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Mobile Mechanic Call Out Fee

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  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    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?

    £60 call-out charge seems 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.
  • EcoR1
    EcoR1 Posts: 97 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts
    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.
  • 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?

    £60 call-out charge seems 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.
    No, honestly not true. The issue is that it's an old car that we're seriously considering replacing when the country opens up again and spending extra on a new battery seemed like a bit of a waste for a couple more months of use. The call out fee wouldn't have been avoided - he told me as much.
  • 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.
    Thanks, yes that was my point. I've got no issue paying him for what little time he was there, but in fairness he didn't give me the opportunity to say 'no' to him coming round, which I may well have done if he had been upfront in the first place.
  • 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.
    Thanks, yes that was my point. I've got no issue paying him for what little time he was there, but in fairness he didn't give me the opportunity to say 'no' to him coming round, which I may well have done if he had been upfront in the first place.
    Lets hope you never have to use a solicitor. They'll charge you for posting a letter!
  • 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.
    Thanks. Yeah, you're probably right and, as I've never used a mobile mechanic before.
    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.  
    Thank you and I can relate to it as per my earlier post you responded to IE they said a 100 for the brake pads, pads fitting etc but when I went to pay, "VAT" and the cheek that went with it.
    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 been
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 March 2021 at 8:58AM
    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.  
    You're correct.  The mechanic needed to make clear what charges you would incur before attending.  This could be via his Facebook page (where you found him and made contact) or during conversations with him.  And this information needs to be pretty obvious - not buried deep in some T&Cs on a web page you wouldn't have normally visited. 

    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.
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 March 2021 at 9:06AM
    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.
    Thanks, yes that was my point. I've got no issue paying him for what little time he was there, but in fairness he didn't give me the opportunity to say 'no' to him coming round, which I may well have done if he had been upfront in the first place.
    Exactly.  And by not telling you up front, he's essentially now holding you to ransom.  You may not have entered into the contract had you known his call-out charge.

    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.
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 March 2021 at 9:10AM
    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.
    Thanks, yes that was my point. I've got no issue paying him for what little time he was there, but in fairness he didn't give me the opportunity to say 'no' to him coming round, which I may well have done if he had been upfront in the first place.
    Lets hope you never have to use a solicitor. They'll charge you for posting a letter!
    Actually a lot of solicitors will offer the first 30-60mins for free to discuss the issue and let the client decide whether or not to proceed. 

    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. 
  • David713
    David713 Posts: 218 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 16 March 2021 at 9:32AM
    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.
    Thanks, yes that was my point. I've got no issue paying him for what little time he was there, but in fairness he didn't give me the opportunity to say 'no' to him coming round, which I may well have done if he had been upfront in the first place.
    Exactly.  And by not telling you up front, he's essentially now holding you to ransom.  You may not have entered into the contract had you known his call-out charge.

    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?
    Which is precisely why the CRA has a section which relates specifically to work that was carried for which no price had been agreed in advance and as I showed in an earlier post, this section states that the consumer is still legally obliged to pay a reasonable amount for the work and you yourself admit that £60 isn't excessive.

    (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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