Raw Deal: So, what DID happen to Leanne’s broken key?

FANCY yourself as an amateur detective? See if you can work this one out.

Leanne Cunningham, of Kirkcaldy, parked her Vauxhall Astra and pulled the key from the ignition.

There was a “ping” noise.

Leanne found she had only the plastic fob of the key in her hand.

Leanne searched her car, but there was no sign of the rest of the key. She wondered if it had broken off in the ignition barrel of the car.

Unfortunately, Leanne was sold the car with only one key.

She had to have it towed in to Peter Vardy Vauxhall in Kirkcaldy, who said she might need a replacement key to be programmed to her car.

Leanne warned that the broken bit of the key might be in the barrel and the garage said it would have a technician check this.

As she is a district nurse, Leanne carries quite a bit of equipment in her car. She moved all of this out and left the car at the garage.

Two days later, Leanne received a call from Peter Vardy saying the key blade was in the barrel – which meant a more expensive remedy than just a new key – and that parts would have to be ordered. She was promised the car back a few days later.

However, it took several more days for the parts to be couriered in but when all was ready Leanne was given a discount as the job had taken longer than expected.

She moved all her belongings back into her own car.

Later the same day, while looking in a bag that she’d kept with her in her temporary car, she found the broken key blade.

Leanne quickly phoned the garage, but it was late in the afternoon so an appointment was made to discuss the situation four days later.

The Peter Vardy staff said that there had definitely been something in the ignition barrel. This confused Leanne, as the fob, with its stub of metal, and the key blade she’d found in the bag fitted together to make a complete key.

Unfortunately, the garage had disposed of the parts they’d removed from the car.

The Peter Vardy staff wondered if Leanne had, after all, had a second key. But Leanne could prove she was sold the car with only one key.

Leanne and her husband left the garage at that point, feeling that there was quite a gulf between what the Peter Vardy staff believed and what she told them had happened.

The cost of a new key programmed to Leanne’s car would have been around £230, whereas a new key, new ignition barrel and the subsequent work to put in those replacement parts amounted to around £620 (after the discount for the work taking longer than expected had been applied).

So Leanne reckoned she’d paid too much.

Raw Deal got involved.

Peter Vardy agreed to refund the cost of the ignition barrel and labour, but still dispute that there was any error on their part.

Leanne told Raw Deal; “Many thanks for what you have done.”

Do you have a problem?

 To get in touch with Raw Deal please email your address and daytime/mobile number to rawdeal@sundaypost.com or write to Raw Deal, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee, DD4 8SL (please include SAE).

Briefly outline the problem and how you would like it resolved. Include contact details of the other party and any customer ref/order numbers.

By requesting Raw Deal’s assistance you agree for your name, location and a photo to be published.