Garage rip off - advice needed
Discussion
Well to say I'm a bit pissed off is an understatement, the so-called VW specialist has just ripped me off. The story is as follows:
I booked the car in to investigate the window fault, this morning when I dropped it off I asked him to just give it a quick scan with VCDS (computer check) to see if there was a fault still as the last time it was scanned there was a window fault. He said no he can't right now (getting a bit arrogant) so I said ok.
He then said there is a diagnostic charge which I thought meant to diagnose the fault and this would get knocked off if I carried through with the work (how it happened last time and how most garages operate).
So he rang me saying the fault is the regulator as the cables are rusted, the part will be there on Monday. So I said that's £150 all in right (we agreed on this before, 2 hours labour + the part). No he said it's £180 + VAT, £30 for the VCDS, but he never mentioned that the VCDS was £30. He's adamant that he told me about the VCDS charge but he must have meant the diagnostic.
So now it's £208 inc VAT, £12 less than VW. I told him not to carry it out and I'll pick the car up, so it's £100 now, 1 hour for taking it apart, 1 hour to put it back together and this stupid VCDS charge. The fault isn't fixed still.
Shall I just pay them the £100 so far? Or do I tell him that I didn't agree to the VCDS charge and it's £70 (2 hours labour). I want my car back and don't want to leave it there another second. Advice appreciated guys.
Mod note: You didn't name them, but clues as to who they are aren't acceptable either.
I booked the car in to investigate the window fault, this morning when I dropped it off I asked him to just give it a quick scan with VCDS (computer check) to see if there was a fault still as the last time it was scanned there was a window fault. He said no he can't right now (getting a bit arrogant) so I said ok.
He then said there is a diagnostic charge which I thought meant to diagnose the fault and this would get knocked off if I carried through with the work (how it happened last time and how most garages operate).
So he rang me saying the fault is the regulator as the cables are rusted, the part will be there on Monday. So I said that's £150 all in right (we agreed on this before, 2 hours labour + the part). No he said it's £180 + VAT, £30 for the VCDS, but he never mentioned that the VCDS was £30. He's adamant that he told me about the VCDS charge but he must have meant the diagnostic.
So now it's £208 inc VAT, £12 less than VW. I told him not to carry it out and I'll pick the car up, so it's £100 now, 1 hour for taking it apart, 1 hour to put it back together and this stupid VCDS charge. The fault isn't fixed still.
Shall I just pay them the £100 so far? Or do I tell him that I didn't agree to the VCDS charge and it's £70 (2 hours labour). I want my car back and don't want to leave it there another second. Advice appreciated guys.
Mod note: You didn't name them, but clues as to who they are aren't acceptable either.
Edited by Bill on Friday 3rd September 17:22
I had the regulator done on my Golf a month or so after I bought it. It's a common fault and a relatively easy home repair, though you can't get the cables or catches individually anymore and have to pay £60-odd for the regulator mechanism. I had mine done along with both rear ABS sensors being changed (including one needing to be drilled out as it had eaten itself) and the whole lot came to a smidge over £200. Not specialist but reputable local garage.
Your VW dealership is insanely cheap (mine charged me £50 to tape up the window (but as the window had just fallen into the door I couldn't really do much else) and run a diagnostic, then quoted me nearly £500 to do the ABS sensors and window regulator....) But your dealer sounds about right.
Window regulator mechanism replacement is a circa 2 hour job, plus part- so about £150 probably- or 4 very swear-y hours of doing it yourself and most likely some broken trim pieces.
-EDIT-
£30 for a diagnostic is pretty much par for the course- I missed this bit. Stuff got changed.
Your VW dealership is insanely cheap (mine charged me £50 to tape up the window (but as the window had just fallen into the door I couldn't really do much else) and run a diagnostic, then quoted me nearly £500 to do the ABS sensors and window regulator....) But your dealer sounds about right.
Window regulator mechanism replacement is a circa 2 hour job, plus part- so about £150 probably- or 4 very swear-y hours of doing it yourself and most likely some broken trim pieces.
-EDIT-
£30 for a diagnostic is pretty much par for the course- I missed this bit. Stuff got changed.
Edited by ManOpener on Friday 3rd September 17:28
Charging for diagnostics when the work is being done is, IMO, taking the piss. I don't care how much the equipment cost: they couldn't do the job without it same as many other tradesmen couldn't do their jobs without specialist tools.
For example what would you say if a builder put an extra charge on for the use of his cement mixer, or a roofer for the use of his ladder?
And another thing: I haven't found independents to be all that much cheaper than main dealers - and when you have trouble with them (which I most certainly have) you have basically no comeback - not unless you want iron filings pouring down your oil filler cap!
For example what would you say if a builder put an extra charge on for the use of his cement mixer, or a roofer for the use of his ladder?
And another thing: I haven't found independents to be all that much cheaper than main dealers - and when you have trouble with them (which I most certainly have) you have basically no comeback - not unless you want iron filings pouring down your oil filler cap!
No but I'll be paying the same as the main dealer as it's £208! It's very true what people have said, the tool is what is required to do the job. It's a Mk5 Golf so the door skin comes off and it's there. So the main dealer is right to charge that amount as there's not a huge amount of work involved. Even if I didn't ask him to just quickly run the scan, they'd have to do it anyway because it's an electrical fault! So far I've spent £100 for nothing. I budgeted it all in at £150. So if I get the part for £30 and do it myself or get a local garage to do it for £20, I'm still ok. Although I could have had an extra £100 but you live and you learn.
Dog Star said:
Charging for diagnostics when the work is being done is, IMO, taking the piss. I don't care how much the equipment cost: they couldn't do the job without it same as many other tradesmen couldn't do their jobs without specialist tools.
For example what would you say if a builder put an extra charge on for the use of his cement mixer, or a roofer for the use of his ladder?
And another thing: I haven't found independents to be all that much cheaper than main dealers - and when you have trouble with them (which I most certainly have) you have basically no comeback - not unless you want iron filings pouring down your oil filler cap!
I can charge you £235 for a job, or I can charge you £200 + VAT, or I can charge you 2 hours @£50 an hour, £75 parts and £25 diagnostic +VAT all of them come to the same amount it just depends on how you show it for billing purposes. Some of it probably comes down to internal accounting software assigning parts of the jobs to equipment. For example what would you say if a builder put an extra charge on for the use of his cement mixer, or a roofer for the use of his ladder?
And another thing: I haven't found independents to be all that much cheaper than main dealers - and when you have trouble with them (which I most certainly have) you have basically no comeback - not unless you want iron filings pouring down your oil filler cap!
Nasir 123 said:
I asked him to just give it a quick scan with VCDS (computer check)
= Nasir 123 said:
£180 + VAT, £30 for the VCDS,
you asked them to do a diagnostic scan why do you think you shouldn't pay for it? . . . . . . . if I go into a bar and order a pint, if they dont tell me before pouring it, how much it costs, do you think I wouldn't have to pay for itIt sounds like a mix-up in communication between yourself and the garage ... If possible, it's always worth double checking how much the work is going to cost before agreeing to proceed. For an increase in £50 over your estimated budget (£30 allocated for the VCDS), is it really worth walking away and losing £100 in labour charges for nothing?
Learn from it, move on and get the regulator replaced!
Learn from it, move on and get the regulator replaced!
Ikemi said:
It sounds like a mix-up in communication between yourself and the garage ... If possible, it's always worth double checking how much the work is going to cost before agreeing to proceed. For an increase in £50 over your estimated budget (£30 allocated for the VCDS), is it really worth walking away and losing £100 in labour charges for nothing?
Learn from it, move on and get the regulator replaced!
This.Learn from it, move on and get the regulator replaced!
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