Repair bill waaaaay higher than estimate

zigzag

I have received a bill for mechanical repairs on my car that is way higher (and I mean way higher) than was estimated. Is there anything I can do.

My car has over 200k miles on it and wasnt running well, I took it to an independent garage and asked then to assess it to see if was worth repairing given its mileage, I stated this before they had even seen the car so they knew where I was coming from. They told me that 2 repairs were required and that these would cost £180 & £360, so total £540. The lady on reception beforehand told me that the guy who did the estimates had a habit of leaving off the VAT and small items so that I should confirm with him that the estimate included everything, which I did. £540 was at the top end of what I was prepared to pay for repairs on such a high mileage car, but as I like the car I agreed to these repairs.

On the day my car was due to be returned to me at home the guy from the garage tumed up and said they had found a further repair (to the turbocharger) that really needed fixing. He verbally quoted that this would cost £375. I sucked in breath and said to him so that will bring the total to around about £1,000, he agreed. This was much more than I was initially prepared to spend, and had I been given this price at the start of procedings I would probably have taken the car off to the scrapyard.

So the car was returned a day later and then the invoice turned up in the post. Given that Id been quoted £180+£360+£375 and had talked about a total of £1,000 which the guy agreed with I was expecting a bill of £1,000 to £1,100 max given that these were estimates and there might be some small sundry items to add in. The invoice is for £2,275 !!!!

I appreciate the cost I was quoted by the garage was an estimate and there may be small variations, but I would expect these to be no more than 10-15% margin for error. That they have billed me 127% more than estimate seems extortionate.

I was baulking at paying £500 for repairs, went to £1,000 only because at that point they had the car so it seemed they might as well fix the whole thing, there is no way I would have repaired the car had I known that the bill would be £2,275 (I put the car through webuyanycar.com and they have said its worth £845).

When I picked myself up after seeing the invoice I phoned the garage to explain all this and see if they had made a mistake on the invoice. They said they would get the guy to phone me back, he hasnt done so.

I feel thoroghly ripped off, it was a push to afford the c£1,000, and I certainly can't afford the £2,275. Is there anything I can do?

neilmcl

Have they explained the reason for the 100% increase?

Strider590

Really you need to confirm what the individual costs were.

But let me just say this about your value of the car comments........ The true value of the car is not the market value, the true value is what it would cost to replace and don't forget that if you replace it then your taking a risk on a vehicle that may require expensive work.

BeenThroughItAll

What is the car?


Is the invoice itemised?

zigzag

I appreciate the value of the value of the car isnt the value of the car, I was just illustrating what its worth and when its worth so little I woudlnt have sanctioned such a huge bill it would have been off to the scrapman, at the mileage its at I dont want to be continually throwing money at it to keep it running, there comes a cut off point at which its uneconomical to repair given its mileage.

I phoned the garage to question the bill, they said they would phone back but havent. That worries me.

First time Ive used this garage, internet reviews are sparse but 8/10 are favourable so I was happy to use them.

neilmcl

Well I suggest you find out exactly what's been done to account for the increase, although having said that I'd expect any reputable garage to contact you first if the cost is going to be double of the estimate.

stator

Stop phoning them, people will tell you any old !!!!!!!! on the phone.
Write a formal letter questioning the invoice and asking for a complete breakdown and why they went so far over the estimate and why they didn't ask for authorisation before carrying out the additional works.

zigzag

Thanks for the advice, I will write to them (phoning isnt working anyway)

Would it be a good or bad idea to pay £1,100/£1,150 (estimate plus 10/15%) and say thats my offer of a settlement, Id rather get this sorted as I dont like arguemnets and conflict they do little for my health, I, so stressed by this already

neilmcl

No, don't pay anything until they've given you a full breakdown of cost.

AdrianC

So they gave you the £540 estimate before seeing the car...?

That's not an estimate, that's a guess. They then started the work, and estimated another £375 for a "problem with the turbo". That sounds ridiculously cheap for a replacement turbo. They should also have explained to you that there's always the chance of work escalating once you get started - simply because you cannot tell what else is going to be revealed.

At the time you were told the turbo work, you had an opportunity to cut your losses - and I'd have expected a few hours labour, at most, to have been incurred to that point. Once the work had gone further, the "cut your losses" cost would have increased, too, especially once parts start to be fitted - so can't be returned.

Poor communications from them, but more detail's really needed - especially a fully itemised invoice with the labour and parts properly broken down.

I'm going to guess at a PSA/Ford/Mazda/Volvo with the 1.6 diesel. Am I right?

BeenThroughItAll

AdrianC wrote: »

So they gave you the £540 estimate before seeing the car...?

That's not an estimate, that's a guess. They then started the work, and estimated another £375 for a "problem with the turbo". That sounds ridiculously cheap for a replacement turbo. They should also have explained to you that there's always the chance of work escalating once you get started - simply because you cannot tell what else is going to be revealed.

At the time you were told the turbo work, you had an opportunity to cut your losses - and I'd have expected a few hours labour, at most, to have been incurred to that point. Once the work had gone further, the "cut your losses" cost would have increased, too, especially once parts start to be fitted - so can't be returned.

Poor communications from them, but more detail's really needed - especially a fully itemised invoice with the labour and parts properly broken down.

I'm going to guess at a PSA/Ford/Mazda/Volvo with the 1.6 diesel. Am I right?

That was where my first thought ran, but as so often is the case, the OP seems to be allergic to answering specific questions about the vehicle.