Getting charged for repairs not needed

Pound

I took my car in for some new brake pads, they wanted to do a lot more work than I thought was needed. I suspected I was being taken for a ride but decided I couldn't risk to have anything wrong with my brakes so said ok.

Then they told me the bonnet cable was snapped, £80 to get that fixed. I was quite taken aback by this since I'd just had a new cable put in about a year ago and I'd had the bonnet open about a week before. I told them I couldn't afford it and just to do the brakes.

I just got it home and had a look at the bonnet leaver. Initially I couldn't open it but after closer inspection, the cable was simply not hooked into the handle properly. I pushed it back in and it worked fine, I took a picture which shows no fraying at all, it's in perfect condition.

I don't know much about cars but it's not the first time I've been quoted for work that didn't need doing. I'm curious whether anyone properly checks to see if mechanics are doing this?

reddwarf2002

It's sometimes referred to cowboy trade for a reason. Unfortunately there are far too many out there that will take advantage of customers who exhibit certain traits - gullible, women, too nice, not mechanically inclined etc.

forgotmyname

If you gave the go ahead they will have spotted the loose cable, the issue is why did it come off in the first place?

Wrong cable or poorly fitted or another fault?

If they could not open the bonnet how did they bleed the brakes or even check the fluid levels?

Pound

forgotmyname wrote: »

If you gave the go ahead they will have spotted the loose cable, the issue is why did it come off in the first place?

Wrong cable or poorly fitted or another fault?

I suspect there wasn't any problem with it at all.

If they could not open the bonnet how did they bleed the brakes or even check the fluid levels?

You can get the bonnet open from underneath the car

pendragon_arther

Or maybe they disconnected the cable out of spite.

Pound

pendragon_arther wrote: »

Or maybe they disconnected the cable out of spite.

I think that's what happened. Well not spite but I couldn't very well get in the car and pop the bonnet after they told me I needed to pay £80 to fix it.

What would they have done if I'd authorised fixing it? Probably they wouldn't do anything since it's a good cable and bill me for it.

EdGasket

Where did you take the car? Was it a chain, fast-fit type of place?

forgotmyname

Parents took their Golf to VW who told them it needed a belt tensioner and a new clutch and flywheel.

£1400 + vat

They took it to a small local garage who gave a quote of much less so they opted for that instead. 2 hours after dropping it off they get a call its all done, new belt and tensioner fitted and the clutch it fine. No noise from it or the flywheel.
£130 all in.

bigjl

How did they do the brakes without access to the reservoir?

I suppose your could crack off the bleed nipple to make getting the piston back.

If they have really disconnected the cable in order to get some extra money then you have had a result as you now know they are not trustworthy.

arcon5

They probably just pushed the pistons back with no checking. Not sure why they'd need to bleed the brakes for pads though as somebody suggested.

Rolandtheroadie

I'd think they would have had the ability to pull the cable and open the bonnet to do the brakes.
They've chanced their arm by saying the cable is broken. It could even be that the lever is damaged and the cable can pop out when trying to open the bonnet.