I usually do all my own spannering, but as I wanted to keep the service history book up to date, I took it into a dealer for a service. Unfortunately, I reckon the local village must be missing an idiot as the mechanic forgot to tighten up the front brake caliper bolts properly. I got a few hundred metres up the road when I heard a clunk. That was a bolt falling out. I got off and spotted the caliper hanging on the brake line.
I was absolutely fuming as I pushed the bike back to the dealer. As you can imagine, I went mad. I could have been paralysed, or even worse, killed. The owner said sorry, a lot. They got the bike back in the shop and sorted out the caliper, offered to give me a full refund of the servicing costs and said I could pick any new helmet.
I told him he could stick it and I would see him in court. I’ve been online and some people reckon I can claim for compensation for nearly being killed or paralysed. One chap said a similar thing happened to his mate and he was offered £15,000 or a new bike. Another chap online reckons there is a pot of compensation set aside by insurers to deal with this type of dipstick dealer. I quite fancy a new bike and have told the dealer I’m willing to get a solicitor to sue him. What do you think?
John
Answer
There is a famous quote from the philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell. He said, ‘The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.’ Whilst arguably not quite as eloquent, but perhaps even better, there is also an old phrase that my Dad uses a lot. He says, ‘Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one.’ With those two great men in mind, be careful of relying on what online ‘experts’ have to say.
Whilst clearly it was a serious mistake, and I suspect I too may well have done my biscuit, the dealer apologised. Thereafter, he rectified the issue, offered to refund the servicing costs and offered you a new lid. All in all, the dealer sounds like he took it all very seriously and has been nothing but reasonable. From what you said, he couldn’t have done any more to rectify the mistake.
I appreciate you could have been paralysed or killed. However, the fact is you weren’t, so someone online saying his mate (it’s always a mate they know isn’t it) was offered £15,000 or a new bike has either been the luckiest chap ever, or it never happened. If I was a betting man, I would stick my money on the latter. To be absolutely crystal clear, there is no huge compensation paid out for what could have happened.
My advice is calm down and go and speak to the dealer. If he is still offering a full refund for the service and a new helmet, take it and move on. The reality is, if a judge were to deal with this in court, he could order that, if the dealer has rectified the error, then the most they should pay you in compensation is a partial refund of the servicing costs due to the shoddy work.
That is probably about it. I certainly would not suggest involving solicitors but instead have a chat with the dealer. We are all human. We all make mistakes and, from what you have said, the dealer is trying to rectify their mistake in a reasonable fashion.
Andrew Prendergast
Adventure Bike Rider – Mar | Apr 2026
