Charge for a quote.

Karen22

Hi there guys. Please can someone tell me whether the following charge is legal.

I had a problem with my car. I called a garage explaining the fault and asked them to take a look at it. I asked when they would be available to look at it as I would need to give my partner plenty of notice to bring me back from the garage it if dropped it off as he was at work and eould need to leave work to do so. The garage said they could collect the car from my house instead of me dropping it off.

We arranged for them to take it and call me with a quote. A bit later they called with a quote, including a problem that I wasn't aware of in an area that I didn't mention. Their quote was rather expensive so I called 2 further garages to get their quotes. Both garages quoted well under the first value. I called the first garage back and politely told them that I had other cheaper quotes elsewhere and so would need to take my car back. They said that's fine but that they would charge me for picking up my car and looking over it.

Is that fair? I get that they spent the time looking at the car to quote me but they wouldn't have charged me for the quote if I accepted it! Furthermore, I was always led to believe that all possible charges and fees had to be explained upfront? So if there was a possibility of a charge for collecting and quoting me then they should have said before doing so.

I had to pay the fee to get my car back anyway so I've lost the money, and although it's not a lot of money it's the principle of it. Does anyone know the of the matter so I know where I stand if it happens again?

twhitehousescat

its ok , I often waste several hours of my time doing things , the mechanics work for free and I can claim rent and electric back

seatbeltnoob

seems fair, they spend their time to look though the car to find the fault, for you to go and use that information to get others to do the work. What would you have them do?



Did you ask for a price match ?

forgotmyname

The work done so far had been factored into the final price.

And the other garages have given you quotes without actually seeing the vehicle or doing their own tests, so dont be shocked if they think its a different problem and the bill increases.

You asked then to investigate a fault which they did, the bill to fix it included all costs accrued so far.

How would you feel if you went to work for the day and just as you were about to go home your boss says we no longer need all that work you did today.. So we will not be paying you for today.

Robby1988

Got to be honest if you enter into an arrangement with a garage where they actually carry out the service of collecting the car for you, it's a bit cheeky to expect to be able to walk away without paying them anything. And thats without taking into account the time spent diagnosing the fault, info you then shared with other garages.

Next time, if your just after a quote maybe try bobbing into a local garage in person. Most mechanics will be happy to have a quick look and give you an idea of the potential fault & cost.

loskie

they are fairly charging you a diagnostic fee

fred246

When you phone them you should ask for a free quote. Then it is up to them whether they want to look at it for free. They can either say "no we charge for quotes" and you say "OK goodbye" or they say "yes we'll have a look at it" with the hope you will get them to do the work. The recommended garages I go to would do it for free.

waamo

The quote was free.

It's the transportation of the vehicle and diagnosis of the fault that cost.

motorguy

fred246 wrote: »

When you phone them you should ask for a free quote. Then it is up to them whether they want to look at it for free. They can either say "no we charge for quotes" and you say "OK goodbye" or they say "yes we'll have a look at it" with the hope you will get them to do the work. The recommended garages I go to would do it for free.

I thought you didnt go to garages? You keep telling us on here not to use garages at all, yet you're happy to go to recommended ones yourself? Seems hypocrytical? Surely your "advice" should be - "go to garages that are trusted and recommended by others as thats what i do myself"?

I can see how you have so many issues with garages by the way. Asking them to free quote for a repair but not being willing to pay for a proper investigation is a recipe for a cursory look and a dubious diagnosis which may result in the fault not being fixed or extra unexpected charges.

motorguy

waamo wrote: »

The quote was free.

It's the transportation of the vehicle and diagnosis of the fault that cost.

Thats exactly it.

motorguy

twhitehousescat wrote: »

its ok , I often waste several hours of my time doing things , the mechanics work for free and I can claim rent and electric back

Agreed. And also what others have said - its the collection, investigation and diagnosis that takes time.

I could ring a garage now and ask for a quote for fitting a new turbo to a Passat and i've no doubt they would do that quote for free. If i said my car was down on power and asked them to pick it up and investigate what it was, i'd fully expect a bill for the effort.