Van Service - overcharged - anything I can do now?

Lifeisbutadream

Took our business van in for a service at our local ford dealers yesterday.

We were supposed to get free servcing as part of the deal when we bought the van, but when we got there they had no record of that. I had no record either, so told them to just do it and they told me the price - £180.

I agreed for them to do that plus a valet - £40.

They later rang and said the brake pads were worn and it needed a new tyre. I said to go ahead but only if it wouldnt cost much (we use a mechanic friend usually, but I figured it would be hassle)

OH went to pick up the van last night and get this... the bill was £1040 :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

He had to pay it otherwise he wouldnt have been able to get the van, but I rang this morning and they were very rude to me and told me that I had authorised the work. I did, but I would have considered £800 more than the original to be slightly more than 'not much' and would have expected a call to tell me the price (which I would never had agreed to)

Is there anything I can do at this stage? I feel like they are just imagining that as it is a work van, we must be loaded with a fleet of vans or something (we aren't!)

Mechanic friend told me that at a garage the brake pads etc. should have been no more than £400, so I feel ripped off by £300 - £400.

I am so angry and upset, I dont know what to do. This has wiped out our business account and I wouldnt mind so much but it isnt even our van - its a long term rental one!

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

MrRedundant

£800 for Brake pads and a tyre :0

More like £200

Lifeisbutadream

MrRedundant wrote: »

£800 for Brake pads and a tyre :0

More like £200

I agree, but what can I do about it?

neilmcl

So what was the breakdown of the bill on the invoice?

Lifeisbutadream

neilmcl wrote: »

So what was the breakdown of the bill on the invoice?

Front tyre £97.58
Front lamps £15.16
Rear lamps £26.56
Front brake pads £360.31
Rear brake pads £297.39
Service and valet £254.25

Then 'discount' to bring it to £1040

MrRedundant

Most of the prices are about reasonable however the brake pads are very expensive.

McKneff

I think I would query the brake pad prices

Lifeisbutadream

MrRedundant wrote: »

Most of the prices are about reasonable however the brake pads are very expensive.

To be honest it is only the brake pads I have a problem with. It was not made at all clear to me that both front and rear brake pads would cost me £658 and if they had told me I would have not authorised them to do it. Even if I had wanted them to do it I would have waited and saved up or done front and then back at a later date.

Lifeisbutadream

McKneff wrote: »

I think I would query the brake pad prices

Am I going to have a problem having already paid? OH was over a barrell as he needed the van and all his tools but didnt want to pay - he probably should have used a CC with hindsight..

Lifeisbutadream

To add insult to injury the mechanic we usually use just told OH that he would have done it in exchange for OH hanging him a door...

deanos

You told them to go ahead without getting a price, not sure there is anything you can do, maybe ring other Ford dealers and get quotes to see if its about the right price, have they fitted new disks by any chance as that looks about the price with disks