Recently my youngest daughter took the initiative to take her car to have the oil changed. This I was glad to see and encourage her to master the basics of taking care of her own car, with my advice when needed.
Unfortunately when I arrived home I found her upset with her experience at the auto shop. Since then a friend has written about this and with everyone's permission I share this story with everyone.
AVOIDING AUTO REPAIR RIP-OFFS.
Jenny Brown
Copyright © 2017 Jenny Brown
All rights reserved.
Learn the tricks of the trade that are used to take advantage of you. Particularly the young and inexperienced female.
How do you feel with your car broke down or having a major mechanical issue? You feel helpless and stressed.
A visit can end costing you a lot of money when you are not knowledgeable about cars, least for those of us who aren’t mechanics. You leave the car in the mechanic’s hands, and they call with a complicated and costly diagnosis. You don’t really understand what they’re saying, so you consent to have the repairs done simply so you can get back on the road.
My true story that happened recently to my daughter after she dropped off her car to have the oil changed. When she went back to pick it up she was told her engine was in bad shape and they needed to clean the engine to determine exactly where the oil was leaking, and they expected that it would cost her an additional $55. Furthermore she needed to be prepared for some expensive repairs. She paid for the oil change and headed home.
When I got home she was very upset and saying how was she going to get to work with no car. I felt immediately my blood boiling because I felt certain unless something had happened very recently they were trying to take advantage of a young female.
The ultimate discovery upon inspecting under her cars hood I found that the mechanic had not replaced the dip stick. I was very upset and so we drove together back to the auto shop and confronted the manager. He insisted that the mechanics diagnosis was correct. I said that I know for a fact that there is no major oil leak because where the car is parked there are no oil spots. So I asked him to show me the oil dip stick. He was embarrassed and yet continued to insist that his mechanic was qualified and that he was sorry about the dip stick.
The owner was supposed to call me and I have never heard from anyone. They are not with the Better Business Bureau and have recently been bought out. Months later the car runs perfectly with no leaking oil. They were setting my daughter up to rip her off with unnecessary repairs. So Do Your Homework.
A young female is a classic example of the less than honest shop taking advantage of the ill-informed customer.
It is a very delicate relationship, the one between the motorist and the auto repair personnel. In most cases, the motorist has no idea what’s wrong with the car besides some strange noises and various and sundry problems.
So here are some ways to avoid getting ripped off by a mechanic whenever you experience car trouble.
First, try to avoid randomly choosing an auto mechanic. Ask around for referrals. It is usually the best way to find a trustworthy repair shop. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Choose an auto repair shop before you actually need one. Auto repairs can be stressful enough. If you're not prepared ahead of time, you may wind up at the garage around the corner just because that's where your car quit on you.
Second, try to research these repair shops online. Look up local reviews on the car auto repair shop you are considering. Are there reviews on the quality of the repairs? Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau and is there a negative report. If the car auto repair company has low ratings, many negative comments or any complaints against its name, it’s best to avoid doing business with that company.
Once you find someone willing to work on your car, take precautions. Have the car mechanic diagnose your vehicle’s exact problem and then ask about pricing for labor and parts.
Make it clear that you are only paying for one specific service. Do not authorize any other car repairs or auto servicing until you reach an agreement. Have that in writing. Using common sense and remaining cautious will help you avoid unnecessary charges and dishonest car repairs.
Most automotive repair shops give customers good, honest service at a fair and competitive price. But just like any service industry, there are a few dishonest people.
Someone out there will try to take advantage of the fact you don't know the difference between a catalytic converter and a muffler.
Auto repair rip-offs are among the top consumer complaints. They keep many Attorney General and other consumer protection offices busy.
What is the best way to avoid getting ripped off? Educate yourself. Being educated about your auto repair needs will go a long way in protecting yourself.
You also may want to contact your state's Attorney General. You should research the repair shop with the Attorney General to see if any complaints have been made against the shop you are considering.
As far as dealer or independent repair shop? If your car is still under warranty, it makes sense to go to the dealer. For out-of-warranty repairs, the dealership may still be the best bet if the repair involves more technical or electronic work. However, independent repair shops are usually less expensive. They can be ideal for smaller, less complicated repairs.
Educate yourself on your vehicle's warranty. That way you'll know whether or not your repair shop honors your vehicle warranty. If you aren't educated about your warranty, you may not even realize you're paying for parts or labor that is covered.
Make sure you understand and approve the estimate before repair work begins. In addition, the repair shop must contact you for approval before they do any work exceeding the agreed upon amount of time or money.
Make sure the shop you visit has qualified technicians. If the technicians are ASE-certified (Automotive Service Excellence), it means they're competent in specific technical areas.
Ask if the shop has experience working on your vehicle's make and model. In other words, a repair shop that specializes in BMW may not be the best place for your Ford.
Get a second opinion. There's nothing wrong with seeking a different opinion. If you have time, compare estimates from a couple of repair shops.
After the work is completed, the repair shop must provide a clear copy of the repair invoice. All repairs, parts and labor should be itemized. Review this document carefully. Feel free to ask questions about anything you don't understand.
If you are still concerned about the repair cost call a local part stores and ask for the list price of the parts on your invoice. Needless to say vehicle maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent costly repair bills. Service your car on schedule to help prevent unnecessary expenses later.
The best way to avoid being ripped-off by a repair shop is to have a basic understanding and knowledge of what your car requires. By understanding your car's needs and costs, you can possibly avoid and stop rip-off artists before they take advantage of you.
Sometimes shops might recommend work that doesn’t even need to be done. But you won’t know they’re pulling one over on you unless you ask them to visually show you the problem or broken part. If they say a headlight is out, have them turn it on and show you.
Another typical scam is charging you for high-quality parts but actually installing cheaper ones on your vehicle. This is often a problem with tires because they vary so widely in price. To make sure the tire you paid for is the one installed on your car, just look at the information on the sidewall.
Above all, don’t pay for repairs until you’re satisfied. You have every right to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.
If you’ve ever taken your car for a second opinion, you’ve probably noticed that labor rates and parts costs vary wildly. You might be tempted to go with the cheapest estimates.
The maintenance schedule in your car’s owner’s manual is the automaker’s prescription for keeping the vehicle in good operating condition. Those regular check-ups should be performed at the proper mileage intervals.
Conclusion
Owning and caring for a vehicle as a car owner is a learning experience. Embrace the experience and learn how to safely check your oil and other fluids and be able to change a tire in an emergency. But learn how to do some of the essentials safely.
Be observant and be able to tell what something sounds out of the ordinary. Many catastrophes have been avoided by the “feel” of the drive and the different noise that is coming from the engine or even one of the car’s tires. Look for different reading on your dashboard.
Whenever you are about to go to your car be observant of whoever is around and id they seem suspicious or odd. Is there anything different about your car? Look in your back seat before opening the door and getting in.
Knowledge is power!
About the author
Jenny Brown is a stay at home mother and enjoys writing. She has published cook books specifically for diabetics and several children’s stories.
Jenny sincerely hopes that this information will be of immense help.
RT
