Workshop terms

Who we are

These terms are between you and M&J Automotive Ltd, trading as Rootes Motors (registered in England and Wales no. 17515189; registered office: Connaught House, 15-17 Upper George Street, Luton LU1 2RD). Our workshop is Unit 7 Rootes Works, Tavistock Street, Milton Keynes MK2 2PF — phone 07746 922 273, email shop@rootesmotors.co.uk.

They apply to the diagnostic, repair and servicing work we do on your car. Nothing in them affects your statutory rights.

Our estimates

Our prices are estimates: our best figure for the work described, based on what we found at the time, itemised line by line. An estimate is valid for a limited period, shown on the estimate.

We are not VAT registered, so prices are as shown — there is no VAT to add.

Our current rates — for example the minimum diagnostic charge and storage — are listed with these terms and on your estimate.

What you approve

You approve or decline the work on an estimate as a whole. We only do, and only charge for, the work you approve — plus any diagnostic or minimum charge described below.

We won't do anything else without asking you first and getting your OK. That includes a new item, more labour than estimated, further dismantling, or any increase in price. There is no allowance for us to go over the estimate without asking.

If we change an estimate after sending it, the old approval link stops working and we ask you again.

How we diagnose — and its limits

We diagnose using dealer-level diagnostic equipment, live data, road testing and physical inspection where applicable, and tell you what we found.

An estimate reflects the car's condition as found at the time. Some faults only become apparent once a part has been removed or the first fault has been put right — for example a blocked EGR cooler or inlet manifold behind a failed EGR valve — and intermittent faults may not show while we test.

If that happens, we stop, tell you what we found, and ask you before doing any more.

This doesn't affect our duty to carry out the work with reasonable care and skill, or your statutory rights.

Possible further work

Where something else may be needed, we list it on the estimate as possible further work, with an indicative price where we can give one.

Approving the estimate does not approve these items. If one turns out to be needed, we contact you, price it, and only go ahead once you say yes.

If you say no to further work

You can always say no. If the car is already partly dismantled, we will put it back together within the original price where possible, and tell you about any safety implications of leaving the fault. If that isn't possible, we'll tell you and agree any cost with you first.

You pay for the work you approved and we carried out.

Wear and existing faults

We are responsible for the quality of our own work. Wear or faults in other parts of the car that were not part of the work you approved are not ours, unless our work caused or worsened them — we point out anything we notice.

Where it makes sense we may offer used or remanufactured parts as a priced alternative. The choice is yours.

Parts you supply

If you supply a part, we guarantee our fitting of it, but we can't give a warranty on the part itself — any manufacturer's warranty stays with the part.

We may decline to fit a part we think is unsafe, incompatible or of doubtful origin.

Our guarantee

Our workmanship is guaranteed for the period stated on your invoice, subject to fair wear and tear and the car being used and maintained normally. Parts carry their manufacturer's warranty.

If something we did goes wrong, bring the car back to us and we will put it right. If you can't reasonably bring it back to us (for example a breakdown far from Milton Keynes), call us first and we'll agree how to put it right.

This guarantee is in addition to your statutory rights.

Diagnostic and minimum charges

A minimum diagnostic charge applies to diagnostic work, confirmed when you book, whether or not you go ahead with the repair.

If you decline an estimate once the car is with us, the diagnostic charge shown on it is still payable. If it has no diagnostic charge and no other work on the car was agreed, our minimum charge applies instead. Declining before the car is with us costs nothing.

Payment and collection

Payment is due on collection. We may keep the car until the work you approved and we carried out has been paid for.

Storage charges may apply if the car isn't collected within 3 working days of us telling you it's ready — our current rate is on our rates list, and you'll see it before any work starts.

Old parts

We keep replaced parts so you can see them, until you collect the car. Tell us if you'd like to take them; otherwise we dispose of them responsibly.

Your approval and our records

When you approve online we record your name, the time, the exact estimate you saw (with the rates shown), the version of these terms, your browser type and a shortened form of your internet (IP) address. A phone approval is written down with the time and who took it, and we email you a confirmation.

We keep job records, including approvals, for six years after the end of the tax year of the job, as our privacy notice explains.

If you're not happy

Please talk to us first — we want to put it right. Nothing in these terms stops you using an alternative dispute resolution service or going to court.