Garage asked me to pay for parts in advance. Said it is normal. Is it?

D_n_B

My Suzuki Vitara started showing 4 warning lights re the ESP, cruise and ABS systems. I rang the local Suzuki garage (from whom I bought the car in 2016). They told me a sensor is damaged on a rear wheel and it requires a new wheel bearing set (apparently the sensor is integrated into the wheel bearing) at a cost of £300+ plus labour. They asked me to pay in advance for the part before making an appointment for the repair. I've never come across this before. They said it is standard policy these days as they have been left stuck with unusual parts when people fail to turn up for appointments (they said they'd never had to order a wheel bearing before for this model!). I was flabbergasted. I've been their customer for 7 years and never failed to turn up and I have never been asked to pay in advance by a garage before despite 50 years of car ownership. In the end I had to pay up as no other way to get my car fixed. Not happy but wondering whether this is something others have experienced?

diystarter7

Hi
Surely not a main dealer or a well-known fast fit or even an Indy for that matter.

Is it a small, back street place?

Never ever heard of anything life this ever.

I'd run a hundred miles.

Thanks

Zinger549

There is a shortage with some car parts at the moment. So it's taking longer than normal to get them. If it's a main dealer then you should be ok.

sevenhills

Zinger549 said:

There is a shortage with some car parts at the moment. So it's taking longer than normal to get them. If it's a main dealer then you should be ok.

I can understand paying in advance, but how would they know it wasn't just a loose wire?
A fault that happens a lot. Perhaps it's a fault that was present from manufacture and they should give a discount?

Stubod

I have never paid in advance for parts....perhaps a "new" trend for reasons stated above?

400ixl

It is not the normal way that a garage operates.

Most garages have arrangements with motor factors that if a part is not used it can be returned. Their request almost sounds like they do not have a decent credit line with their motor factors or buy parts from places where they have to pay up front with not returns.

MikeJXE

My local Ford garage has done that for years, it's in case they get the part and you don't show up I guess

diystarter7

MikeJXE said:

My local Ford garage has done that for years, it's in case they get the part and you don't show up I guess

I'm guess that for your jag, lol.
It's news to me and if MB said that to me, I'd tell them to go awat

MikeJXE

Lol You're funny. No Like I have disclosed before the Jag I was Ford 

diystarter7

MikeJXE said:

Lol You're funny. No Like I have disclosed before the Jag I was Ford 

you recall my post from last night re jag/xj bloke locking his keys in the trunk and asking me for my keys when i had the ford st modeo, lol - that is when i worked out, i have a key that fits a jag, ford was jag at that tiem - I think tata then bought it

anyways, I'd rum a hundred miles if MB wanted me to pay up front.

SpudGunPaul

D_n_B said:

My Suzuki Vitara started showing 4 warning lights re the ESP, cruise and ABS systems. I rang the local Suzuki garage (from whom I bought the car in 2016). They told me a sensor is damaged on a rear wheel and it requires a new wheel bearing set (apparently the sensor is integrated into the wheel bearing) at a cost of £300+ plus labour. They asked me to pay in advance for the part before making an appointment for the repair. I've never come across this before. They said it is standard policy these days as they have been left stuck with unusual parts when people fail to turn up for appointments (they said they'd never had to order a wheel bearing before for this model!). I was flabbergasted. I've been their customer for 7 years and never failed to turn up and I have never been asked to pay in advance by a garage before despite 50 years of car ownership. In the end I had to pay up as no other way to get my car fixed. Not happy but wondering whether this is something others have experienced?

So you know it's not normal then.