Renatec Bristol - avoid.

[Pricey98]

I had my cambelt and auxiliary belt changed by Renatec in Bristol a few weeks ago. I've had to go back several times to have various mistakes rectified, which is a pain as I live near Cardiff. I have now found out that they have refitted my auxiliary belt tensioner spring incorrectly using the wrong bolts and also broken my plastic cambelt cover and left it loose and unsecured. I even asked them at the time whether the aux tensioner needed changing and they said no, it's fine. Luckily I've since found out about a garage a couple of miles away from me who are very good with clios and he is going to sort it out for me, but obviously I will be out of pocket. I've emailed pictures to Renatec and requested a refund, but I'm not holding my breath for a quick resolution. Anyway, for anyone considering using Renatec in Bristol, go elsewhere.

 

[imprezaworks]

Facebook will be the ace card. Threaten that and I’m sure they will be nicer to you.

 

[Bluebeard]

My dads mate had his 182 maintained by them for years, despite me telling him otherwise...

Some of the bodges on it were beyond comical. And they fitted a new UCH to it and didn’t configure the central locking, auto lights, cruise control etc and told him that’s how they come....

Shower of s**t outfit. I’d rather take my car to Halfords.

 

[Pricey98]

My dads mate had his 182 maintained by them for years, despite me telling him otherwise...

Some of the bodges on it were beyond comical. And they fitted a new UCH to it and didn’t configure the central locking, auto lights, cruise control etc and told him that’s how they come....

Shower of s**t outfit. I’d rather take my car to Halfords.

They seem to be trading off being a French car specialist, etc, and are even members of the which good garage scheme. What a laugh. I even had to go back there yesterday as when they did the belts they left the fuel line unclipped and it was sitting about 2mm above the auxiliary belt. Shocking. If I don't get some money back from them I'll be taking to small claims court if needed.

 

[JamesBryan]

As I said in your other thread. The tensioner should always be changed when doing the belts.

If that goes it'll send the aux belt into the cambelt and bye bye engine.

 

[Louis]

Why would they ever not change the tensioner? I dont understand lol

 

[Bluebeard]

They seem to be trading off being a French car specialist, etc, and are even members of the which good garage scheme. What a laugh. I even had to go back there yesterday as when they did the belts they left the fuel line unclipped and it was sitting about 2mm above the auxiliary belt. Shocking. If I don't get some money back from them I'll be taking to small claims court if needed.

I share a unit with an extremely experienced and capable Renault specialist. He is very well known on the trophy forum. In fact there’s 2 Trophy’s booked in this weekend.
If you want his details, i’ll Happily pass them on.

 

[Pricey98]

I share a unit with an extremely experienced and capable Renault specialist. He is very well known on the trophy forum. In fact there’s 2 Trophy’s booked in this weekend.
If you want his details, i’ll Happily pass them on.

Thankfully I've found a decent guy just up the road from me, however he's planning to retire soon so would be good to have another reputable place to take the car. Thanks ?

 

[Pricey98]

Why would they ever not change the tensioner? I dont understand lol

I agree, it makes no sense. At the end of the day I'd have happily paid the extra money for the full aux kit rather than just the belt so I know it's been done properly.

 

[Pricey98]

This is how they left the fuel line after doing the belts. If that line had moved a couple of mm then the aux belt would have chewed through it and I'd have had petrol leaking in the engine bay ?

 

[Jamess182]

This is how they left the fuel line after doing the belts. If that line had moved a couple of mm then the aux belt would have chewed through it and I'd have had petrol leaking in the engine bay ?

oh my god ?

 

[flebay]

This is how they left the fuel line after doing the belts. If that line had moved a couple of mm then the aux belt would have chewed through it and I'd have had petrol leaking in the engine bay ?

Should be fitted to the cam bet cover

 

[charltjr]

Jesus Christ, that fuel line. That's criminal.

 

[Pricey98]

Jesus Christ, that fuel line. That's criminal.

I agree. Could have ended very badly. I even took it back to have it re routed and clipped back onto cam cover and he didn't even mention that the cover was broken and loose. Completely incompetent.

 

[GiT]

Seem like a bunch of complete cowboys.

 

[Matthew]

Surely a case for trading standards?

 

[jamesycc]

Tbh, I'd try and get some compensation and then draw a line under it.

I'll be honest I've never heard of them as a local Bristol renault specialist and I live in Bristol.

We used to have Sjm before Dan shut up shop.

Ive started to build a relationship with a local Bristol independent who does alot of jap stuff, evos, scoobies as well as boggo standard stuff.

They've done work on my old clio cup, the family wagon and the dmf on the megane.

Been great. Can't fault the work, not had any issues since on any of the cars I've dropped off to them.

The only thing I've yet to get them to do is a cambelt change as I've not needed one yet. That's the biggy for me, whether they can get it done correctly as alot don't seem to.

 

[Pricey98]

Tbh, I'd try and get some compensation and then draw a line under it.

That's all I'm hoping for tbh. If I can at least get the cost of the labour refunded it should cover the cost of the remedial work.

 

[Pricey98]

Quick update.
Response back from Renatec that they will refund me the cost of an aux belt kit and lower cambelt cover plus labour costs incurred once remedial work is carried out and I send them a copy of the invoice. Regarding the tensioner they told me it's a common failure, however considering they allegedly checked it when they changed the aux belt they should have seen it needed replacing and fitted the full aux belt kit, not just the belt. It's definitely a false economy to reuse the tensioner, especially when it begins to fail less than a month later.

 

[Krarl]

They just seem like a Friday job company tbh. I’ve had this before with a cambelt on my dads Astra, was about 3 years ago so being 18 I didn’t want to tackle it and he was too busy with work to do it. Took it there, the next day it comes back and we noticed a bolt from the cambelt cover was rubbing on the aux belt and nearly shredded all the way through. So we looked into it more and found other bits and bats of poor workmanship.

Proper pikey job as the cambelt cover wasn’t even on properly and the aux belt wasn’t even changed. My dad kicked off, but he’s a meathead so they only charged him for the parts and refunded the labour, he asked why they used talc on the belts and they gave some bullshit excuse. I’ve never had to use talc and never heard of it, if a belt is squealing then it’s a sure sign that the belt or a tensioner needs to be replaced. That was some garage in Doncaster that’s not trading anymore, wonder why haha.

Take them for all you can get and kick up a fuss, force trading standard and make them f**king squirm the useless c***s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pricey98]

Further update.
Remedial work is almost completed. Timing has also been checked and surprise, surprise it was out, despite renatec insisting that it was spot on. Photographs have been taken as work was being done too, so I will definitely be pursuing Renatec for a full refund for their shambles of a job.

 

[Pricey98]

So car is back and I've sent invoice to Renatec. They are now refusing to pay and implying that I am somehow embellishing the truth. Looks like it may be the legal route then. I'm fuming and half tempted to drive to Bristol and confront him, but I know it'll only make things worse ?

 

[imprezaworks]

Threaten trading standards yet?

 

[Pricey98]

Apparently he's a member of the which trusted trader scheme. They have an ombudsman service so I guess that's my next port of call.

Just so fkn angry that he's basically acusing me or lying when I have photographs to back up my claims. He's also requesting proper printed invoices for the work, however the bill I have is hand written on paper (stamped by garage, but he's an old fashioned garage and I doubt he prints invoices).

 

[dann2707]

So car is back and I've sent invoice to Renatec. They are now refusing to pay and implying that I am somehow embellishing the truth. Looks like it may be the legal route then. I'm fuming and half tempted to drive to Bristol and confront him, but I know it'll only make things worse ?

They sound like absolute helmets to offer that then go back on their word!

 

[Pricey98]

They sound like absolute helmets to offer that then go back on their word!

I think he's just trying to get out of paying anything tbh. Think he's also upset I've left negative reviews online, but quite frankly what does he expect?

 

[Oggy997]

Tell him you'll remove them once he pays.
Then don't.

 

[imprezaworks]

Facebook next.

Then watchdog his ass.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Small claims court. Ez.

 

[Landyman]

Tell him you'll remove them once he pays.
Then don't.

I would be inclined to tell them you will update the review once they pay the invoice, as your offer to remove it could be used as a legal counter claim if you don’t do it.
Then post a review but don’t rant about how totally hopeless (or worse)they are, as that could get the review taken down, but describe their work as sub standard and add that after some discussion they at least did the decent thing and refunded your money.

 

[Pricey98]

So after more or less being called a lier by Renatec and really having to grit my teeth, I am now pursuing them initially through the Which trusted trader scheme (which laughably they are a member of), and then potentially through the small claims court if I get no joy. Here's some more snaps of their handwork for anybody still foolish enough to consider using them.

Broken lower cambelt cover:

Damaged exhaust cam (looks like it's been damaged by a screwdriver when they were trying to get the cambelt on):

I would say pictures speak a thousand words...

 

[bloke]

Cam pulley is from the locking tool possibly?

How did you pay by the way?

 

[Pricey98]

Cam pulley is from the locking tool possibly?

How did you pay by the way?

Paid part cash, part credit card. Am wondering if it may be worth speaking to card provider to see if some could be recovered through them.

 

[bloke]

Yup, speak to card company, think its sectio 48 or something that covetd it.

 

[realnumber 1]

Paid part cash, part credit card. Am wondering if it may be worth speaking to card provider to see if some could be recovered through them.

Even if you payed £1 by the credit card you should still be able to get a full refund through it.

 

[Landy101]

Evening Pricey98,
Looks like the universe is looking after me again, I was just thinking about taking my 172 to them. I walked past the place last week when I was picking up my car from the Renault main dealer.
I'm new to Bristol so haven't got a fitter I can trust anymore. I definitely won't be asking them now!
Anyway, I hope you got your money back in the end and had the chance to report them.
Cheers.

 

[Pricey98]

Evening Pricey98,
Looks like the universe is looking after me again, I was just thinking about taking my 172 to them. I walked past the place last week when I was picking up my car from the Renault main dealer.
I'm new to Bristol so haven't got a fitter I can trust anymore. I definitely won't be asking them now!
Anyway, I hope you got your money back in the end and had the chance to report them.
Cheers.

I'm glad you saw this thread before taking your car there. Unfortunately I didn't end up getting any money back from them as the Which Trusted Trader ombudsman found in their favour (largely due to me not getting an independent engineers inspection report before getting my car fixed elsewhere). At least I've saved someone else going through similar with them. I can't think of the names off the top of my head, but I discovered afterwards that there are several good independent specialists in the Bristol area. A search on here should bring them up.

 

[ilovewilly]

Evening Pricey98,
Looks like the universe is looking after me again, I was just thinking about taking my 172 to them. I walked past the place last week when I was picking up my car from the Renault main dealer.
I'm new to Bristol so haven't got a fitter I can trust anymore. I definitely won't be asking them now!
Anyway, I hope you got your money back in the end and had the chance to report them.
Cheers.

Have a nosey at FCM Motorsport. They are a good bunch.

 

[Landy101]

Sorry to hear that outcome.
I was lucky to have the same fitter in Devon for over 20 years. Unfortunately my Clio was left in a yard down there for a few months when I moved to the city. I only bought it up here a few weeks ago to sell it as it's not being used anymore, but hadn't realised the MOT ran out in March
I hope your Clio is back on form and your enjoying the dry Welsh roads