should prices include VAT?

[supra legend]

I used a garage to get a clutch fitted on my car. I rang a load of places and the garage I used was around £30 cheaper than any other quote so I went for it.

Went to pick the car up when the work was done with the cash in my hand. The bloke there then told me the price he gave me didn't include VAT so he wanted more. I didn't have the cash on me so he said I couldn't have the keys. They were there on the desk so I nabbed them and told him he should have given me the full price in the first place.
This chap got angry and slightly abusive so I told him to stuff it, gave him the money I was quoted and said I wont be coming back.

Next morning rear screen and side window smashed. A bag with 3 cans of lager on the drive and an oily jumper.

This was a while back and I left it at that. Completely out of pocket but couldn't be bothered with any more hassle.

Turns out the garage has pulled the same trick on a friend of mine and he has paid up.


Everytime I have quoted someone for a job I have included VAT, daft not to in my opinion and some folk tell me that this is the law.

Is this garage a cowboy outfit or were they within reason?

[Superficial]

They probably use the original quote to hook the punters in, and unfortunately the majority of people wouldn't make a fuss of paying more than the quote, and it makes a nice little earner for the garage.

I think the garage misled you by not specifying the quote was exclusive of VAT, but for the sake of two seconds it's worth asking in future before you commit yourself.

[dan19evans]

Did they tell you that the price didnt include the VAT when they quoted the price? If so, then thats fine. If not, then I think they are in the wrong.

They probably get away with it with most people, as they won't think much of it...

[ymwoods]

Superficial said:

I think the garage misled you by not specifying the quote was exclusive of VAT, but for the sake of two seconds it's worth asking in future before you commit yourself.

This, but seriously you did nothing at two smashed windows? They would have found all their snap-on tools in the river if they did that to me...

[dan19evans]

ymwoods said:

Superficial said:

I think the garage misled you by not specifying the quote was exclusive of VAT, but for the sake of two seconds it's worth asking in future before you commit yourself.

This, but seriously you did nothing at two smashed windows? They would have found all their snap-on tools in the river if they did that to me...

I thought that too

[supra legend]

When I rang it was basically "we'll do that for £170"

So to me that was job done for £170. At the time I had to scrape the money to get it done so wouldn't have been able to give them any extra untill next payday.

A revenge attack did cross my mind but that's just not me. With my luck anyway I would have got caught.

[supra legend]

And Superficial, yes I agree. Live and learn.

[dan19evans]

supra legend said:

When I rang it was basically "we'll do that for £170"

I think they were in the wrong then. If they stated a price on the phone and you agreed to pay that price, then they can't change the price as it would be breaking a verbal contract.

I think you were right to give them the price they stated and leave, I would've done the same.

I wouldn't let it go if someone put 2 of my windows through though...

[supra legend]

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

[dan19evans]

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

[ymwoods]

dan19evans said:

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

Police could have proved who it belonged to though!

[Hitch78]

ymwoods said:

dan19evans said:

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

Police could have proved who it belonged to though!

You watch too much CSI.

[Funk]

If anyone did that to my car in after misleading me, I'd have gone for them big-style. Can't believe anyone could just 'let it go'....!

[mat205125]

Hitch78 said:

ymwoods said:

dan19evans said:

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

Police could have proved who it belonged to though!

You watch too much CSI.

Also, could and would are very different things

[ymwoods]

mat205125 said:

Hitch78 said:

ymwoods said:

dan19evans said:

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

Police could have proved who it belonged to though!

You watch too much CSI.

Also, could and would are very different things

I don't watch any of that tosh, but I used to watch the bill...I was just under the impression that the Police could get DNA off the jumper then use it to solve a crime or something like that...wrong again I see :P

[jdbecks]

ymwoods said:

mat205125 said:

Hitch78 said:

ymwoods said:

dan19evans said:

supra legend said:

There wasn't much I could do though really. I was going to get a mate go in with the jumper and say he found it outside and see if anyone claimed it but im guessing it would have led to more trouble and more cost for me.
I am soft I know

If they smashed your windows and left their jumper there, I doubt they'd admit it was their jumper...

Police could have proved who it belonged to though!

You watch too much CSI.

Also, could and would are very different things

I don't watch any of that tosh, but I used to watch the bill...I was just under the impression that the Police could get DNA off the jumper then use it to solve a crime or something like that...wrong again I see :P

wait a minute...did you say police solve a crime??? thats a first!

[Deva Link]

Superficial said:

They probably use the original quote to hook the punters in, and unfortunately the majority of people wouldn't make a fuss of paying more than the quote, and it makes a nice little earner for the garage.

I think the garage misled you by not specifying the quote was exclusive of VAT, but for the sake of two seconds it's worth asking in future before you commit yourself.

I'm not sure it's illegal, I think it's more a breach of advertising guidlnes, but companies are not supposed to advertise ex-VAT prices to the general public, but you do still see it from time to time.

The same should apply to quotes - I fell out with a Mitsubishi dealer who quoted ex-VAT for a service.

Colleague of mine got caught with this on building work. The quote never said anything about VAT so he was bit dismayed to have another 5 grand added to the final bill. He took legal advice and settled 50/50 in the end.

[Dracoro]

Are they actually vat registered too?

[S3_Graham]

Deva Link said:

Superficial said:

They probably use the original quote to hook the punters in, and unfortunately the majority of people wouldn't make a fuss of paying more than the quote, and it makes a nice little earner for the garage.

I think the garage misled you by not specifying the quote was exclusive of VAT, but for the sake of two seconds it's worth asking in future before you commit yourself.

I'm not sure it's illegal, I think it's more a breach of advertising guidlnes, but companies are not supposed to advertise ex-VAT prices to the general public, but you do still see it from time to time.

The same should apply to quotes - I fell out with a Mitsubishi dealer who quoted ex-VAT for a service.

Colleague of mine got caught with this on building work. The quote never said anything about VAT so he was bit dismayed to have another 5 grand added to the final bill. He took legal advice and settled 50/50 in the end.

happens all the time. The last work i got done on the 328 at a garage the guy said he would do it "£60 a side" imagine my confusion when picking up the car to a £144 bill. I was then informed it was plus VAT. Didnt complain though, closest independant quote was £254!!

[m0ssy]

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Don't worry about not reacting back immediately.

You are best sitting down and having a good think and plot with a couple of mates of what to do to this garage.

It could be in a week... or better still in a month when they would have possibly ripped some other poor unfortunate soul off so would never know for sure it was you... but would have suspiscion.