Overcharged By A Garage?

[triumphboy]

Hello all
I think I have been significantly overcharged by a garage, both for parts and labour. I am trying to sort this out amicably with the garage, but I need to know where I stand legally should discussions not work out. What I think I would need is an independent motor trade professional who would be able to assess the invoice and the work completed in order to ascertain what is fair and reasonable. Possibly also to act as an intermediary between me and the garage if need be, and/or to potentially be a credible witness in court, if it ends up there.
I don't really know where to look or who indeed who to look for? If anyone can offer any advice, or point me in the right direction, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[st13phil]

Perhaps here?

Home

The Motor Ombudsman is the UK’s government-backed, self-regulatory body for the motor industry. Find a garage you can rely on and resolve motoring disputes.

www.themotorombudsman.org

 

[triumphboy]

Perhaps here?

Home

The Motor Ombudsman is the UK’s government-backed, self-regulatory body for the motor industry. Find a garage you can rely on and resolve motoring disputes.

www.themotorombudsman.org

Thanks. I had looked at that, but unless I've misunderstood what they do, they only deal with garages that are registered with them, which the garage in question is not unfortunately.

 

[st13phil]

they only deal with garages that are registered with them, which the garage in question is not unfortunately

Hmm... That may not bode well.

Are you a member of the AA or RAC? They can both provide Engineer's Reports if required and may well be able to offer advice.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Maybe post up on here what’s been done and how much has been charged?

Some of the prices I’ve seen paid by people on here are very toppy so if they think it’s dear then it’s very possible you have been “overcharged”!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hello all
I think I have been significantly overcharged by a garage, both for parts and labour. I am trying to sort this out amicably with the garage, but I need to know where I stand legally should discussions not work out. What I think I would need is an independent motor trade professional who would be able to assess the invoice and the work completed in order to ascertain what is fair and reasonable. Possibly also to act as an intermediary between me and the garage if need be, and/or to potentially be a credible witness in court, if it ends up there.
I don't really know where to look or who indeed who to look for? If anyone can offer any advice, or point me in the right direction, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

How much are we talking? Unless it’s a huge amount then the time and hassle may not be worth it.

Members may be able to help you calibrate what is reasonable, so a few quick questions:

1. Did you authorise the work in advance?
2. Did you challenge the cost once presented?
3. Have you paid and collected the car?
4. Which model and year is it?
5. What work did you have done?
6. Where in the country are you?
7. Was it a main dealer, marque specialist or an independent garage?

 

[Will]

Popcorn time?

 

[triumphboy]

How much are we talking? Unless it’s a huge amount then the time and hassle may not be worth it.

Members may be able to help you calibrate what is reasonable, so a few quick questions:

1. Did you authorise the work in advance?
2. Did you challenge the cost once presented?
3. Have you paid and collected the car?
4. Which model and year is it?
5. What work did you have done?
6. Where in the country are you?
7. Was it a main dealer, marque specialist or an independent garage?

Hi. It's a very large amount, many thousands. I don't want to say anything that may identify me, or the garage, so I hope you'll understand that I'll keep my answers general, rather than specific.
I agreed in writing with the garage any "large item" would be costed and they would let me know. They didn't and have presented me with an eye watering bill. I've told them I'm unhappy and considering my next move. It's not paid for and they still have the car. It's an independent marque specialist, a very posh, high end one (it's not some back street garage). I'm in the UK. Their invoice was literally just a grand total - no breakdown of labour hours or cost of parts. I had to fight to even get a basic breakdown of costs, which showed what I had suspected - they have put a 100% mark up on the retail cost of the parts and they say have spent roughly double the amount of labour hours on the vehicle that I even generously think should have been spent. There are other aspects to - of frankly dodgy behaviour - but that's the main gist. Just to be clear, I'm happy to pay for the work, but I want to be sure what I am paying is fair and reasonable. I don't believe what they're asking me to pay is, that's why I want an independent third party to assess the invoice and the work carried out.

 

[neilrr]

Is your real name Zak?

 

[ChipChop]

HI. It's a very large amount, many thousands. I don't want to say anything that may identify me, or the garage, so I hope you'll understand that I'll keep my answers general, rather than specific.
I agreed in writing with the garage any "large item" would be costed and they would let me know. They didn't and have presented me with an eye watering bill. I've told them I'm unhappy and considering my next move. It's not paid for and they still have the car. It's an independent marque specialist, a very posh, high end one (it's not some back street garage). I'm in the UK. Their invoice was literally just a grand total - no breakdown of labour hours or cost of parts. I had to fight to even get a basic breakdown of costs, which showed what I had suspected - they have put a 100% mark up on the retail cost of the parts and they say have spent roughly double the amount of labour hours on the vehicle that I even generously think should have been spent. There are other aspects to - of frankly dodgy behaviour - but that's the main gist. Just to be clear, I'm happy to pay for the work, but I want to be sure what I am paying is fair and reasonable. I don't believe what they're asking me to pay is, that's why I want an independent third party to assess the invoice and the work carried out.

Do you know the hourly labour charge for the garage concerned? This would help you work out the book hours for the jobs done.

 

[Abb]

HI. It's a very large amount, many thousands. I don't want to say anything that may identify me, or the garage, so I hope you'll understand that I'll keep my answers general, rather than specific.
I agreed in writing with the garage any "large item" would be costed and they would let me know. They didn't and have presented me with an eye watering bill. I've told them I'm unhappy and considering my next move. It's not paid for and they still have the car. It's an independent marque specialist, a very posh, high end one (it's not some back street garage). I'm in the UK. Their invoice was literally just a grand total - no breakdown of labour hours or cost of parts. I had to fight to even get a basic breakdown of costs, which showed what I had suspected - they have put a 100% mark up on the retail cost of the parts and they say have spent roughly double the amount of labour hours on the vehicle that I even generously think should have been spent. There are other aspects to - of frankly dodgy behaviour - but that's the main gist. Just to be clear, I'm happy to pay for the work, but I want to be sure what I am paying is fair and reasonable. I don't believe what they're asking me to pay is, that's why I want an independent third party to assess the invoice and the work carried out.

@triumphboy, which one of the above is it? Without more information on what work was carried out, how can anyone advise if it was a fair price or not?

You need to help us to help you.

 

[triumphboy]

Do you know the hourly labour charge for the garage concerned? This would help you work out the book hours for the jobs done.

Yes I knew the hourly rate in advance and although it's at the very top end I am ok with it. I'm not querying the hourly cost of their labour, or the quality of their work, but more how many hours there are on the invoice and how much they've charged me for parts.

 

[triumphboy]

@triumphboy, which one of the above is it? Without more information on what work was carried out, how can anyone advise if it was a fair price or not?

You need to help us to help you.

Sorry if my post wasn't clear, but I'm not asking if the price is fair or not. I know it's not. I'm asking if anyone can point me in the direction of a motor trade professional/body who can make an assessment of the invoice and the work done, and possibly act as an intermediary and/or as a witness in court if necessary.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Sorry if my post wasn't clear, but I'm not asking if the price is fair or not. I know it's not. I'm asking if anyone can point me in the direction of a motor trade professional/body who can make an assessment of the invoice and the work done, and possibly act as an intermediary and/or as a witness in court if necessary.

If you’re trying to stay incognito then why not simply post the work that’s been done and forum members will give you their opinion on what they think the price charged would be?

 

[ChipChop]

Yes I knew the hourly rate in advance and although it's at the very top end I am ok with it. I'm not querying the hourly cost of their labour, or the quality of their work, but more how many hours there are on the invoice and how much they've charged me for parts.

Have you had a calm conversation with the garage owner? You can usually come to an agreement through a common sense approach, especially if the bill is more than the car is worth.

 

[Will]

Without any information on what sorts of costs are being discussed and for what, how on earth is anyone to know what is fair and reasonable etc?

they have put a 100% mark up on the retail cost of the parts and they say have spent roughly double the amount of labour hours on the vehicle that I even generously think should have been spent.

When you say, 100% mark up on parts - can you just give an example using one part (or even part number?) and what you mean by that. This is obviously a pretty straightforward matter, but the second aspect (labour) may be a little harder to ascertain of course depending on the job.

All sounds a little bit strange to say the least. What was the garage’s side of this when you asked about the bill?

 

[triumphboy]

If you’re trying to stay incognito then why not simply post the work that’s been done and forum members will give you their opinion on what they think the price charged would be?

As I've said above, I'm not asking for the forum's opinion on the price charged, that's not the help I'm looking for.

 

[triumphboy]

Have you had a calm conversation with the garage owner? You can usually come to an agreement through a common sense approach, especially if the bill is more than the car is worth.

Yes, right now it's all very civil, but I am forearming myself as I can see that there is very likely going to be disagreement.

 

[W1ghty]

Yes, right now it's all very civil, but I am forearming myself as I can see that there is very likely going to be disagreement.

Citizens advice may point you in the right direction .
This is going round in circles because “we” really want to find out how much and what was done ....that’s the nature of forums

 

[triumphboy]

Without any information on what sorts of costs are being discussed and for what, how on earth is anyone to know what is fair and reasonable etc?



When you say, 100% mark up on parts - can you just give an example using one part (or even part number?) and what you mean by that. This is obviously a pretty straightforward matter, but the second aspect (labour) may be a little harder to ascertain of course depending on the job.

All sounds a little bit strange to say the least. What was the garage’s side of this when you asked about the bill?

Every single part has been charged at around double the usual retail price. By that I mean the exact same part (make/model) that can be bought from a trusted, mainstream retailer for half the price. So comparing apples with apples (not with just the cheapest part you can find anywhere on the internet). I would expect a garage to buy at trade and sell at retail. Maybe add on a small margin above retail for admin, ok. But double the retail price? That does not sound reasonable to me. Am I wrong?
The garage said that their accounting system does not have the capacity to breakdown invoices into its constituent parts. In 30 years I have never had a invoice without a some kind of breakdown so you can see how the invoice adds up.
As I mentioned above I had to fight to get a breakdown of parts and when I got it, guess what, it didn't add up to nearly what they had charged me. And what did they do then? They took the difference between the actual parts total and what they charged on the invoice, and added that onto the labour bill, so the grand invoice total remained the same! You couldn't make it up.