Garage bill too much with excessive labour charges
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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. |
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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 recently took my car into a local garage who I trust and usually do a good job, for an MOT and Service the service costing £125.00 and the MOT £35. I went to collect the car to be presented with abill for nearly £900 which to me didn't sound right. I questioned this and they informed me that they had to replace the brake discs (most expensive £50 each), brake pads, air filter oil and washer fluid plus labour cost I tried to tell them that the air filer and brake discs were supposed to be included in a full service and not separate as well as the oil and washer fluid etc, they weren't having it so I only paid £400 of the bill as this would have left me with no fuel money or food money for the rest of the month. Does anyone know If I was right or was the garage right and who should I contact?
-1
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It's scary how easily mechanics can rip us off ... my car went in for a simple 20-minute job with a relatively cheap part (putting in a new thermostat) for which I was quoted £100 (bad enough, I thought, but hey, I'm a girl and can't do it myself!). Went to fetch her at lunch time, to be told a pipe had blown off the heater matrix unit, and suddenly the car was not drivable, and further repairs would be needed ... an extra £160 and not to mention another day in the workshop! I asked how come this had happened when I had happily driven the car to the garage in the first case, and besides the thermostat I knew for a fact there was nothing else wrong with the cooling system! No, says the mechanic, the problem must have been there "wearing away" and it just chose the moment when he was replacing the thermostat to break completely. Yeah, right! But can I argue? ... how can I prove it wasn't accidental! So gotta pay the extra £160 somehow, and grin and bear it. Won't be going back there though ... avoid JF MOT Centre in Marston Estate, Frome, Somerset ... can you believe when I got upset and made it plain I'd have trouble raising the extra money, the guy offered to buy my car off me for £50 and generously said he'd then write-off the cost of replacing the thermostat.
+7
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Garages - if you treat your customers in this way be prepared to go out of business. The internet is a powerful tool and word of mouth is a strong advertiser. If you have got good customers dont rip them off. We are not stupid and it is so very easy to find out the cost of parts these days. People are struggling at the moment so treat us fairly and honestly. £50 for brake fluid is daylight robbery. The gay who said you are not a qualified mechanic probable was not one either if he was ripping you off like this. Name em and shame em.
0
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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
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
-12
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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.
0
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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
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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
.
+6
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Broken Glass = Broken Bank - 18-Apr-09 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
-1
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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.
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.
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Exasperated Wife - 30-Jun-08 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.
-7
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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.
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.
+6
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Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.
+3
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