Am I Being Totally Ripped Off?

[Guest mark parry]

OK...firstly hello!! I need some feed back on this topic please as I am totally livid and not sure how to persue it. My usual garage was very busy and I needed a service before driving to Cornwall for a weeks holiday so I called another local garage who verbally quoted me £90.00 labour charge for a full service plus the cost of the various parts, oil etc and £ 44.00 for an mot. I was expecting a bill for no more than £ 200 based on my usual garage prices( assuming no extra work was needed) When I returned to the garage to collect my 55 Berlingo I was presented with a bill for £ 576.00. Totally in shock I asked why so much and was assuming the car had failed the mot miserably. He said a couple of bulbs needed replacing and a wiper blade....ok but that cannot justify £ 576...?? So, he then told me that while he was doing the service he noticed my breaks neeed some work so he went ahead despite the fact that it didnt need the work inorder to pass the mot and without my permission. I obviously complained and refused to pay that amount at which point he offered to lower the price( totally suspicious). I havent paid him yet but I do have the car back and have noticed that the rear window wash doesnt work (obvious job to be done for a service) and that the computer has'nt been reset and still shows the service needed signal so I have my doubts on the quality of the service. He still has my mot certificate so I obviously have to resolve this soon inorder to tax the car. I have since been told several stories by people who have fallen victim of this mechanics overcharging and failure to inform the client before carrying out major works. Does anyone have a similar experience and any idea of my legal position? Any help will be much appreciated.

 

One more thing... assuming that the labour for the service was £ 90, how much would I expect to pay for the parts, two bulbs and wiper blade at a main dealer?

 

Many thanks!

[iannez]

genuine front wipers are around £25 each and the bulbs less than a £1 each unless its a headlight bulb around £6. dealers vary in price depending which part of the country your from. we charge £99 for minor service and £30 for mot if done at time of service. half hours labour for brake service if needed around £30 but there is no way we would go ahead with any work unless it was authorised by the costomer. there having a laugh mark.

[Guest mark parry]

Thanks for the reply! Yes I really believe this guy is trying it on big time. Another thing that just occured to me which I didnt realise when I went to collect the car.... He told me that he will discount the labour for the breaks which he said was £ 90.00. I noticed that the overall labour was £ 245.00 which means that he's charging me £ 155 for the service labour.... but he quoted me £ 90.00 on the phone. What is this guy playing at?... makes my blood boil!!

[seefive]

He still has my mot certificate so I obviously have to resolve this soon inorder to tax the car.

You don't need the physical MOT cert to tax the car - you can do it online, and DVLA automatically checks with the VOSA computer ( also validates insurance in this way) - so this isn't a real problem for you..

[paul.h]

At my dealer, when you take the car you sign a form which lists the work you are having done eg service/MOT/brakes bleeding. Then if they find anything else, they phone and get you to agree to it before they start. These are for your and their benefit and probably form the basis of a legal contract.

 

Now if you have not agreed to any work being done outside of the service list then I expect it would not be legal and you can ask for the work to be undone. Do you have a list of the service items completed ?

 

Out of interest, what exactly have they done to the brakes ? Are you able to name the garage ?

[Guest eckeck]

Thanks for the reply! Yes I really believe this guy is trying it on big time. Another thing that just occured to me which I didnt realise when I went to collect the car.... He told me that he will discount the labour for the breaks which he said was £ 90.00. I noticed that the overall labour was £ 245.00 which means that he's charging me £ 155 for the service labour.... but he quoted me £ 90.00 on the phone. What is this guy playing at?... makes my blood boil!!

He is taking the pizzzz,see a solicitor or citizens advice and they will help draft a letter to the ripoff merchant,He should have got your permission to do the extra work,

[Guest xsaraiihdi]

Hi

 

Contact the rip off merchant and get a full break down of parts fitted and labour charges, then contact trading standards and ask then for the name of a garage to inspect the work and produce a report on the vehicle for you and prosecute him.