€55 charge for an alternator check

Boogietime · 27-01-2015 05:25PM #1

After receiving feedback from members of the forum I guess I was being stingy

Well to be more specific, I am living in another era, didn't keep up with the prices so I won't keep at it. Thanks for the feedback, lads!

JJJJNR · 27-01-2015 05:28PM

how much do you think it should have cost.?

dar83 · 27-01-2015 05:29PM

Seems standard for an hour's labour and that what he's claimed to charge you for.

Whether an OBD check took that long or not is not really the issue, you can't really prove otherwise (that someone didn't spend an hour working on your car) so that's where you're left.

Boogietime · 27-01-2015 05:32PM

JJJJNR wrote: »

how much do you think it should have cost.?

Good question - I would suppose I have to take into consideration the following:

- upon my first call I notified the repair shop owner what part is faulty
- he stated that the total amount of labour for replacing the part + cleaning the drain pipes under the windscreen plus doing a check is €80. When he said he already did the obd check he said that it's worth €55
- that leaves part replacement + cleaning drain pipes + testing at €25

That's why I've made the post, to see if I haven't been fairly charged, I'm looking forward to your opinion, cheers!

OSI wrote: »

An hours labour is an hours labour unfortunately.

I called him now and he told me he has to charge an hour's labour minimum even if the testing would be less than that... I suppose that makes sense.

swarlb · 27-01-2015 05:36PM

You seem to be fairly knowledgeable about the particular problem, even down to the type of tools needed to carry out the repair, and how to locate the correct parts involved.
Why didn't you just do the job yourself ?

Boogietime · 27-01-2015 05:39PM

swarlb wrote: »

You seem to be fairly knowledgeable about the particular problem, even down to the type of tools needed to carry out the repair, and how to locate the correct parts involved.
Why didn't you just do the job yourself ?

I would have only that the part isn't available 2nd hand - I made several calls so far (about 20) at scrap yards who had the same model dismantled in the past few months aaand no joy. Seems like it's the first thing to be sold so I had to get it new... Since it's a Renault, I doubted I could have access to their part shop directly so I wanted to let a professional repair it, since I was to order the part through one.

BMJD · 27-01-2015 05:43PM

It seems a bit unfair to make a name and shame thread when there's nothing to be ashamed of imo.

Boogietime · 27-01-2015 05:45PM

BMJD wrote: »

It seems a bit unfair to make a name and shame thread when there's nothing to be ashamed of imo.

After the previous answers I got from you guys it looks like I'm in the wrong. I'll edit the thread

Boogietime · 27-01-2015 05:53PM

OSI wrote: »

Is it an alternator you're looking for? Considered getting your current one reconditioned?

I wish it was that easy. Unfortunately it's the UPC box that has melted from a faulty relay, moisture must have gotten into the unit and now it's fecked.
I can't do too much but replace it since the plastic (and possibly the pcb inside, who knows?) is now damaged.

€55 charge for an alternator check

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