Mercedes won't refund my repair bill for a breakdown abroad - where do I stand?
My 2014 Hymer B 585 Starlight motorhome (based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter) recently broke down while I was in Ireland. I was recovered to an authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer, who eventually diagnosed the problem as a faulty ECU. This was replaced at a cost of €2000. On my return to the UK, I contacted Hymer, Mercedes-Benz and my Hymer dealer requesting a refund of my repair bill as I felt the ECU should have lasted longer than three years and 8650 miles. Hymer and my dealer informed me it was a Mercedes issue. Mercedes refused my claim stating they do not know how the vehicle has been driven and also because they had no process to contact the repairer as it was outside their network. When I told them the repairer was an authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer they confirmed the repairer was in their network but still refused my claim. Where do I stand? Surely the ECU should last the best part of the life of the vehicle and if not Mercedes are liable for at least some of the repair costs?
Asked on 21 July 2017 by Reg Thoburn
Answered by
Honest John
Chain of liability. If you want to put in a Small Claim, put it in to the supplier to whom you paid your money, whether that was a Hymer dealer or Hymer directly. This tells you how to do it: www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overview/
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