is this fraud? money money money with cars :(

MercilessKiller

Hi there.

I had some problems with my car recently.. and nationwide auto centre seem to be ripping me off! im not sure on car prices really so I'm going to post the accounts and if someone could advice me whether these are true prices that would be great.

My battery light started coming on while i was driving randomly so I was advised the alternator had a problem and they'd give it a look. They rang me an hour later and told me it would cost £252.80 to fit a new one.

I agreed to the cost as needed a fixed car. Once I went back later on, they had told me it's al fine, but the next problem is the clutch. They asked if I had heard it rattling in the bonnet. I said no. They said, well, it is and it would have to get replaced pretty soon.

On the wall chart next to the guy it mentioned "Clutches £100".. so I asked the guy.. how much would it cost for a new one.. and the guy said "Well, £400 wouldn't quite cover it"......

I ignored his advice and drove home. I need to know if this place ripped me off on the new alternator, and is trying to rip me off with the clutch? If so... maybe I should report them? They're AA approved too. The guy wasn't great.. when quoting me for the alternator, without saying hello he said "are you sitting down?"... which to be honest wasn't the most businessy type greeting i've ever heard.

Thanks for your opinions.. im just a poor stupid student

MonkeyGirl

I don't know much about cars but maybe if you put the age and model of your car others may have some help for you.

You could always ring round other places in your area and get some quotes and see if they say the same. Good luck with it and I hope you get it sorted soon.

MonkeyGirl

MercilessKiller

Its a Peugot 206 1.1 year 2000 (W Reg)

I'll ring up some other places tomorrow and see what they say.. thanks

MonkeyGirl

I forgot to say when ringing round dont tell them the price you have already been quoted.

Might be worth going to your local Peugeot dealer and getting them to have a look at it for you.

Russ66

Try Here:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/home/index.htm

Older_but_not_wiser_2

Have a look here as well.


http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/cmm/YaBB.pl

always very informative if you have a car problem.

Fifer

but the next problem is the clutch. They asked if I had heard it rattling in the bonnet

Is 'rattling' a common sign of a clutch problem?

Anthillmob

when i got my first ever car i went to evening classes in car maintenance. not so i could carry out repairs but so i'd know what garages were on about if i ever needed repairs done as im sure some of them rip females off and invent things the matter with bits of car that dont actually exist.

Angie8

MercilessKiller wrote:

Hi there.

I had some problems with my car recently.. and nationwide auto centre seem to be ripping me off! im not sure on car prices really so I'm going to post the accounts and if someone could advice me whether these are true prices that would be great.

My battery light started coming on while i was driving randomly so I was advised the alternator had a problem and they'd give it a look. They rang me an hour later and told me it would cost £252.80 to fit a new one.

I agreed to the cost as needed a fixed car. Once I went back later on, they had told me it's al fine, but the next problem is the clutch. They asked if I had heard it rattling in the bonnet. I said no. They said, well, it is and it would have to get replaced pretty soon.

On the wall chart next to the guy it mentioned "Clutches £100".. so I asked the guy.. how much would it cost for a new one.. and the guy said "Well, £400 wouldn't quite cover it"......

I ignored his advice and drove home. I need to know if this place ripped me off on the new alternator, and is trying to rip me off with the clutch? If so... maybe I should report them? They're AA approved too. The guy wasn't great.. when quoting me for the alternator, without saying hello he said "are you sitting down?"... which to be honest wasn't the most businessy type greeting i've ever heard.

Thanks for your opinions.. im just a poor stupid student

Ring your nearest Peugeot dealer and ask a price for supply and fit of a new alternator. This should give you an idea.

I know it's not the same car but Ford charged my OH £280 to supply and fit an alternator on a Focus (W Reg) a few years back. Fortunately the car was under warranty from someone else so he just claimed the money back. Alternators aren't cheap to get done.

joannasmum

Ok I've had quite alot of experience with older cars including several alternators and clutches goin. Luckly have always had a dad or OH that have fixed them cant comment on the altenator although it sounds like it was on its way out. I never heard of a clutch rattling before it goes they do however screech and make it difficult to get into gear normally reverse first. How many miles has your car done I wouldnt expect it to give out before 70,000ish miles unless you've been riding it. My advice to you would be to ask around friends to find a good local garage if you had got the alternator fixed locally you might have been able to get a reconditioned alternator cheaper. If your away at uni ask tutors etc they live in the area permentley and our a good source of local tradesmen. Also if your female take a male friend with you its not PC but some garages will try to rip off a women, they are slightly more careful with men in case they know what there talking about. Also as Anthillmob also says see if you can get yourself on a car maintence course.

HTH

tomstickland

I've fixed all of my own cars for the last 10 years. An exchange alternator costs about £70 at Halfrauds, cheaper at a motor factors. Fitting takes about 20 minutes unless it's very buried. So £252 is expensive unless it was a brand new item.

When a clutch goes it does not rattle.

As to fast-fit, krap-fit places, I once fitted new dampers and took the car along for something else. "your dampers are leaking mate - look". Spot the oil that had just been doused on.