Mechanic Ethics

[Jiggles]

So I dropped my car off 1 week ago to get a smog check and oil change. It's also been making some odd noises when I steer so I asked my mechanic to find out what was causing the noise. When I called back today to find out if my car was finished (long ass wait for a smog check, oil change, and diagnosing a problem IMO) I find out the bill is over $700. They found a problem with the power steering and decided to make repairs without consulting. That kinda pissed me off... alot.

With my bike mechanic I've never had an issue like this. He has fixed things that I didn't ask him to before but he never charged me for it. If there ever was a different issue that needed to be fixed other than what I brought it in for he would call me and ask me if I wanted him to fix it and let me know what it would cost.

Am I retarded for thinking my car mechanic would do the same thing? Or is he just a huge money grubbing douche bag? And this is a guy I've been going to for years.

There's no doubt in my mind that there was a problem that needed to be fixed but I just can't believe that a mechanic would go and make unauthorized repairs. Oh and the quote that I signed states smog check, oil change, investigate noise from steering. It doesn't say anywhere, "oh and fix **** without calling the customer, he will pay for whatever is needed"

[xSean13]

Call up your attorney again :P

[Jiggles]

Just got off the phone with the guy and he said it was a hazard and my car was dangerous to drive (as if that excuses his actions) and then states "well I don't know maybe you wanted to drive the car around until it burst into flames so you could collect the insurance money, you never told me to call you to authorize repairs" I couldn't even believe he said that to me, I just said thanks and hung up while he was talking.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by xSean13

Call up your attorney again :P

pffff lol, as if $700 would be worth the legal fees

[CynicalC]

They can't just make repairs without your consent. Tell them you want every part they replaced, and you're going to send it for independent testing before paying for repairs or you'll take them to small claims.

[CZroe]

I had already planned to reply with "They probably knew about your settlement" back before there were any replies in this thread. Instead, I finished reading some other tabs and refreshed this one. After reading about your conversation with him over the phone: YEP. Suspicion confirmed.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by CZroe

I had already planned to reply with "They probably knew about your settlement" back before there were any replies in this thread. Instead, I finished reading some other tabs and refreshed this one. After reading about your conversation with him over the phone: YEP. Suspicion confirmed.

Haha well, he doesn't know about the settlement I got. When I dropped the car off we chatted for a bit, I told him about my accident and how I'm getting **** from disability and possibly losing my job, nothing about my reimbursement. Under those circumstances he still decided to do the repair.

The issue isn't whether or not I have the money for it (I do) or whether the repair was needed (it was), the issue is that this guy thought it was acceptable to charge me for a service I never asked for. I expected to be charged for the inspection, I never expected to be charged for repairs

[leed]

Originally Posted by CynicalC

They can't just make repairs without your consent. Tell them you want every part they replaced, and you're going to send it for independent testing before paying for repairs or you'll take them to small claims.

+1

That's like you having asked what gear is good for motorcycling when you bought your 650R, and then them charging you and giving it to you without you saying you wanted to buy it.

Honestly it was probably a mistake. They really aren't supposed to do anything you didn't ask without getting your consent. You were not wrong to expect that.

[CynicalC]

Originally Posted by leed

+1

That's like you having asked what gear is good for motorcycling when you bought your 650R, and then them charging you and giving it to you without you saying you wanted to buy it.

Honestly it was probably a mistake. They really aren't supposed to do anything you didn't ask without getting your consent. You were not wrong to expect that.

It wasn't a mistake, auto mechanics are slimy. It's your job to be an educated consumer. They're trying to stick it to you. Give them a proper reacharound and stick them back.

[Yakaru]

take them to small claims court; no lawyer needed (in fact usually they aren't allowed).
This may help: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_d...our_rights.php

No work will be done until you receive an estimate and authorize the repairs by signing a written estimate or work order.

[Jiggles]

I'm not going to threaten to take them to court, its a repair that was needed and I'd have to end up paying for eventually. I'm not going to be a douche and scam my way out of paying for a needed repair. I'm just going to pay the bill, pick up my car and never go back.

For the record, I would have forgiven them easily if he had just said, "Sorry sean, must have been a misunderstanding, it won't happen again." Instead he chooses to insult me and defend his actions as if doing the repair was the only option or the car would have disintegrated.

But hey, 5 year customer retention is pretty good right? Burn me once, go **** yourself cuz I'm not coming back.

[CynicalC]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I'm just going to pay the bill, pick up my car and never go back.

This is why they get away with doing what they do. You're worried about scamming them when your $80 bill went to $800?

[Jiggles]

Not paying for a repair that my car legitimately needed is just as douchey as what this guy did and I don't play like that. Just because I could legally sue doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. If it was a BS repair that I didn't need then I would do exactly as you said.

And they aren't getting away with it. My family and I would have gone to this guy for 20 more years but he burned that bridge and with it many thousands of dollars of profit.

[SC90]

Did you take it back to the manufactures dealer? If so, ask the SA to goodwill it. I was a Mercedes-Benz service advisor and depending on case by case, I would goodwill a safety repair if it may cost the customer money if they have had a long history or been good customer with us.

But yeah, when you drop off the car and sign the X. You authorized them to perform a diagnostic, not a repair. And even if it was a safety issue and you did not authorize them to repair it, they should haven given the car back to you but on the receipt, it would state that the vehicle is not SAFE TO DRIVE. Simple as that.

[CynicalC]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Not paying for a repair that my car legitimately needed is just as douchey as what this guy did and I don't play like that. Just because I could legally sue doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. If it was a BS repair that I didn't need then I would do exactly as you said.

And they aren't getting away with it. My family and I would have gone to this guy for 20 more years but he burned that bridge and with it many thousands of dollars of profit.

I bet the mechanic's eyes lit up with dollar signs when you brought your car in and said "it's making a funny noise in the front." You're assuming that because the noise is gone, that the $700 must have fixed the problem, but he might have just replaced a $15 bushing. Oh well. Don't complain about it on the internet if you don't want to hear the truth.

[Racer x]

I have been an auto mechanic for therty years. He definitely should have called you. Was the charge for the repair out of line? If it was then go to court. If not just ask him to call you next time or find another shop.

From my experience customers are the slime bags. Lie about everything . Drive THERE car. That THEY bought until it brakes. Then act like I am suppose to fix it right away for nothing.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Racer x

I have been an auto mechanic for therty years. He definitely should have called you. Was the charge for the repair out of line? If it was then go to court. If not just ask him to call you next time or find another shop.

From my experience customers are the slime bags. Lie about everything . Drive THERE car. That THEY bought until it brakes. Then act like I am suppose to fix it right away for nothing.

The repair was justified, I knew there was a problem with the power steering and I was expecting a phone call saying "blah blah blah this is the problem, will be $500 to fix it" and instead got what I stated above. I wouldn't sue over something my car actually needed.

And yea customers do lie about everything. Man I'd have people come in and say my phone stopped working, "well did anything happen to it?" nope. Meanwhile the phone is dripping liquid.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by CynicalC

I bet the mechanic's eyes lit up with dollar signs when you brought your car in and said "it's making a funny noise in the front." You're assuming that because the noise is gone, that the $700 must have fixed the problem, but he might have just replaced a $15 bushing. Oh well. Don't complain about it on the internet if you don't want to hear the truth.

Perhaps you missed the point of the thread, the issue is not the repair.

[alex.s]

you signed a quote with a dollar amount. you agreed to pay that dollar amount. he did extra without you agreeing to it. he may have simply made a mistake, but it's his mistake, not yours.

if you were going to have it fixed anyway, find out how much what he did should have cost to be done normally. pay that much. if you didnt want it done, you signed a quote for a dollar amount. work with the poor bastard on the price.

[Jiggles]

^ will do

[Jono]

DIY. That is all.

[Jiggles]

I can DIY a bike but not a car

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I can DIY a bike but not a car

If you can do one, you can do the other. Cars can be a little more challenging but not always.

I think if I had the money I would pay someone to work on my vehicles. But idk. I enjoy working on my vehicles.

[Ranor]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

So I dropped my car off 1 week ago to get a smog check and oil change. It's also been making some odd noises when I steer so I asked my mechanic to find out what was causing the noise. When I called back today to find out if my car was finished (long ass wait for a smog check, oil change, and diagnosing a problem IMO) I find out the bill is over $700. They found a problem with the power steering and decided to make repairs without consulting. That kinda pissed me off... alot.

With my bike mechanic I've never had an issue like this. He has fixed things that I didn't ask him to before but he never charged me for it. If there ever was a different issue that needed to be fixed other than what I brought it in for he would call me and ask me if I wanted him to fix it and let me know what it would cost.

Am I retarded for thinking my car mechanic would do the same thing? Or is he just a huge money grubbing douche bag? And this is a guy I've been going to for years.

There's no doubt in my mind that there was a problem that needed to be fixed but I just can't believe that a mechanic would go and make unauthorized repairs. Oh and the quote that I signed states smog check, oil change, investigate noise from steering. It doesn't say anywhere, "oh and fix **** without calling the customer, he will pay for whatever is needed"

Pay the guy, use a different mechanic next time, also specify to the new mechanic that he should not carry out any unauthorized repairs before telling you. Yes the mechanic was a douche bag, I'd say not going there in the future and giving him a bad name would be enough to settle the score.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Ranor

Pay the guy, use a different mechanic next time, also specify to the new mechanic that he should not carry out any unauthorized repairs before telling you. Yes the mechanic was a douche bag, I'd say not going there in the future and giving him a bad name would be enough to settle the score.

My thoughts exactly.

[davenay67]

Originally Posted by Jono

If you can do one, you can do the other. Cars can be a little more challenging but not always.

I think if I had the money I would pay someone to work on my vehicles. But idk. I enjoy working on my vehicles.

Cars and trucks can sometimes be easier to work on. working on our family's fleet of aging high-mileage vehicles is my excuse to escape into the garage for hours at a time, listen to loud tunes and exercise therapy thru wrench-twirling. The sense of a job well done is also priceless....

[Whiskey]

The mech acted the prick, tell him you're paying what your signed contract says.

Had he apologized & claimed it was a mistake I'd have rang around for 3 quotes on the repair from other places & offered him what the lowest one was, but the insulting you & generally being a cnut about it...
Tell him to sit on it & swivel

[Nemesis]

So, what exactly is the point of this thread?

[Jiggles]

I wanted to make sure I wasn't over reacting to the situation

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I wanted to make sure I wasn't over reacting to the situation

You seem to be bending over & spreading them rather than overreacting

[Jiggles]

Why? Because I don't want waste my time running around grabbing quotes so he knocks $50 off the price

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

So, what exactly is the point of this thread?

He is mad because he took his car to a shop to get fixed and then the mechanic fixed it and charged him for the work.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Jono

He is mad because he took his car to a shop to get fixed and then the mechanic fixed it and charged him for the work.

U ams bad comprehension

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

The repair was justified, I knew there was a problem with the power steering and I was expecting a phone call saying "blah blah blah this is the problem, will be $500 to fix it" and instead got what I stated above. I wouldn't sue over something my car actually needed.

And yea customers do lie about everything. Man I'd have people come in and say my phone stopped working, "well did anything happen to it?" nope. Meanwhile the phone is dripping liquid.

No, I meant if you were aware of the problem (based on your own assumption) and needed the repair, and he fixed it for you...why are you complaining?

I could understand if he fixed a problem you didn't want done or feel it was necessary but it sounds like you already knew the problem. Now, if it's the price then negotiate with him giving him an option for a discount or to take him to court. Though I could see the judge asking you the same question I did. But judge would give you an option to put the car back to how it was and the repair shop footing the bill for the work. But what's the point?

As for ethics...yes, he should have.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

But what's the point?

to stick it to the man!, dude!

[Jono]

@Jiggles
I know why you really made this thread. He did work you didn't approve.


But I mean you were gonna get it done anyways, right? This can't seriously be the first time a shop has done you wrong? If so, you've been lucky. Welcome to the real world.


I think what we have here are White People Problems.

[Whiskey]

Use the phone, you don't have to go running anywhere.

It sounds like a scam, the mechanic is overcharging because the work has been done, and it that he's done it without telling you what was needed to be done & giving you a chance to price it yourself.
He expects you to pay whatever he says the job costs.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

No, I meant if you were aware of the problem (based on your own assumption) and needed the repair, and he fixed it for you...why are you complaining?

I could understand if he fixed a problem you didn't want done or feel it was necessary but it sounds like you already knew the problem. Now, if it's the price then negotiate with him giving him an option for a discount or to take him to court. Though I could see the judge asking you the same question I did. But judge would give you an option to put the car back to how it was and the repair shop footing the bill for the work. But what's the point?

As for ethics...yes, he should have.

The issue is I asked for an inspection and he went ahead and did the repair. Now at what point when you are charging someone for a service do you tell them what it's going to cost. He went ahead and racked up about $550 in charges I didn't know about. At what point do you call someone to tell them $1000? $3000?

The point is whether I was planning on getting the repair or not, he shouldn't have done it without my consent. I completely would have forgiven the guy except when I brought it up he turned into a total douche and tried to throw the blame on me and insult me. For the record, I've been his customer for 5 years. His shop does great work. He has plugged my tires and towed my car for free and I've really enjoyed the level of service I've gotten over the years. By the way I picked up the car and it drives great, they did an excellent job. Apparently though there was 2 different noises I was hearing that I thought were related but apparently they aren't. The power steering noise is gone and it handles great but there is still a noise that seems to be related to the engine/tranny. When I turned the power steering it would rev then engine a bit and make the noise more noticeable so I mistakenly thought both noises were from the power steering. Now I can see they were independent of eachother and the engine noise fluctuates with rpms (maybe some armchair mechanics can help me out with this )

Honestly I think it all was just a simple miscommunication, and the final straw was when he wouldn't own up to his mistake. It's just bad business to treat a good customer like me the way he did.

Anyway, I'm going to find a new mechanic and in the meantime, who wants to armchair repair my car?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Jono

I think what we have here are White People Problems.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Jono

@Jiggles
I know why you really made this thread. He did work you didn't approve.


But I mean you were gonna get it done anyways, right? This can't seriously be the first time a shop has done you wrong? If so, you've been lucky. Welcome to the real world.


I think what we have here are White People Problems.

I can't even comprehend how you can expect bad service

And thats not white people problems, this is