Vehicle service costs more than written estimate. Do I have to pay difference?

Question

Yesterday I took my vehicle into the dealership to receive some preventative maintenance and a diagnostic for a service engine soon light that was quoted to me as $2526. The dealership called me about two hours later with the diagnostic results and told me what they were and then said that the technicians had started on the remaining work to be done. I told them thanks and hung up. I received a call today stating that the work had been finished and that the service advisor had misquoted me on the price and that it would be an additional $700-800 and that the final quote was somewhere around $3200. I did not authorize the work to be done over the quote of $2526. On top of that I had received the same quote from the same person for the same amount of work two months ago as I did yesterday, of $2200 for the work and $300 diagnostic. Is it my responsibility to pay the difference?

Answer 1

So the dealership will say that you ok'd the new quote and you'll say you didn't. When you go to court, it'll be up to the judge to decide whether saying "thanks" was the same as declining the repair. But you're in a pretty bad spot because apparently you had preventative maintenance done for an estimated $2,200. Then you must have had another problem that required them to do $300 worth of diagnostics. So the court could infer that since you ok'd the diagnostics and had already agreed to $2,200 worth of preventative maintenance, that your intention was to get a running vehicle at the end of all this.



Bottom line, try to strike a deal with the dealership. Do you really want the hassle of a court fight or mechanic's lien? Something was obviously wrong with your vehicle to justify the $300 diagnostic fee and a diagnostic fee DOES NOT include the actual repair. It's like lab tests or X-rays. And, if they fixed the problem, why do you think you should get that repair for free?

Answer 2

You can go there & sort of break the news to the service manager that they qouted this amount. If it were to increase, no one told you. I would tell them either correct this or you will no longer be bringing your car to their dealership ever again. If they do not take care of you, I would call the general manager & tell them the same thing. Also, tell them you will no longer be bringing your money nor buying any cars from their dealership again & you shall let the media know to make sure the word gets out



Whatever they quoted you for, that should be the price. If it jumps that much, someone screwed up at the dealership & technically it isnt your fault since you only authorized the first amount. That is something you need to argue with the service advisor & the service manager over.



I know at our dealership. The service advisor strives to make sure the amount they quoted to the customer is either the same amount or cheaper. There are times they used a different grid or maint rate to get the numbers to that mark if it was higher than what was quoted. But that much, our dealership would not have done it without approval by the customer. I can see maybe a hundred bucks or so, but that is a tad too high

Answer 3

that is plain highway robbery and also taking advantage of a person just plain stealing. I hate to tell you this but I think that I would pay for this with my credit card then if my truck wasn't repaired to my satisfaction then once I got home I would call my credit card company and stop the payment.Then you will be able to negotiate on the price. I can't tell you how many times customers has done this to companies everyday.It isn't illegal to do this and will only keep the crooks straight in the future,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Answer 4

well-being care, guidance, rebuilding our roads and bridges. humorous we are doing all that throughout the time of Iraq yet no longer in this united states. the three trillion war and that they suggested Bush could desire to never do something authentic.

Answer 5

Nobody can charge you for services you didn't request or authorize well no one except the government.

Answer 6

Of course you do. Unless it's written down otherwise.