Quote differs from price

Khannie

So I went to a mechanic for a job. Asked for a quote. Quote came in at 360 including vat for parts and labour. Now I went up and paid this up front (he wanted money for the part up front but I just went ahead and paid for the whole job to stop any messing). My mother in law picked up the car for me and he demanded (and unfortunately, she handed over) another 82 euro.

I want that 82 euro back. He refuses to give it. Can anyone tell me what my rights are here?

He doesn't dispute that he quoted 360 (and in fact we have evidence that he quoted it). Seems to me like he could make up any number he wanted after the fact if he's not bound by the quote.

Jarren

National Consumer Agency

Be clear
You should be clear with the garage or mechanic about what you want done.
Make sure they know not to do any additional work on the car without consulting you. If you are specifically asking them to do anything more than a routine service, such as replacing a windscreen, get them to quote you first for the parts and labour then decide whether you want them to proceed.
If you are getting your car serviced in advance of the NCT, tell the garage or the mechanic and ask them to advise you on anything you may need to address.
Quotations
If you are looking for repairs to be done to the car, ask for a detailed quotation for the work they will carry out and what this will cost. Do not settle for an estimate, which is simply an initial guess at the cost of the work and which could end up costing you much more once the work is done.
A written quotation can be referred to later in case of any dispute so always check the quotation carefully before agreeing to the work to see what is included in it - labour, parts, VAT etc.
Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not clear on anything, particularly about spare parts and the necessity to replace them.
It is illegal for a trader to claim work needs to be carried out when in fact it doesn't, so don't be afraid to get a second opinion if you think some work may be unnecessary.



Complaints
If you encounter a problem with a routine service or repairs being carried out on your car, in the first instance you should complain to the person or garage which carried out the work. Ask what they will do about putting things right - if the work was done by a garage, you should complain to the manager.
If you are not satisfied with the response you get, and the person or garage is a member of a trade association - for example the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) - you could consider taking the matter up with that association.
If there has been a breach of consumer law you should complain to the NCA.
If you are not getting anywhere with either the person, the garage or the trade association, you might consider taking the matter to the Small Claims Court. This Court deals with disputes up to a value of €2000 for a fee of €15 and there is no need to hire a solicitor.
Among the problems you may wish to complain about to the person or garage which did the work are:
Replacement parts failing a short time after the service or repair
Generic (sometimes called "spurious" parts in the trade) being used if you specified you wanted genuine manufacturer parts
Second-hand parts being used instead of new parts
Additional work being done without prior approval from the car owner
The final bill varying considerably from the quotation
Misinformation about the need to change a vital part - such as a timing belt - after a certain number of miles
The service is not complete at the time specified and there is no communication about the delay
If the car fails the NCT for an issue which should have been picked up in a pre-NCT test
If there is damage to your car which wasn't there before the work - always check around the car before you drive off and raise any issues immediately

http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Hot_Topics/Guides-to-Consumer-Law/Buying-a-car/Car-service-and-car-repair.html

Khannie

Nice one, thanks. How can you differentiate a quote from an estimate though? Surely if this were to go to court he would just say that he was merely estimating and not quoting. We don't have a written quote from him. I suppose that means I'm scuppered.

edit: just saw your edit, thanks!

Forest Master

Khannie wrote: »

I suppose that means I'm scuppered.

Not exactly.

CMod: Self Defence & Martial Arts

Khannie

LOL.

Ken.

You should throw this up on the motor's forum Khannie. The lads and ladies over there might know about getting shafted by a mechanic.

dudara

@lucyfur09 please don't encourage the posting of duplicate threads in several forums. Instead, please use the Report Post functionality so that a moderator is alerted to the fact that a thread may be better suited to another forum.

@Forest Maker Please do not suggest the use of violence, even if only in jest.

@Khannie Do you want this thread moved to the Motors forum?

Ken.

My bad, i meant move it there. Should have clarified that.

Khannie

dudara wrote: »

@Khannie Do you want this thread moved to the Motors forum?

Yeah, sounds like a reasonable idea from lucyfur09. Fire ahead if you wouldn't mind.

Henry Ford III

Small claims court. Simples.

It depends on the reason for the difference between the quote and the bill. If there was extra work or parts it might explain/justify it.

p.s. Never let your M.I.L. near your car in future

Wossack

I would have thought he should have rang you, as he progressed, if the price was going to be different to the quote

TestTransmission

What was the work done and what was the extra money for?

Nonoperational

He should have called you if the cost differed from the quotation.

Nissan doctor

What was the reason given by the mechanic for the extra €82?

When you quote for a job there are often very valid reasons for extra charges. However he should have informed you before he went ahead.

slinky2000

Maybe it just took longer than expected. Mechanics charge by the hour, so if a jobs more difficult than first thought, it costs extra.

Nonoperational

They still should ring if there is going to be an extra cost from an agreed quote.

Khannie

slinky2000 wrote: »

Maybe it just took longer than expected. Mechanics charge by the hour, so if a jobs more difficult than first thought, it costs extra.

The price difference came mostly down to labour (there was a small cost difference in the part), so it would seem that this is what happened alright. If you agree a price with someone for a job though, is that not the price?

Unusually he wouldn't have had my number (as my MIL dropped the car in and picked it up for me). I'm assuming he would have had hers. I'll check with her though. Obviously if he didn't have hers that puts a different spin on things.

Thanks for all the replies.