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Subject Topic: Now that IS a rip-off!
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PersonJuanHuNose
22/8/2023 at 8:32am
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My nephew (young lad) bought himself a Ford Kuga (8 years old - the car, that is!) and needed a towbar to enable him to attach a trailer for some walling work he does.
He took the car to a towbar fitting company who fitted him a fixed bar for about 500 quid. After they had relieved him of the cash they told him the car had already had a detachable towbar fitted and the detachable bit was in the spare wheel well. As there was nothing wrong with the towbar and electrics did he want them back to take away with him?

Yes, he requested a towbar fitting, but morally would you expect a `reputable` (??) company to adobt this stance? His dad walked out years ago so has had little or no parental guidance (I`m here, but to his credit he has tried to make his own way). Just can`t help thinking they saw him coming, but I`m not allowed to name them on here.


PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 22/8/2023 at 8:56am
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That's terrible, but hardly surprising.


Persondk168
22/8/2023 at 9:04am
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Shame them on social media for having very shady business practice and being dishonest.

Go to the press is another way to broadcast about their dishonesty.

DK

-------------
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Person664DaveS
via mobile 22/8/2023 at 9:43am
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He could ask trading standards for advice. Any reputable fitter would have told him the bar was fitted and not ripped him off.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


PersonColin21
22/8/2023 at 11:51am
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Diabolical! Typical these days though, unfortunately.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


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Persongray871
via mobile 22/8/2023 at 12:51pm
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Name and shame the scumbags or at least say the area they work in so others can narrow it down to who they are
Graham


PersonDot P
via mobile 22/8/2023 at 1:19pm
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Would you not consider calling them on the phone or in person to discuss? Agree sounds a rip off but maybe a conversation with them before following the name and shame / press route?
Always worth hearing the other side of the story in fairness.

Post last edited on 22/08/2023 13:24:08


Personiank01
23/8/2023 at 8:12am
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Not quite the same, but recently bought a vehicle that had a towbar fitted, but the detachable was missing. I first checked on the Internet for the detachable, but nothing and no one recognised the towbar.

Took it to fitters who were also unfamiliar with the towbar so had to have a new fixed one fitted. Eventually I found out it was some obscure Australian brand of towbar that had been imported for a short while.

One of the reasons why I bought the car was because of the towbar however I was aware the detachable was missing, but thought I could buy just the part anyway.

Another thing I found out is that you cannot buy the detachable part only, you have to buy the towbar plus the detachable and that seem to apply to all brands. Your only hope is a private sale!


PersonColin21
23/8/2023 at 9:20am
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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 23/8/2023

One of the reasons why I bought the car was because of the towbar however I was aware the detachable was missing, but thought I could buy just the part anyway.

Another thing I found out is that you cannot buy the detachable part only, you have to buy the towbar plus the detachable and that seem to apply to all brands. Your only hope is a private sale!


I suppose the argument would be that you wouldn't want one without the other. What do people do with the detachable part so that they come to lose it? I very much doubt that the manufacturers actually make or store the detachable parts separately, they just make the complete thing. Personally I have never really seen the point of detachable tow-bars, either you want to tow with your car or you don't. I doubt whether most people bother detaching it when they aren't using it, I know I certainly wouldn't if I had bought a car that already had one fitted. The last two cars I have bought already had a fixed tow-bar, and the one before that I had a fixed tow-bar fitted to.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Persondk168
23/8/2023 at 9:24am
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I appreciate OP's nephew might not be able to buy the missing detachable part for his existing fitting in his vehicle, most likely for warranty issues should anything happened to it or the car etc., I still believe it is morally wrong for the fitter not to inform him first with regard to the existing fitting before commencing to fit a new one.

The owner of the car should be given the chance to search and buy the missing detachable part, and discovered for himself that it was not possible to do so.

That's just my humble opinion.

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
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* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


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PersonColin21
23/8/2023 at 9:30am
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It wasn't the O/Ps nephew whose detachable part was missing, it was Iank. The O/Ps nephew's detachable part was in the spare wheel well. The fitter should have just told him that and not ripped him off selling him a complete new one when he already had one fitted.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Persondk168
23/8/2023 at 10:01am
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 23/8/2023
It wasn't the O/Ps nephew whose detachable part was missing, it was Iank. The O/Ps nephew's detachable part was in the spare wheel well. The fitter should have just told him that and not ripped him off selling him a complete new one when he already had one fitted.




I missed that bit, DOH!

That's is truly despicable if all the parts were there and the original tow bar was in good working order!!!

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


Personblueexpo97
23/8/2023 at 10:34am
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So let's just assume, although one should never assume, that as the nephew was getting a fixed bar fitted the fitter took it that he wanted the detachable one replced with a fixed bar.

So no need to inform him of anything. But a quick double check would possibly have been in order.

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


Person664DaveS
via mobile 23/8/2023 at 10:53am
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I can only assume the seller of the car did not tell him it had a towbar. Possibly a dealer rather than the owner. Maybe they didn't check it over or forgot to tell him.
I always have a look around underneath if buying a used car.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


PersonJuanHuNose
23/8/2023 at 1:04pm
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Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 23/8/2023
So let's just assume, although one should never assume, that as the nephew was getting a fixed bar fitted the fitter took it that he wanted the detachable one replced with a fixed bar.

So no need to inform him of anything. But a quick double check would possibly have been in order.


He asked for the `cheapest towbar` as he hasn`t much cash and thought he needed one. The bar which was removed wasn`t very old and appears perfect (bar a little surface dust and rust) and the detachable bit is like new and fits perfectly without any play. I haven`t tested the electrics that were stripped off, but even if they were totally useless there would have been no need to swap the bar.


Persongray871
via mobile 23/8/2023 at 1:05pm
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Answer to Colin21
Hi Colin the reason I had a detachable towbar fitted to my Kuga was where I worked in Wakefield city centre the parking was a narrow road so the extra 6 inch when the towbar was removed gave me the option of parking closer to the building
Graham



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