Overcharged By A Garage?

[triumphboy]

The other thing to bear in mind is that the garage might hold the OP liable for storage costs if the dispute lingers on.

The garage have said in writing that they can't release the car until the invoice is paid. However, I've just had some legal advice to say that because the repairs were unauthorised, they have no right to hold onto the car and I could get a court order to force them to release it, if necessary. My main focus is to work this out amicably though, without having to resort to such measures. Good to know I have that in the bag though if needed.

 

[Will]

If you don’t want to ask here, surely find out what a few other indy’s would roughly charge for the work should be a first step? If it’s in another stratosphere and well over book time then they should explain what went wrong. Good luck.

Although that’s a nice idea, that’s the sort of thing you’d do before agreeing to any work - you can’t shop around once the hourly rate and work is agreed.

It’s not a question of whether the price is competitive - the OP has said they’re at the top end labour wise, and could be charging full price for parts and only using genuine MB stuff etc. It’s a case of whether the OP has got what he agreed and is being charged correctly.

To me the only real issue here is (1) whether or not the OP has authorised the work, and (2) whether he is being charged twice RRP for the parts or not - you would have thought that would be costed and authorised somehow by the OP anyway though before work went ahead.

Only the OP will know the answer to these questions, and without and further information we can only speculate at this stage.

 

[horatio]

Although that’s a nice idea, that’s the sort of thing you’d do before agreeing to any work - you can’t shop around once the hourly rate and work is agreed.

It’s not a question of whether the price is competitive - the OP has said they’re at the top end labour wise, and could be charging full price for parts and only using genuine MB stuff etc. It’s a case of whether the OP has got what he agreed and is being charged correctly.

To me the only real issue here is (1) whether or not the OP has authorised the work, and (2) whether he is being charged twice RRP for the parts or not - you would have thought that would be costed and authorised somehow by the OP anyway though before work went ahead.

Only the OP will know the answer to these questions, and without and further information we can only speculate at this stage.

Oh, I totally agree but there might be an instance where they have flagrantly taken the piss - for example, 6 hours labour for changing a pair of shocks and you can therefore question why that was. I had the soul destroying task of going through contractors invoices in a job years back - they would often see if they could get away with sneaking through 6 hours for replacing bulbs then put it down to an admin error when questioned etc etc.

We can only guess!

 

[oldguy57]

Thanks. I agreed in writing in advance with the garage that items would be costed and they would let me know before going ahead. They didn't do that, went ahead with unauthorised work and presented me with a large, unitemised bill.

Then of course you have a watertight argument, if that's the case. The garage have no defence if the agreement was in writing. One suspects a bit of recouping of lost revenue during the epidemic has been going on. I've seen it happen locally. Make sure you agree costs for the engineer first - I've seen some really eye watering bills from engineers of all types in the past . Hope you get it sorted.

 

[W1ghty]

The garage have said in writing that they can't release the car until the invoice is paid. However, I've just had some legal advice to say that because the repairs were unauthorised, they have no right to hold onto the car and I could get a court order to force them to release it, if necessary. My main focus is to work this out amicably though, without having to resort to such measures. Good to know I have that in the bag though if needed.

When this is all over and sorted will you then tell us all the details (even if you don’t mention the company name ) ?

 

[neilrr]

OP can you pls. answer my question in post 23?

 

[Dickster]

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.

If the invoice only has a grand total how can it be assessed?

My first move would be to obtain a complete detailed invoice. Either personally, or via a solicitor. A mere letter will often do the job. And as for coming to an amicable solution, that’s not really likely in the scenario you have presented..

 

[rf065]

0

 

[Steeve]

My thoughts exactly @rf065

 

[Petrol Pete]

Then of course you have a watertight argument, if that's the case. The garage have no defence if the agreement was in writing. One suspects a bit of recouping of lost revenue during the epidemic has been going on. I've seen it happen locally. Make sure you agree costs for the engineer first - I've seen some really eye watering bills from engineers of all types in the past . Hope you get it sorted.

There is a lot of 'recouping of lost revenue due to Covid going on' , Just this Friday night my take away Lamb Vindaloo had TWO pieces of potato in it instead of the customary one piece. Potato being cheaper than Lamb (or whatever that meat looking stuff is) they have swapped out one for the other ! I will pop down there tomorrow (closed on Mondays) and have a word .

 

[oldguy57]

There is a lot of 'recouping of lost revenue due to Covid going on' , Just this Friday night my take away Lamb Vindaloo had TWO pieces of potato in it instead of the customary one piece. Potato being cheaper than Lamb (or whatever that meat looking stuff is) they have swapped out one for the other ! I will pop down there tomorrow (closed on Mondays) and have a word .

Disgraceful - Trading Standards should be alerted forthwith.

 

[markjay]

The key question is whether the garage are disputing the fact that you have not authorised the repairs.

If they are not disputing it, then my guess is that they'll clime-down pretty quick, because they know they haven't got a (legal) leg to stand on.

But on the other hand, if they claim that you have somehow agreed to the repair (e.g. verbally) then the issue can become a more protracted one.

 

[Screwdriver]

This happened to met (at a smaller scale) at a garage called Automerc in North London. Despite having a written quote from them, they attempted to charge me 3X more than what was given. When I challenged Ivan the owner that his partner had written the estimate, he backed down and said pay me what you want. I did and never went back them again!

 

[pmcgsmurf]

This happened to met (at a smaller scale) at a garage called Automerc in North London. Despite having a written quote from them, they attempted to charge me 3X more than what was given. When I challenged Ivan the owner that his partner had written the estimate, he backed down and said pay me what you want. I did and never went back them again!

Quotes and estimates are exactly that though.

I could estimate £150 for a Brake Fluid change on a 20 year old car.
Rusty & Siezed calipers and nipples could soon shoot that estimate up.

 

[kam09]

Can we play Guess the garage??

 

[Deleted member 149005]

I’ve already guessed this is to do with a W123...

 

[E55BOF]

Quotes and estimates are exactly that though.

I've always understood that an estimate is a best guess, but a quotation, unless other work outside its scope is needed, should be pretty close to the final bill.

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

My understanding is also that a quotation covers specific work/goods at a set price, sometimes with the proviso of additional cost for extra work. When quoting customers we always stipulate a fixed price for a service /parts . An estimate is "a ball park figure" , ie , we think the problem is "this" and it should cost about "x" to put it right. We often have customers request a breakdown of costs , in which case we list the price of each part, plus travel and labour.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I've always understood that an estimate is a best guess, but a quotation, unless other work outside its scope is needed, should be pretty close to the final bill.

Exactly yes. Fairly easy to quote for new tyres, discs & pads as an example.
For restoration or even welding/fabrication etc. an estimate is normal and easy to understand how costs can rocket.

 

[Will]

I guess the thing with fixed price quoted work is it can go both ways - you can be sure that few will be keen to reduce a quote if the work takes less time than expected or (hypothetically!) the parts were to go down in price