Charging for work not required or quoted

[Deleted User]

Maybe it was better for you to pay £25 for a new alternator than £15 to keep the old one. Sorry, but one of life's lessons I guess.

rafhelp

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

I have to agree with this. And as to the OP's point that "I expect any decent mechanic to KNOW that a non starting car is not going to have anything to do with an alternator especially if we already told him it wont start with jump leads. " ... No, this is not true. If the alternator is failing to charge the battery, and as a result the battery is totally drained ( and possibly damaged in the process ), then jump-leads won't start it - especially if the jump-leads are on the thin side. Jump-leads are great for a battery that's been - let's say - three quarters flattened. But if it's totally shot then you've got no chance. And alternators wear out - fact of life. It's the most logical first step to take it off and test it.

As to the OP's original question ... "last time i was quoted £50 for a job..which he said was a big job and would take time....then after reading about it online I fixed it for £10 in 20 minutes..." OK, fix this one yourself then. TBH, 50 quid is not a big job - that's barely a couple of hour's labour for a decent mechanic, let alone parts.

"They are cheap but still wheres (sic) the honesty and professionalism....where is the regulation." There ain't none, sorry. That's why, when you find a mechanic you trust, and who does a fair job for a fair price ... you buy him a pint every time you see him in the local

"Should I pay this?" Yes.

NO youre wrong.

IF the battery was completely dead then how would the remote central locking, radio and other electrics work!!

seriously ive asked several other mechs and car owners who all say the same thing.

The purpose of alternator is to charge the battery. No lights on dashboard when you start the car says electrical issue. (as other electrics work). Sorry a mechanic should know this.

rafhelp

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Wrong. If the battery is totally shot, due to not being charged by the alternator, then no amount of jump-starting is going to help. As per my previous post, jump leads are great for a "low" battery. But if the battery has been completely discharged then jump-leads will ( in most circumstances ) not help. And most car batteries do not like being totally discharged ( which is why you get these "leisure" batteries for caravans etc., which can cope with total discharge ).

Wrong. Some electrics like radio and mirrors did work so the battery can not have been totally shot.

rafhelp

debtdebt wrote: »

You expect the mechanic to remove and refit an alternator for nothing?

no but i never asked him to do that.

i first asked him to check the car and give me a diagnoses.

if it was the alternator for definite then yes I would pay him the £25 happily or even £35.

The alternator can be removed and put back on in about 5 mins...yes i watch it being put back on

arcon5

Battery is classed as flat at 12.2v your radio and lights would still work at this point

jimjames

rafhelp wrote: »

No I expect any decent mechanic to KNOW that a non starting car is not going to have anything to do with an alternator especially if we already told him it wont start with jump leads.

Why did you tell the mechanic that you thought the alternator was faulty?

Jackmydad

So the guy charged you £15 for a diagnosis?
I'd have said that was reasonable, depending on what he actually did.
Nothing at a garage is "free" they have overheads. Big overheads.
While they are looking at your car, they're not doing other work. It's fair enough that you pay for that.

While you obviously have to tell them that the car's not starting, I wouldn't tell them what was "wrong" as in "It's the alternator" unless I was absolutely certain.

rafhelp

jimjames wrote: »

Why did you tell the mechanic that you thought the alternator was faulty?

the breakdown guy who dropped me off hooked up something to the battery and then said it was the alternator.

but I did not tell mech it WAS the alternator. only said breakdown guy said that so it MIGHT be the problem. Then i asked how much to replace it. Then I said I wanted him to check it what was wrong. showed him that turning the key did nothing and mentioned that some electrics did work.

rafhelp

arcon5 wrote: »

Battery is classed as flat at 12.2v your radio and lights would still work at this point

ive had a flat battery in the past twice and no the electrics do not work. when battery is flat then have to open car manually as remote locking does not work,

rafhelp

Jackmydad wrote: »

So the guy charged you £15 for a diagnosis?
I'd have said that was reasonable, depending on what he actually did.
Nothing at a garage is "free" they have overheads. Big overheads.
While they are looking at your car, they're not doing other work. It's fair enough that you pay for that.

While you obviously have to tell them that the car's not starting, I wouldn't tell them what was "wrong" as in "It's the alternator" unless I was absolutely certain.

yes but if youre going to charge for a diagnoses then you say are going to.

if you went to buy just fish, then they added chips and charged you for it then why should you pay,

my mobile broke...i took it to a shop they checked it for free. they even tried to fix it and gave a no fix no fee service,,,so no it really is not asking for much for a free diagnoses (i,e one where it doesnt need lot of time of machines etc..)