Repair work

[NCSunshine]

What do you do when a dealer orders parts, and does repairs that you did not authorize?  I'm sure that there was a problem and ask them to check it, but did not tell them to fix it.  Also I ask them to let me know before my bill went over a certain amount, they did not.

Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill but it really has me upset.  I am thinking about telling them that I will not pay for the labor for the part that they ordered.  

What do you think?

[flyfisherman]

I know that would aggravate me to no end, too! Have a local mower & chainsaw  dealer that pulled that one on me, only with a chainsaw. The repairs cost at least half of what a brand new replacement would have. I think this is a sort of a  third rate scam pulled on a trusting and unsuspecting public ... a way to generate business regardless of what good ethics might be otherwise. Use to be stardard fare for a lot of shoddy car dealers and the RV dealers of the same caliber picked right up on it.

My GMC dealer AND my RV dealer, both have me sign a work order to do EXACTLY what it says on the order ... and if there's any doubt or should there be required additional service or parts, they call me first! Good dealers like that are NOT common place. In the case of the mower/chainsaw dealer that took advantage of me, my shadow will never cross his doorway again; plus whoever else I can tell about it to maybe thwart some business away from him.


Fly

[tlhdoc]

I would bring it up with the service manager or the owner of the business.  My dealer always calls me if there is something that needs to be done or that they want me to know about, before they do the work.

[SpeakEasy]

The way I look at it, the question of repeat business is key. I'd have a talk with the owner of the place and let them know that if we can't come to some sort of compromise I certainly won't be back. Most business owners know enough to realize that your future business is a real asset. They'll bend over backward to earn it. You got a repair from them, and that has some value. Therefore, you have to expect to pay them something for it. On the other hand, you didn't authorize it, so you shouldn't have to pay for 100% of it. I would probably offer to split the bill 50-50 with the understanding that if they agree to it, you'll continue to do business with them. If they refuse, pay them and say goodbye. They might not come all the way down to 50-50, but if they give some ground I might give them a second chance.

[HersheyGirl]

I had the same problem with my leaking hot tub.  I called for them to come out and check, not repair.  The tech ended up doing a bunch of unauthorized little repairs which had nothing to do with the leaking tub, and in fact, after he was done, it leaked worse.  Then, when I got the bill, it had repairs and parts that I never had replaced, and time that was never spent.  The tub still leaks after 2 years.  I refused to pay the bill.  I told them I would pay a certain amount and no more.  The company got very ugly with me, so I sent it off to the Attorney Generals office, but to no avail, the company would not budge.  So, I talked to a lawyer friend, and she said if they want the money, they will need to sue you for it.  So, after 2 years, I have not paid the bill, but I still get statements every few months.  I have ended up tearing up the tub and fixing the leaks myself.  I too think it is a scam to do that kind of thing.  I would not pay the full bill, but talk to the service manager or owner and discuss it with them.  Just because they have the camper, does not mean all repairs need to be done at who knows what costs.

[NCSunshine]

Thanks for you advice.  I go there today and I plan to talk with them about reducing the bill by the amount of the labor for the unauthorized work.  And at $75/hr that could add up.

I'll let you know what happens.

[NCSunshine]

Well it was all for nothing because it was the outside shower, which is what I wanted fixed.  I had been told over the phone that it was the sink faucet.  So all is well.

[GeneF]

Some places have a little note on the work orders that say you authorize them to go up to 10% over the estimate.  After that you have to okay any more expense.

I just took the Kiwi in for service and knew that I was not going to be around to get a call.   At the bottom of the workoder, I just wrote "plus $50" and initialed it.  Told service guy that I wanted to be called if over that amount.

By the way, $75 is reasonable.  My dealer is now up to $90 an hour. When I mentioned his $5 increase over last year, his comment was "We are still the cheapest around."

[tlhdoc]

My dealer charges $50 an hour.