Robert
I would hold them to it since that is a very common practice for the
losers who want to make money without doing a lot of work. The normal
practice is to charge based upon a predicted or flat rate schedule, then
accomplish the task faster than predicted. They don't reimburse the client
if it takes less time than anticipated! This is one of the times where they
lose, but I am skeptical that it is a case where they actually went over.
They know what they are doing.
Shops that are "fair" recognize that there might be problems with older
or specialty vehicles. They will tell you up front that they don't know how
long it will take and will charge by the hour, and you must pay for the
labor even if they encounter busted off bolts etc. They may tell you "In the
past we did this to an Alfa Romeo and it took 10 1/2 hours so it may be
around that for cost, But your car may take longer." This can be fair, but
This in itself is often nothing more than a probe to see what you are
willing to pay.
The beauty of it is that they will not give your car back until you
pay, and if you don't, they can file for the title of the car, and it will
become theirs. The law is on their side. All you can do is make it known
that you are going to damage their business with endless hassles. Get the
better business bureau involved (they are on their side also), and notify
the local bureaucrats that they may be committing fraud. There is really not
much you can do if you don't want to pay the full amount. Remember, all the
hassle you will bring upon them, you will be bringing on yourself also.
The "best" and least hassle free way to get out of it is to either
split the difference, or just tell them you don't have the money and agree
to pay $25, $35, or $50 over the forecasted amounts. (This in conjunction
with pleas of poverty and bad luck, followed by the threats of hassle should
they not settle)
In the end, it is just better to learn to do all the work yourself
since that is the only way to avoid getting hosed. I don't send anything out
anymore because I have had all of these things happen to me. I have battled,
threatened, lawyers, liens, etc etc, and in the end I settled on a
difference. If I don't have time to do it myself, then it just isn't that
important. Lou
----- Original Message -----
> Last week I put my Series 5 in the shop for front end work. I
> supplied bushings and ball joints and the shop gave me a verbal quote
> for the labor.They had given me the same quote a week earlier when I was
> shopping the job around.
> I got a call today that the job is done and the labor is $125
> higher than originally quoted.They say the job was complicated by
> stubborn bolts and hard to remove bushings. Should I demand that they
> honor their verbal agreement or pay their price and kick myself for not
> getting it in writing?
>
> Rob Nanzig
> 67SV
>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 08:59:52 CDT