts we will do this. However, we will not warranty their parts. If the part is incorrect there will be a charge for attempting to fit it. If the part fails we are not responsible for any liability.
It is the customers responsibility to ensure the legality of any modifications they request. Modifications to emissions systems including sports cat, de-cat, dpf removal etc are illegal for road. Modifications that affect type approval may be illegal in other circumstances. We will only carry out these modifications when the customer has confirmed the vehicle is for track/off road use only. If the customer then uses the vehicle on the road we are not liable.
Cars operate as systems. Everything is connected to everything else. No single parts functions in isolation. So when diagnosing we may identify a component that we can guarantee with 100% certainty is faulty. This does not mean it is the only related component that is at fault for the symptoms you are experiencing. Components experience wear. They are not simply ‘new’ or ‘worn out’. It is a matter of discretion to avoid changing components that are worn but may still have some serviceable life in them. If we replace all worn components in a system the cost will often be unreasonable. If a customer asks us to ‘avoid spending too much money’, we cannot simply do the same work but give some parts away for free. We will work to your budget where possible but sometimes the only flexibility we have is to leave in a system some parts that are more worn than ideal. Should we be pressed to do this, we will be clear regarding such circumstances. If you do not wish us to work to a budget, but to do the ‘ideal’ job, please make this clear. We will be more than happy to accommodate. If you ask us to work to a restricted budget, we will do what we can. But the responsibility lies with the customer who has requested a lesser amount of work than recommended. If you are in any doubt that further work but required, please ask. We will always attempt to be clear, but if you don’t understand we won’t know unless you say.
We carry out exhaust repairs at the customer’s request. This normally means welding in a section of newly fabricated exhaust into the old exhaust. This means the whole exhaust has not been replaced, and as such does not carry a warranty as you would expect with a new exhaust.
We undertake fabrication work which may entail MoT welding repairs or custom work for classics or motorsport. We are a fabrication shop, not a body shop. If we provide an estimate for welding repairs relating to the structure of your vehicle for the purposes of an MoT, this does not include paint. It is industry standard for MoT welding repairs to come finished in black. We are not able to predict the level of corrosion that exists behind outer body panels or trim panels. We are not liable for corrosion that spreads into painted/visible areas, unless you have been quoted on restorative work. Restoration work is normally in excess of £5000 and will normally include the strip and shot blast of your vehicle. If you are quoted a few hundred pounds for some welding after an MoT, this is highly unlikely to be a restoration. If you would like restorative work, please be specific when asking for a quote. We will keep you informed of developments that occur during MoT related welding work, but estimates are subject to change once the vehicle is stripped, dressed back and investigated.
We aim to never carry out an unnecessary or unauthorised work in order to keep your vehicle on the road as economically as possible. This does mean that there may be components on your car not directly related to the repairs we have undertaken which may require replacing in the future.
Oil, by it’s very nature is intended to cling to the internal surfaces of an engine. When we change the oil on a service it is not possible to remove all traces of old oil from the inside of the engine. This means that, especially on a diesel, the new oil will be discoloured by the traces of old oil. So it may appear black. This does not mean we haven’t changed the oil.
When asked to carry out custom fabrication, we will not accept liability for the design or fabrication unless the customer has provided sufficient budget for an independent stress analysis of the design, including simulated destructive testing. This is normally carried out in computer simulation by MIRA. Full design and test procedures cost many thousands of pounds, and can be carried out at the customer’s request. If this procedure has not been funded by the customer, it has not been carried out. Engineering designs will be in accordance with motorsport guidelines (FIA or MSA) for track use, or to customer’s specification for road use. We do not accept any liability under any circumstances without the correct computer analysis to certify designs.
We are not given any legal authority to enforce a standard of repair on a customer. We cannot legally withhold your vehicle from you if we feel it is unroadworthy. As the vehicles driver, this is your responsibility. If we cannot legally insist on a certain level of roadworthiness, we cannot be liable for roadworthiness. We can only advise you on repairs we feel you should carry out. If you decline to have these repairs done, and continue to use the vehicle, you do so at your own liability.
Customers are not allowed in the workshop. We accept no liability for any injury of any kind whilst on the premises. Mandatory PPE is required when entering the facilities. If you are not equipped with steel toe capped boots, coveralls, head protection, eye protection and hearing protection you should not enter the facility.
We do not accept any liability for any work carried out on vehicles for track or off road use. Motorsport is potentially dangerous and partaken at one’s own risk.
Customers are not permitted to drive their vehicles on the premises. If a customer insists on driving their vehicle into the premises or onto/off the inspection ramps they do so entirely at their own risk. Customers will be charged for any damage to other vehicles, stock, equipment or the building caused by accident or incident whilst they are in control of their vehicles whilst gaining access or egress to or from the premises.
Should a customer have any concerns regarding their car whilst in our care, we offer a pre-work inspection and video report. We can also fit dash cam style cameras to create an audio and visual record of the vehicles time with us. As a small business we can only do this at the customer’s expense, but we do recommend this service for the protection of both parties. Waiving this option is at the customer’s discretion.
We endeavor to record audio for all conversations that take place in our office for the protection of our staff. This audio may be used should any disputes arise. We will recover the expenses for dealing with fraudulent claims made against us, including slander and libel. We will prosecute for aggressive, violent and threatening behavior, or the theft of a vehicle without having made due payment.
We will inform the customer of the estimated cost of repairs. These may be cumulative. So if an initial estimate is £200, and a further £50 repair is required, then the customer asks if we can also carry out another job which costs £40, the total will be added together for the final bill (£290). The customer will be liable for paying these costs. On request we will produce a running total and an estimated total for completion at any point. But we will not be liable for discounting the final price if the customer loses track of the cost of the work they have asked us to carry out.
All disputes, concerns or complaints must be raised via email to markhammersley@msn.com Issues raised verbally which are not followed up in writing such that a resolution may be sought may not be dealt with in a fashion that is satisfactory to both parties. The written trail will assist in recording any conversations should they require further review during the course of reaching a resolution.
If a customer does not pay for a certain standard of workmanship, they will not receive a certain standard of workmanship. This is covered in other terms and conditions but we cannot be clear enough on this point. Some jobs can become expensive, and with discussion between ourselves and the customer we may take measures to avoid further costs. We may avoid changing some associated
parts which may ideally be changed. But if we are not permitted suitable funds for these repairs, they will not be carried out. Just because a job is expensive, does not mean every conceivable part has been changed. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure they are clear on what has been changed and what has been omitted. A lack of understanding on technical issues by the customer who may not have a reasonable standard of education on the subject does not automatically render us liable.
Parking charges will be applied to any vehicle not collected after one month of the completion of the repairs. These charges will be a minimum of thirty pounds per week. If a customer does not collect their vehicle and we are unable to contact them we will take measures to contact the owner via the appropriate legal channels. The customer will be liable for any administrative fees incurred.
We would like to apologise for the necessity to clarify these points. For anyone who feels any of the statements above are unreasonable, we must regrettably decline to repair your vehicle.
Our aim is to provide our customers with total satisfaction. If you have any complaints please do not hesitate to discuss these with us, and many thanks for your business.
