Garage bill too much with excessive labour charges

Dear Mia the Cat - Thank you so much for your very kind reply and your very kind thoughts - I actually moved my family FROM the South East to the South West, because we yearned for the countryside, had a longstanding friendship here and always I had believed the people to be so lovely - what we've been through has been an absolute shock!! I've never known anything like it before! We've lost almost everything we had, people have been REALLY unfriendly. GPs and NHS did not believe I was worthy of relevant, proper healthcare, it seems, I was left to suffer in AGONY with the internal structures of my legs being strained, sprained, torn - I now have probable permanent (and completely unnecessary) injuries. I've not been able to work, could not put a foot to the floor without excruciating agony - Lone Parent Advisor insinuated I was lazy. Due to area there were no Physio Clinics, no one I could find/get to 'til eventually Chiro who asked me how on earth I was managing to walk - I had no choice but to struggle and hobble and shuffle along - this has been such a horrible and cruel experience. I could not wear shoes for over a year because of the excruciating agony of having anything touch my feet, my legs were the same but I had no choice. I have sobbed every single day - the depression and the cumulative effects of the incapacities! My friend, who was elderly, had passed away just before we moved, but I didn't know until I sent a surprise card to say "Guess what? - We're here!!" When I went back to GP I was not examined, sent to wrong place, given an appt I couldn't get to without my children coming with me (due to public transport restrictions), the schools refused to allow a day's leave (but was me struggling in pain, daily!) - the experience goes on and on - awful. We didn't have internet because we hoped to move so didn't take on contract until found there was no hope of moving. I injured myself during the move and then the injuries were compounded and compounded - if we hadn't come here I would never have been injured, we would not have been so insulted and verbally and physically bullied, we would still have our savings and our hopes for our futures. We truly are decent, kind, caring, friendly, intelligent people and yet we have been made out to be exactly the opposite of all - and taken for a complete ride by many. I'm sorry - I've already been told off for writing too much. I'm feeling stronger than I was and just keep trying to put things right, but we've had a REAL 'battering' here. I cannot understand it at all - truly the worst experience of my life and my children's lives. I'm still trying to work out what on EARTH I'm going to do to get us out of this mess. Thank you SO MUCH for your very kind reply and very kind thoughts. X

It seems you've had a bad time of it FGS, so moving would seem one answer. I moved to the country a while back and have never been happier, having got married last August. It hasn't all been plain sailing moving to the sticks and it's far from luxurious but there is more peace of mind. Have you not got friends or acquaintances for emotional support? I would offer to help but the internet is a strange place and we all have to be pretty guarded. I'm in the southeast.

Dear Mia the Cat - Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my posting. Yes, that's what I was going to do, contact the organizations about this experience, but I first want to have the work checked by another garage, because now I am doubtful of the standard of the works carried out! The problems we (my little family) have had since we moved to this area are beyond belief!! - secondhand car sellers (one was a dealer) seem to have no conscience at all! - garages who were supposed to carry out works (not sure now that those works were completed - works related to other car we eventually had to scrap!), GPs/NHS refused me relevant healthcare injuries to my legs and feet!!, left me to struggle in agony, insulted me in letters and Notes, and my family has lost almost everything (incl. hope) over the past four years whilst the injuries and the depression caused by, gradually healed (I am left with probably permanent damages and possible permanent deformity, we have NO access to healthcare of any kind, and a string of insults against our names!), the schools ... they have been appalling! - my elder son being verbally and physically bullied on a daily basis, my younger son being taunted and bullied by his teacher and her TA, and when I made complaint I was insulted and berated by the teaching staff of BOTH schools!! I de-registered them from the schools and tried homeschooling whilst looking for decent schools, not yet found any, now Local Authority are harassing us. I wish I had NEVER, NEVER, NEVER moved my little family to this part of England! Four years of absolute hell! I am trying to move us away! - goodness knows how, but where there's a will there's a way (I hope)!! Thank you to everyone for your very kind postings and the suggestions - very much appreciated. I am so glad I happened across this site! Thank you!!

If a garage belongs to a professional body, get the name of it (or them) and write to each outlining your complaint and (crucially) why you believe it's fully justified. Best is to keep it short and tro the point, not labouring it too much (i.e. sounding like a whinge). They will have to take it up on your behalf, and worst case scenario is that you get nothing back. But I think you are likely to get a goodwill gesture at least, maybe a hundred pounds or so.

Dear Laser - Thank you so much for your reply - I totally agree with what you write - the garage SHOULD have phoned me when they said they would - they were supposed to call me with the prices BEFORE fitting the arms, but they didn't, NOR did they bother to phone me and explain that sensors had been broken and there would be additional parts required - they DID promise to keep to the THREE HOURS agreed labour charges, but then DOUBLED those!! I had no choice but to pay up!! What an APPALLING garage! - AND they are, apparently, Members of various garage schemes that promote 'Peace of Mind for the Motorist'!! NEVER, NEVER again!! What appalling people! - no shame at all! I am single mother with two young children, I cannot have 'sudden financial surprises' like that! - but we're getting taken for a ride here in all sorts of directions! - refused healthcare for injuries, refused assistance due to GP lack of professionalism (long story), receptacle I was told to use at the dentist to clear the debris from my mouth was the WC!!, schools have insulted my children and myself, my children have been verbally and physically bullied at schools, park - we feel this is a never-ending nightmare and, when I've complained I have been met with MORE insults, nasty insinuations and false accusations!! - Beyond imagination!! This is semi-rural area - came here for fresh air and friendly people - ?!!! I could write a book about the experiences of the past few years!! What's happened to integrity and decency and honesty and care? I have to find a garage, now, to check what's been done - I am extremely worried! Thank you for your reply though - I really appreciate your kindness.

sadly there are few honest garages about. best thing is to be recommended one but even then you're taking a chance. when you book in a car you need to be clear what work they will do and if there's more to be done that they ring you for authorisation. 'more work needed' is a scam operated commonly, and sometimes there is nothing replaced, just a hike of the bill. before going to any garage or repairer ask everyone you know about the outfit and also google the name online...you might have to wade thru several result pages before you find some negatives!

Dear Exasperated Wife - I could REALLY do with a friend like you! I seem to have lost all my confidence and ability to think clearly and am being ripped-off left, right and centre!! LOVE your posting - given me inspiration!! My story - single parent, young children, not exactly rolling in money, this car has been a money-pit but, once I started I was in a Catch22! Latest problems - rear trailing arm bushes - prices vary and garages don't want to take on the job (told me I needed new rear axle instead!, researched on Forum - no, could get bushes for approx. £80.00 pair, labour approx. 2 hours) Finally found garage to do job, got quote - £145.00 - had to wait a week for booking, took car to garage, after half-hour had phonecall - more problems found. Garage thought it uneconomical repair, put it back together and I drove it back to our parking space!! Weighed-up/explored options, finally found garage to do the work - quoted me £317.37 - FANTASTIC! - price included other items I had asked for - new rear brake shoes, 2 new wheel cylinders, handbrake cable (they fitted 2 rather than one, but showed me the damaged 2nd one), bushes had to be returned and, instead, new trailing arms, complete, fitted (this I had been trying to avoid but I somehow suddenly forgot that and put my trust in the garage!) Labour quoted was three hours I was told that would remain same (in fact it should have been less, I thought afterwards, because it takes longer to change bushes than to change complete arm units!) The long and short of it ... dropped car off at 8am and was told they would phone me about half hour later to confirm correct, replacement arms delivered and would fit - I had no phonecall, left it for a while then called them - oh yes, all OK, arms arrived and were fitted, other works being addressed. I asked for corrected price (re arms not bushes) as no one had phoned me to let me know, I was promised a call back. I waited .. and waited - no call. I phoned the garage. Oh, all OK, just finishing-up, of course it's taken much longer than thought but they would not increase the labour charges. They'd had to change ABS Sensors also, unfortunately, as these had broken when arms (that I hadn't originally wanted changed, but had forgotten that because I thought it was my fault the garage had ordered the wrong parts - the garage telling me the parts I had asked for were not available ... what a mess!) had been removed! Cost of these sensors approx. £45.00 each!! I asked for corrected price - they would phone me back. My children and I decided to not wait but to walk back to the garage - took about half an hour - arrived at garage, car not there. Oh! - on road test (how far had it been taken for testing then?!!) Final bill - £601.94! - They had decided to charge me SIX HOURS LABOUR - but apparently were going to give me a discount. There were the ADDITIONAL PARTS - the sensors which had only become necessary because they had told me the complete arms had to be replaced, not just the bushes (actually, there was nothing wrong with the old arms, I saw them!!, but the bushes inside looked a mess and the final price of the arms was discounted and therefore very good - as long as the arms are OK, I'm going to have them checked out by someone else now!!) and it had been impossible to remove the sensors, apparently, without them breaking! I had no choice but to pay up (they let me off the odd £1.94) but I feel SO RIPPED OFF! Had to borrow the extra money to pay them because it had never entered my head they would as good as DOUBLE the price!! The experience was REALLY UPSETTING, I left in a state of shock and feel physically sick still. I NEVER want to return to that garage, but finding a good garage is MUCH harder here than where we lived before!! I have been, and am being, ripped-off left, right and centre here!! - and the car is only ONE of the issues!! A car here is VERY necessary re location - but also because I injured my legs during the moving in here, the injuries worsened, I went to GP and almost all I/my family have had is, not medical care, but insults, humiliation, degradation and left to suffer in AGONY!! I now have probable permanent injuries and am STILL in pain!! Not been able to work ... a HUGE, very DEEP, hole that we have fallen into - and every way we turn we get a battering so the car problems are just one set of issues in a very long list, but these things should NOT be happening at all!! What on earth do garages think they are playing at though, quoting one price and charging something completely different!! THAT is not good business and what on EARTH would have happened if I hadn't been able to borrow the money to pay their invoice?!! I will follow Exasperated Wife's example I think - about time I started battling back!! THANK YOU Exasperated Wife!!

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

.

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

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.