Should I feel aggrieved?

siblers

I took my car to get the DPF regenerated, I was told it would be around a 100 and I said grand. I asked that if it's a more serious issue to ring first as I don't want to pump money into to the car. He said grand and he'd let me know if it was a more serious issue.

I rang the next day and said they were looking at it then and would let me know

They rang me later and told me they ended up doing a lot more work and it would cost 500.

Im just wondering if this is normal practice for mechanics to plough ahead and not let the customer know first? I'm a bit annoyed as it's a shed load of money this close to Christmas

lawred2

siblers wrote: »

I took my car to get the DPF regenerated, I was told it would be around a 100 and I said grand. I asked that if it's a more serious issue to ring first as I don't want to pump money into to the car. He said grand and he'd let me know if it was a more serious issue.

I rang the next day and said they were looking at it then and would let me know

They rang me later and told me they ended up doing a lot more work and it would cost 500.

Im just wondering if this is normal practice for mechanics to plough ahead and not let the customer know first? I'm a bit annoyed as it's a shed load of money this close to Christmas

Your specifically asked for them to contact you if there was more work needed and they didn't bother their hole.

Yeah I'd be pissed off.

magicbastarder

you asked them to do X, specifically agreed with them that they were not to do any more work than X on it, and then they did more work on your car.
as they did work they were explicitly told not to - and agreed not to do - i'd be very cheesed off if i were you.

siblers

Their defence was that when they said the cost, it was implied that Labour would be extra,even with that, they still did two extra jobs which added 300. They knocked a 100 off to bring it to 400

Plumbthedepths

I'd be inclined not to pay for work I didn't agree to.

bazz26

I'd be fairly annoyed if they did that especially when you emphasized to call you before proceeding. They have now put you a position where you feel obligated to pay now rather than having a think about it.

Isambard

well he did say grand and it only cost half that. I'll get my coat.

newmember2

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I'd be inclined not to pay for work I didn't agree to.

...and then what?

kirving

magicbastarder wrote: »

you asked them to do X, specifically agreed with them that they were not to do any more work than X on it, and then they did more work on your car.
as they did work they were explicitly told not to - and agreed not to do - i'd be very cheesed off if i were you.

Agree 100%. I often have to arrange for suppliers in work to come in and fox a problem on a machine. They give me a quote.

Should it turn out to be more complex than first thought and extra work must be done, they stop. We discuss the best course of action before they re-quote or an agreement is reached.

This is because they know that if they do extra work without prior authorisation, under no circumstances will they be paid for it.

I have absolutely zero time for mechanics who charge for unapproved work, since they know they have the customer over a barrel because they have the car.

It's not wonder that mechanics don't get the respect they deserve when almost everyone I know has a story about being presented with a bill for work they never agreed to.

mickdw

Tell them straight up they were to call to approve anything more than the cost as quoted and that you had no intention of spending such money on the car.
Pay them the 100 as agreed and let them learn a lesson.
Surely regeneration is all labour as no parts are being used so the idea of 100 plus labour makes even less sense.

siblers

mickdw wrote: »

Tell them straight up they were to call to approve anything more than the cost as quoted and that you had no intention of spending such money on the car.
Pay them the 100 as agreed and let them learn a lesson.
Surely regeneration is all labour as no parts are being used so the idea of 100 plus labour makes even less sense.

I looked up a few other mechanis and 80-100 was a standard price for a regeneration. He did say they were using a newer more expensive fluid so might be a extra 20 which was fine but extra cost for labour is ridiculous.

_Kaiser_

I had this happen about 10 years back with a main dealer in Dublin.

Had brought the car for service up North and they commented that there was an issue with the lights that would be covered under the warranty I'd bought the car with here.
Fair enough.. I brings it in, explain the situation, and specifically tell them to call if not the case or anything else crops up.

Off I goes to work. No call by 4pm so I ring to see what's happening. Oh it turned out to be something else says the Service Manager. 500 quid please! I was fuming. Was told they wouldn't release the car until I paid.

Told them I was leaving work now and we'd discuss when I got there. On the way I rang the sales guy I bought the car from and he helpfully gave me the MD's mobile. Rang him (who was in the UK) and told him the story and not a chance was I paying for a load of unauthorised work with zero notice of the significant bill. He promised to come back to me.

By the time I got to the garage, the Service Manager (clearly having been called and seeing my mood from the door) just handed me the keys and the job sheet.

Never went back to them again.

Technique

I made a main dealer remove a set of wipers which he fitted without authorization when in for a service. They were an extra €50, but it was more the principle. He told me that my old (perfectly fine) wipers were in the bin, so I asked him to retrieve and refit them.

I'm sure there are lots of people who leave their car in for a €200 service and come away €500 out of pocket due to horror stories from the garage about brakes, tyres etc.

antix80

Give him 100 as agreed.

Give him the amount agreed, and show up to get your car. If he won't release it, call the Gardai. It's not his property. Tell him not to touch your car again and keep it within view (incase they try to 'undo' their work, and damage it in the process).

Never use them again. Cowboys.

padd b1975

newmember? wrote: »

...and then what?

Give him what was agreed and drive away.

vixdname

padd b1975 wrote: »

Give him what was agreed and drive away.

How can he drive away when they most likely have his car in their possession in their garage ?

akelly02

its a bit billy big balls to say throw them the 100 as agreed and drive away.

the mechanic isnt just gonna hand over the keys.

the culture of deference

you can do a regen for free

4th gear drive for 10 miles at near max rev's

do not pay him for the extra work


m

Wishbone Ash

the culture of deference wrote: »

you can do a regen for free

4th gear drive for 10 miles at near max rev's

do not pay him for the extra work


m

That's basically what a BMW main dealer instructed me to do a few years ago - drive to Dundalk and back on the M1 at 120km/h in 3rd gear. It did the trick.

H3llR4iser

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's basically what a BMW main dealer instructed me to do a few years ago - drive to Dundalk and back on the M1 at 120km/h in 3rd gear. It did the trick.

Ah, the good old Italian tune-up. It changes in the way it works, in what it effectively does, but it never changes in form and it always works

dsmythy

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Ah, the good old Italian tune-up. It changes in the way it works, in what it effectively does, but it never changes in form and it always works

All a diesel wants is a nice ride from time to time. Why deny it sure.

high horse

dsmythy wrote: »

All a diesel wants is a nice ride from time to time. Why deny it sure.

Isn't that what we all want?

corks finest

high horse wrote: »

Isn't that what we all want?

What we want doesn't necessarily mean we get

siblers

the culture of deference wrote: »

you can do a regen for free

4th gear drive for 10 miles at near max rev's

do not pay him for the extra work


m

You can't on an Insignia, won't go above 3,000 when in limp mode