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Mobile Mechanic Call Out Fee
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thethinwhiteduke said:During the last snowy cold snap the car wouldn't start, and I pretty much figured it was the battery causing the problem.
I contacted a mobile mechanic via Facebook Messenger. Told him I thought the battery was flat, could he come round and have a look and maybe get it started. He came round, had a look at the battery level, jumped started the car and called someone about sourcing a new battery.
He told me the cost of the battery plus labour - which was fine - he then told me that if I didn't go ahead with installing a new battery that there would be a £60 call out fee regardless.
However, he did get me back on the road so I have no problem recompensing him for his time and what he did, but he was there for literally 5 minutes and just jump started my car. I think £60 is excessive for what he did and the time he was there, plus the fact he didn't mention the call out charge earlier.
Am I being reasonable?
What was the cost of the new battery fitted? Had you gone with that, then the call-out fee would have been avoided by the sounds of it.
Not reasonable to call out a local mechanic, have your car started then say "thanks - I'm off to Halfords for a battery £10 cheaper" which is what it sounds like you wanted to do.2 -
I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.2
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Grumpy_chap said:thethinwhiteduke said:During the last snowy cold snap the car wouldn't start, and I pretty much figured it was the battery causing the problem.
I contacted a mobile mechanic via Facebook Messenger. Told him I thought the battery was flat, could he come round and have a look and maybe get it started. He came round, had a look at the battery level, jumped started the car and called someone about sourcing a new battery.
He told me the cost of the battery plus labour - which was fine - he then told me that if I didn't go ahead with installing a new battery that there would be a £60 call out fee regardless.
However, he did get me back on the road so I have no problem recompensing him for his time and what he did, but he was there for literally 5 minutes and just jump started my car. I think £60 is excessive for what he did and the time he was there, plus the fact he didn't mention the call out charge earlier.
Am I being reasonable?
What was the cost of the new battery fitted? Had you gone with that, then the call-out fee would have been avoided by the sounds of it.
Not reasonable to call out a local mechanic, have your car started then say "thanks - I'm off to Halfords for a battery £10 cheaper" which is what it sounds like you wanted to do.0 -
EcoR1 said:I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.0
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thethinwhiteduke said:EcoR1 said:I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.0
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thethinwhiteduke said:justworriedabit said:Hello OP
For future needs always find out what the charges are inc VAT. That way you know if its going to to be 60, 100 or 600 and you decide on that. Also ask what they will do when they come out and the min charge inc vat. You may feel akward asking those questions but it is easier to ask before rather than not be totally happy once they are there.
Some years ago we had some work done in our house and we asked many questions about how we paid them at what stages, the times they would start/finish and how many days it would take, etc etc. One said we asked "too many questions" but when my husband told him its best to ask them beforehand rather than fall out later he agreed. We actually took him on for the work and there was only one extra expense and he told us about it as they took down a wall and could not be seen beforehand and both sides were happy with the result.
My first car years ago took it to back street garage they had the gift of the gab, etc and when i went to pay them for the brakes change, I think it was about 100 pounds the man said something like "thats a 100 pounds plus VAT." I challenged him and the checky man replied "but we don't get the vat its the government." that's the last time I used them.
So ask everything beforehand and many get caught out with emergency plumbers, car repairs and pay out hundreds when it should only be a fraction of that.
Put it down to experience and as you said he got the car going. Facebook etc we never use for services.
I still think he needed to be upfront with me rather than the other way round. He had several opportunities to say "the callout charge will be £60" beforehand and it's not mentioned anywhere else on his FB page.
Some of the responses have criticised me for wanting something for nothing, which is not the case. I just thought it was out of proportion with what he did and not to mention the charge before that was wrong, imo. Anyway, as you've said live and learn.
He should have mentioned it and if I feel anyone is not being totally up front with me I won't use them or use them ever again.
Like I said, if possible next time you use any service, seek an all 'inclusive price.'
We have had things done in the house and most recently taps changed. I sent them pictures and got the details from that traders site - the guy sounded good and I wanted a fixed price unless unforeseen problems. He was saying it will take an hour to 2 and I said please do a good job and and even if you did it in 5 minutes I will happily pay you the money. He did the job in about 30 minutes and I was happy and we will use him again if required = honesty equates to repeat business, IMO
Just before I go, he was definitely not up front and should have been0 -
thethinwhiteduke said:justworriedabit said:Hello OP
For future needs always find out what the charges are inc VAT. That way you know if its going to to be 60, 100 or 600 and you decide on that. Also ask what they will do when they come out and the min charge inc vat. You may feel akward asking those questions but it is easier to ask before rather than not be totally happy once they are there.
Some years ago we had some work done in our house and we asked many questions about how we paid them at what stages, the times they would start/finish and how many days it would take, etc etc. One said we asked "too many questions" but when my husband told him its best to ask them beforehand rather than fall out later he agreed. We actually took him on for the work and there was only one extra expense and he told us about it as they took down a wall and could not be seen beforehand and both sides were happy with the result.
My first car years ago took it to back street garage they had the gift of the gab, etc and when i went to pay them for the brakes change, I think it was about 100 pounds the man said something like "thats a 100 pounds plus VAT." I challenged him and the checky man replied "but we don't get the vat its the government." that's the last time I used them.
So ask everything beforehand and many get caught out with emergency plumbers, car repairs and pay out hundreds when it should only be a fraction of that.
Put it down to experience and as you said he got the car going. Facebook etc we never use for services.
I still think he needed to be upfront with me rather than the other way round.
If this was all on Messenger (rather than on the phone), you've got a record of him not telling you, so you don't need to pay his call out charge.
Now he may disagree and choose to take you to court (which is unlikely for £60), but you'd win if everything you say is true.
People here saying £60 is a reasonable call-out fee are correct, but he should have made it clear before attending. A lot of companies do things like this for free in order to get future business, so it's not unreasonable for the OP to assume the call out would be free.0 -
thethinwhiteduke said:EcoR1 said:I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.
And by not advertising his charge up-front, he could just be plucking a figure out of the air. £60 doesn't sound all that bad, but what if he'd suddenly declared it was £500?
Don't pay and explain to him why you're not paying. That'll give him a chance to change his practices and hopefully not rip-off the next unsuspecting person.0 -
burlingtonfl6 said:thethinwhiteduke said:EcoR1 said:I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.
So it's not unreasonable for the OP to assume the mechanic would do the same - pop round for free to diagnose so the OP could get a price and decide whether or not to continue with the work.0 -
Supersonos said:thethinwhiteduke said:EcoR1 said:I'm a mobile mechanic, I charge a £40 call out fee which includes the first 30 minutes of diagnosis even if it only takes 30 seconds. However I _always_ make the customer aware of this at the first contact. Whilst your mechanic is not horrendously expensive he is dodgy for not being up front with his costs. Although normal garages are often as bad with not discussing costs with the customer until after the work is done.
And by not advertising his charge up-front, he could just be plucking a figure out of the air. £60 doesn't sound all that bad, but what if he'd suddenly declared it was £500?(b) the contract does not expressly fix a price or other consideration, and does not say how it is to be fixed, and
(c) anything that is to be treated under section 50 as included in the contract does not fix a price or other consideration either.
(2) In that case the contract is to be treated as including a term that the consumer must pay a reasonable price for the service, and no more.
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