At your service

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Oct 22, 2006 | by QUENTIN WILLSON BRITAIN'S NO.1 MOTORING WRITER

LAST month Mr R. T. Ayre, from Cleethorpes, Lincs, part- exchanged his W-reg Ford Mondeo for a 53-plate 2.0 with 50k miles for pounds 8,795 from a Ford main agent. The day after collection Mr Ayre noticed that both the front tyres were badly worn and that one rear tyre was also borderline, even though his Mondeo had been MoT'd on September 2. Mr Ayre has been forced to pay out pounds 133 for new tyres, so has written to the garage complaining, but hasn't received a reply. What should he do?

QUENTIN SAYS: If the tyres were borderline when your car was MoT'd, their condition should have been highlighted on the MoT pass certificate. As professionals, the Ford outfit should have been aware of the low tread depth on your Mondeo. You paid retail money to a retail garage for a car which should have been in retail condition. In other words, the dealer should have prepared your Mondeo to retail standard, which includes replacing dodgy tyres. Demand to see the sales manager in person, tell him his car was not up to retail standard and that you want him to cough up for the tyres. If he won't play ball, threaten to involve Trading Standards.