unapproved repair job undertaken

djeureka

Hi there, I need some advice on a job that was undertaken without a quote and permission. Last friday i dropped a 125cc bike to a reputable shop where i had bought it 5years ago. She had been lying up for a while and i knew it needed a good bit of tlc but wasnt quite sure what exactly. i rang first to check opening hours and said 2 tyres are flat anyway and seat latch is broken but it hasnt started in long time. Anyway i dropped it down and the owner said he was closing for paddys weekend but if i left ny number he'd call me. I said i just wanted a quote to get her going again. So he started writing down 2tyres seat latch and possible service. I never signed anything or received a quote or docket. So the first first contact was a call today saying basically 'yea we did the two tyres and latch, eh when we went to do the service your whole engine is rusted and you need a complete rebuild'. Now for what we've done you owe us €250 and if you want the engine done the total will be €650'. Then he had the cheek to turn around and say hes going away on friday and needs payment by thursday. Needless to say i was furious. Id just like to know where i stand legally and why he would do that without calling, quoting or giving me a docket??? Because basically now he has commited me into a €650 sale without prior guide price or a go ahead and if i dont take it he wants €250 and i get a bike that i cant drive or sell. All help is really appreciated because i am livid rite now.
Thanks guys.

drunkmonkey

If you want the bike fixed agree a price including parts, labour and possible surprises.

If you want him to take off the 2 tyres and put back the broken latch ask him but it sounds like you need them.

Would he trade it in or buy it off you if you don't want to get it repaired?

djeureka

Thanks very much. I guess I was just taken aback to hear he had done work without my go ahead. Being honest Its not that the bike doesnt need the work. its the manner in which it was done you know... why not give me a full quote before doing any work.. strange

Yeah Yeah Yeah

To be fair, sounds like a slight mis communication and then one big shock for you with the extra €400, and that €400 was a quote for work not yet done. He had not committed you to that.

In your initial conversation you seemed from what you have said, to acknowledge that the tyres and the latch needed doing.

I can't really find fault with the shop for doing that work and then halting the job when more work was needed.

It's unfortunate, but worse things happen. Take it on the chin dude.

djeureka wrote: »

Hi there, I need some advice on a job that was undertaken without a quote and permission. Last friday i dropped a 125cc bike to a reputable shop where i had bought it 5years ago. She had been lying up for a while and i knew it needed a good bit of tlc but wasnt quite sure what exactly. i rang first to check opening hours and said 2 tyres are flat anyway and seat latch is broken but it hasnt started in long time. Anyway i dropped it down and the owner said he was closing for paddys weekend but if i left ny number he'd call me. I said i just wanted a quote to get her going again. So he started writing down 2tyres seat latch and possible service. I never signed anything or received a quote or docket. So the first first contact was a call today saying basically 'yea we did the two tyres and latch, eh when we went to do the service your whole engine is rusted and you need a complete rebuild'. Now for what we've done you owe us €250 and if you want the engine done the total will be €650'. Then he had the cheek to turn around and say hes going away on friday and needs payment by thursday. Needless to say i was furious. Id just like to know where i stand legally and why he would do that without calling, quoting or giving me a docket??? Because basically now he has commited me into a €650 sale without prior guide price or a go ahead and if i dont take it he wants €250 and i get a bike that i cant drive or sell. All help is really appreciated because i am livid rite now.
Thanks guys.

djeureka

Well the miscommunication is on his end im sorry, I received no quote before he did the work.. never asked for deposit or gave me a docket... signed anything... Why would he do that work and then drop the big bomb that, oh yeah, and you need a new engine... unproffessional... i dropped in for a quote NOT a go ahead. €250 isnt buttons these days u know id prefer to know thats what itd cost before he did it!!

drunkmonkey

You took it in with 2 flat tyres and both agreed it needed 2 tyres and a latch. Will he put cheaper tyres on if you find them too expensive? Your probably still looking at 150 to 200 fitted + the latch.
You need to make a decision on what you want to do with the bike, fix, sell, trade or leave sitting up.
I wouldn't go in all guns blazing unless your prepared to trailer it out of there.

djeureka

true, i obviously wanted a repair done, but man come on, surely he would have checked the engine first right? i told him the damn thing didnt work... its pretty sneaky to do the repair and then say rite theres your tyres and latch now i need 250 by thursday without having notified me... maybe he knows what it cost but i didnt ya know.. i wont be all guns blazing, just have to argue my case and stand ground on this...

drunkmonkey

See will he come down a bit on the engine overhaul but if it's been sitting up for 5 years your probably getting an ok price to have it ready for road from an established business you've previously bought from.
Pay him off over a few weeks if he'll let you, I don't see he has much option.

If you don't want to put in the money, see will he trade, swap, buy it off you. The repair won't cost him a lot. A car mechanic isn't a bike mechanic I wouldn't trust your mate to do it for cheaper unless he's into bikes.

djeureka

yeah well i dont have 650 handy so itll def be a few weeks!!! lol, ah look he wont buy it off me i know that much.. i said im not in a rush for anything so itll be a job that will wait for at least a month! if i go for it, not much choice really... if i sell i should get 1400 for it,, btw has only been lying up bout a year...

Milk & Honey

djeureka wrote: »

yeah well i dont have 650 handy so itll def be a few weeks!!! lol, ah look he wont buy it off me i know that much.. i said im not in a rush for anything so itll be a job that will wait for at least a month! if i go for it, not much choice really... if i sell i should get 1400 for it,, btw has only been lying up bout a year...

You are hardly going to leave it with him after what he has done?

castie

Confused by the opinions here.

Op asked for a quote.
It doesnt matter if he agreed it would need two tyres.
Thats agreeing that they should be in the quote.

He was never given the quote requested but instead was billed.

Id reverse the demand of payment by Thursday with a return of property by Thursday. If he wants to undo the work and put the bike back to the way it was then fine.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

castie wrote: »

Confused by the opinions here.

Op asked for a quote.
It doesnt matter if he agreed it would need two tyres.
Thats agreeing that they should be in the quote.

He was never given the quote requested but instead was billed.

Id reverse the demand of payment by Thursday with a return of property by Thursday. If he wants to undo the work and put the bike back to the way it was then fine.

We didn't hear the original telephone call (and clarification of whom the OP spoke to or exactly what was said during the call, was this the manager?), so really impossible to call it without full facts. It could be argued by the shop that you agreed to the work on tyres and latches over the phone. Were any prices quoted for that?

In my book this can be viewed as 2 different stages of the verbal agreement, and we dont have all the facts.

Your statement in the post:

"So he started writing down 2tyres seat latch and possible service", would suggest to me that you had verbally indicated that the tyres and latch needed to be done, possibly during the first telephone call, and that the service was the only unknown aspect and price of the additional "possible service" that you needed a quote on, which was discussed in the shop, and which the shop later supplied you with.

And also that you had the opportunity at that time to clarify that your request was for a quote on everything, before any work was done, but from your statement it appears that you did not take that opportunity to do so. Which would further suggest to me that the work on the tyres and latch were already agreed, and any further work needed had yet to be determined.

The OP also accepts that the shop is of good repute.

In relation to your request for legal advice "Id just like to know where i stand legally", I cant offer you that, but would you be confident to be cross examined by a Judge on the content of the telephone conversation and also the conversation in the shop?

But IMO its pointless getting all in a wrangle and stressed up about it.

Is the job going to be done well? If it is, and it were me, I'd explain that I was broke and did'nt expect it to be that much, and could I pay it of in installments...over a few months.

If you are not prepared to attempt a concillatory agreement, then sit back and enjoy the bumpy stressful ride...rather you than me for sure.