Anyone know where I stand legally?
Turbo Mini Forums

So heres a question for you guys-

The story-

Today I have been to Cadwell Park on a trackday. (Excellent fun as usual!)
Anyhow, approx 11am, came in to the paddock for a while, had a check round the car, and noticed the tyre on the NSF had a blister down to the cords. I was not that suprised, they were Yokohama A008R's that I bought second hand, and have since done Cadwell Park twice, and also some runs up Avon at the Mini Showdown.

In attendance at Cadwell was a motorsport company (who will remain nameless for now) selling and fitting tyres. Went over just to enquire what they had in the correct size, as I didn;t want to wreck the decent road tyres round the track. They had for sale some second hand slicks! At ?40 each, which I thought was a bit steep, but would be worth it a) to try them out and b) to save my road tyres. They fitted the slicks, paid on my credit card. I then rolled the tyres back over to the car, and noticed one of them had "SCRAP" written on it in chalk!!!!!!! Immediately went back and questioned but they claimed that meant just no good for out and out racing, would be fine for me. Total cost was a gnats under ?100 with VAT and new valves etc etc.

Went out in car, grip and turn in was an amazing transformation, was lapping much faster than before. Did approx 7-8 laps, came in. My mate went out, did maybe 5 laps, came in. One of the front slicks was down to the wires!! Already, after only 15 laps absolute max. Took it off car and back to place, said I was not happy and pissed off. Bloke tried to flannel me with a load of b..shit, unfortunately he didn't know that I have been involved in quite a bit of saloon car circuit racing, Prod Saloons, Rover GTis, Rover Tomcats, Vento VR6's, John Cooper BINI Challenge etc, so I was having none of it, and I think he could see I knew what I was on about. In the end they grudgingly agreed to refund me ?50, but that was all. They also took the slicks in question back off my wheels. The one that was knackered was the one taking the majority of the fast bends at Cadwell, as at any circuit, most of the bends are one way. They refunded the ?50 back to my credit card. I was (am) mega annoyed that they didn't refund me fully, but after 20mins "discussion" it was the best I was going to get out of them.

So my question is, I am considering contacting my credit card company and asking them to refuse the payment, on the grounds that the goods were not of merchantable quality.......as far as I am concerned, I fully accept that they were second hand, and if they had only lasted me till the end of track time today, I would have been happy. But 15 laps and knacked? Not happy.......


Opinions please?!

My personal opinion Tom; put it down to experience and leave it.

If there is a chance your card company will pursue it, fine - nothing to lose. But if the answer is no, don't bother taking it any furter - Just let folks know on as many forums as possible about the company. That will help the 'healing'

To be honest Dave I think you are right, will give the credit card co a ring tomorrow and chance my arm, but at least they only cost me ?50, down to experience like you say.

They were magic while they lasted it has to be said, the difference between A008R's and slicks unbelieveable!

ita a harsh lesson to learn, none of us like getting ripped off or seeing it happen to others! i think you was lucky to get half of it back. echoing TD, accidently let the company name slip whilst coughing!

it may b small but it purfectly formed
http://photobucket.com/albums/v340/1976_mi...roject%20turbo/

EARS (Escort And Rally Spares)

Long established company, based in Cheshire somewhere I believe.....

Bugger mate, not sure what to suggest, mentioned it to the gf and she says it often takes a couple of days for visa etc to make payment etc so you might be able todo something

you could refuse payment tom if its not been processed

but i would be inclined to agree with Dave on this one

was it the same NSF again! where the slick was worn?

if so the steering geometry is out. or is it the LSD

sorry i did not make it but finalizing the engine & box build & installation, if i dont get pulled off for other things.

I cant get owt done for the family.

You going to combe tom?

Which slicks were they?

I would put it down to experiance too, buying second hand tyres is always a gamble. This time it just didn't pay off. That you got some money back is good.

If you cancel the payment they could persue you for the money through the small claims court. If it went in their favour you would be paying a lot more than you cancled on the card.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Well after sleeping on it and calming down a bit I am going to leave it I think, like you say, put it down to experience. Cost me ?50 for 15 laps, but it has to be said that seeing the difference between slicks and A008's has meant I will definately be buying some more in the future.

Ben, it was the same tyre again, the NSF, but Cadwell is very hard on the tyre as almost half the lap is long fast corners turning right, so that is the tyre that takes the punishment. I don't think it is the car set up, checked the tracking recently and the camber is 1/2 a degree negative, which could do with being a bit more, but not horrendous.
When looking at the knackered slick, the 'dimples' that they mould in so you can see what moulding depth you have left were completely gone across the full width of the tyre, the outer edge was on the cords, but to be fair the inner edge had started to poke through slightly, e.g. you could see the weave through the rubber that was left.

They were Michelin slicks, medium/hard compound I believe, something like SL9's?

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!