Charged double at garage.

androidziby

Hi guys. After 2 changed accessory belts, I went to the garage to check if its something else that is causing it, I've left the car there for a day, they said they had to take the belt off to check what is causing it, they checked, and they told me over the phone that the Part + labour + VAT would cost me a little over £200. Agreed to go ahead with the repair.

 2 days later, they rang me and told me that the repair was done, but it took waaay more, and now the price is over £500 and I'm lucky that they didn't had to take the engine off! ( no extra parts changed, just more hours )

 Is there something I can do? 

DanDare999

Ask for a breakdown of cost.

androidziby

I will, is there something I should be aware of? As per what he said he added only 5 or 6 hours of extra labour ( he added that it was even more than that ). 
 It can be unreasonable amount charged ?
I also understood that if I pay, there is nothing I can do after, like I would agree with everything the moment I pay.

Aylesbury_Duck

androidziby said:

I will, is there something I should be aware of? As per what he said he added only 5 or 6 hours of extra labour ( he added that it was even more than that ). 
 It can be unreasonable amount charged ?
I also understood that if I pay, there is nothing I can do after, like I would agree with everything the moment I pay.

Sort of.  But then again, if you don't pay, they have your car.

oldagetraveller1

"Is there something I can do? "

Possibly reveal what the repair and problem was. Some rotating part seized, sticking or out of alignment?

Depending on what was necessary to repair/ change it might have been more involved and/or difficult as they first thought.

I'm no trying to defend them or justify that over double original price.

born_again

£50 to £60 a hour labour then.

androidziby

oldagetraveller1 said:

"Is there something I can do? "

Possibly reveal what the repair and problem was. Some rotating part seized, sticking or out of alignment?

Depending on what was necessary to repair/ change it might have been more involved and/or difficult as they first thought.

I'm no trying to defend them or justify that over double original price.

I will ask for a detail brakedown, but he never said that it was anything else replaced except that roller, that in order to reach it they took down the alternator and almost took the engine off. 
 I don't know much about mechanics, but majority of cars should have similar system, and they took off the belt to check what is wrong before they started to replace. 
  

elsien

I’d expect them to call and check before doing work that’s double the initial estimate.