Garage bill was way too high
15-March-2010
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Garage bill was way too high

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Having just got back to my girlfriends house after a lengthy business meeting I looked over a repair bill from what I thought was a reputable car garage.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the final bill.  I've heard many tales of rip-off garages but I didn't think that I would be caught by one myself!

They had initially quoted £185 labour charges plus parts, which were for two rear axle bushes and two rear coil springs for a Volkswagen Golf MK4.  Now I understand that this isn't a two minute job by any means.  In fact I have friends who own garages and they advised me that with the right tools this kind of job should only take a couple of hours, three at the most.

Garage bill too high?

My gripe is that looking at the bill they had charged £48 for 1 coil spring (only one fitted) as opposed to £61.00 for two.  The two rear axle bushes were £55.00 (I know only cost £12 each max), £45 for a machine to press them out (what's that all about) and £50 for brake fluid!  Understandably you do sometimes have to bleed the brakes, but £50 for brake fluid is a bit much much in my opinion, it's not a formula one car for goodness sake!

Extra labour charges had been added...

The total bill came to over £440 in the end.  It was blindingly obvious to me that extra labour charges had been added to the parts list.  I could have gone and bought the parts is about £80 all in (two coil springs and two rear bushes) - NOT £195.00 (for only 1 spring).

Do these garages think we are all idiots?  As the garage owner said to me while throwing me out for simply asking for a breakdown of the invoice "You are not a competent mechanic are you...?"  Well I may not be, but I do know how much parts cost and I know when a garage is trying to rip me off!


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I booked my car into a garage in arbour lane,Kirkby,Liverpool for a manifold gasket and 1 rear drop link as advised after its service at another garage.They quoted £170 then I received the phone call saying the bolts had sheared off and there was 2 ways it could be done, either the engine would need removing or they will try the easy way, to my relief the did the easy way !!!
They had the car for 9 days but not doing anything to it as the wrong bolts were delivered on 2 occasions,Which took up a weekend and 3 weekdays.On the 9 day I went to colect it and the bill was £10 gasket , £10 bolts ,£405 labour.and the rear droplinks not done !!! ( wrong ones delivered !!!! seriously needs to change parts provider)
The drop link was done but they decided to do both sides for a cost of £130.So when the original job was booked it was £170 it cost £555
When the labour charges were queried I was told to get out in a threatening manner and told do you no who I am. I have searched the motor industry code of practice and needless to say Smart Auto Services of Kirkby are not listedon there site. Total RIP OFFS
*Ripped Off  14-Aug-2009 19:28

 
If the garage is a subscriber to the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair (check online at www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk and use garage finder facility) call the freephone number 0800 692 0825 and talk to them. If not - use a garage that does subscribe in future. Good luck.
*JP  22-Jul-2009 08:16

 
Garage money = easy money because of the monopoly a particular make of vehicle has relative to all of its parts.

Fog light glass lens smashed; £43-50 for part £91-00 labour for 0.8 hour to fit it. Exasperation is not strong enough for the con this represents.

Go to the garage and there's no place to park.
Do they keep the part on site? answer = no.
Can they have the part delivered by motorcycle like a pizza? answer = no.
I have to wait a week to have it done.
The staff at the garage all they do is shrug their shoulders when I complain. There's no manager to be seen. When I tell them that the car industry is doomed in Europe, all they can say is that they don't care


.
*Broken Glass = Broken Bank  18-Apr-2009 12:42

 
The guy from Talk Sport Once said he put a car in for a service and told his wife to pick it up he looked at the bill the next day then phoned the garage and asked why he had been charged £10.00 for spark plugs the man at the other end said all cars get them .The owner then told him it was a DIESEL car I rest my case
*Mr Scrooge  05-Sep-2008 01:31

 
I went to a garage on Elm Road in March, Cambs for an MOT. I was told £45 - OK I said. Dropped it off Thursday at 9am. Was called at 2pm saying the I needed a few things - swapping over a wheel for the spare because it was worn, changing a bulb, changing over my number plates (I have a private plate that is 'spaced') and he said he topped up the oil.

Then he said the CO2 emissions were more than double the limit (blah I'm a girl!!) so I asked what he needed to do. He said a part called Lambda sensor costing £85 inc vat! I asked if it would clear the problem & was told yes. So I said go ahead.

When I went to get the car guess what still no MOT - he said although he'd done this sensor & flushed it through (whatever that means) it was still over the limit and he didn't know what was wrong (bit worrying seeing as he's the only one there!)

I had this gut feeling that all was not well so I took it to another garage Monday morning & guess what - passed first time & off I went with my MOT!

Back to the other garage - bill for £236!! Yeah right! Made him take the sensor off & refused to pay for the labour - sent letter from Trading Standards. Still got lumbered for £120 for an MOT and a bit of faffing about (see above)

Very unimpressed as you can see - don't go there and happy to tell anyone who it is! Just cos I'm a girlie doesn't mean I will take it without a fight! Have reported it to Trading Standards & to the Good Garage Guide.
*Exasperated Wife  30-Jun-2008 21:24

 
1 week ago a hired a Mobile Mechanics of Colorado Springs to replace my radiator. I was told the whole job would cost 438.00 with an extra twenty dollars to cover next day service. I agreed at that price. The mechanic then requested an up front payment, which he referred to as a deposit. I hardly call the total cost a deposit, but being the trusting person I am gave it to him and in return he couldn't give me a receipt because he didn't carry them with him. After that the man never called I had to call him. His excuse was always that the radiator wasn't in yet or they got the wrong one. After 5 days I was very irritated and demanded my money back, he guaranteed that he would find a radiator. the next day I called and the story was he bought a radiator, but it would be 208 dollars more. When I REQUESTED A RECEIPT ON how much the radiator cost he started calling me names and wanted to meet my boyfriend some where to kick his butt, he also called me a few choice words and told me to suck his ####. In the end the Police were called and he claimed that the radiator cost 400 dollars and he didn't owe me a cent. This man was unreal and I hope I can prevent someone else from going through the same thing.
*Billie Jo  04-Dec-2007 14:51

 
If you had a written quote and the 2 do not add up go back and complain to the garage, who can do something or the Trading Standards,

Your last statement sums it up a reputable garage wil rip you off and be nice about it.The other garages rip you off and throw you out.
*Troll Slayer  02-Dec-2007 12:37

 
Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.
*mikevalesenior  27-Nov-2007 16:52


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