Method of payment for car repairs
Discussion
In the past when I had a car repaired / serviced, I'd go to the garage, inspect the work and, provided it was satisfactory, I would pay via credit card knowing I had some consumer protection if the car fell apart as a result of poor workmanship.
Nowadays many places seem to ask for payment by bank transfer due to high bank charges. They don't even like payment by debit card.
It feels like this leaves an element of risk on my side as I could be paying for work I have not seen and not having the credit card protection. Not to mention being poor for cashflow and missing out on credit card bonuses. I'm not a fan of banking apps on phones or doing direct bank transfers but guess this is the way of the world now?
BTW I have some symptahy with the garage who effectively has to pay the credit card fees so the credit card company can give the bonus points back to the cardholder.
Anyone else experienced this or found ways around it?
Nowadays many places seem to ask for payment by bank transfer due to high bank charges. They don't even like payment by debit card.
It feels like this leaves an element of risk on my side as I could be paying for work I have not seen and not having the credit card protection. Not to mention being poor for cashflow and missing out on credit card bonuses. I'm not a fan of banking apps on phones or doing direct bank transfers but guess this is the way of the world now?
BTW I have some symptahy with the garage who effectively has to pay the credit card fees so the credit card company can give the bonus points back to the cardholder.
Anyone else experienced this or found ways around it?
My friendly local independent Romanian mechanic is the same - bank transfers preferred, then cash, then card arranged elsewhere.
And I don't blame him, especially for maybe half a dozen payments max per day. All the posh PH folk want them to take the card of their choice so they can accrue Avios or Amex points, but the reality is that the cost of card payments is significant:
Broadband line (if they don't have one already)
Machine rental
Packs of thermal paper
Say 1.5% for a credit card transaction
Say 80p for a debit card transaction
Fraud when the card company kicks it back onto you
Sure there are card processors that you can link to your phone, or offer low charges, but delve into the T&Cs and the low charge might only be for the first 3 transactions per day or first 50 in a month.
And I don't blame him, especially for maybe half a dozen payments max per day. All the posh PH folk want them to take the card of their choice so they can accrue Avios or Amex points, but the reality is that the cost of card payments is significant:
Broadband line (if they don't have one already)
Machine rental
Packs of thermal paper
Say 1.5% for a credit card transaction
Say 80p for a debit card transaction
Fraud when the card company kicks it back onto you
Sure there are card processors that you can link to your phone, or offer low charges, but delve into the T&Cs and the low charge might only be for the first 3 transactions per day or first 50 in a month.
I’ve not experienced this at all at any of the MD’s I use or the Indy I use for my Defender.
My son gets his car serviced at the local chaps garage and he has to pay via debit card.
Not cars but I’ve had to pay recently for some new doors for the house and the joiner wanted a transfer of funds but I said I would prefer to pay by credit card for the rewards points.
Have you said to the garage your aren’t keen and would prefer to at least pay by debit card ?
My son gets his car serviced at the local chaps garage and he has to pay via debit card.
Not cars but I’ve had to pay recently for some new doors for the house and the joiner wanted a transfer of funds but I said I would prefer to pay by credit card for the rewards points.
Have you said to the garage your aren’t keen and would prefer to at least pay by debit card ?
I’d expect to pay by card. If a garage was suggesting cash as the only payment method (or even other routes avoiding the protection a credit card affords me) then I’d be thinking they’re a bunch of dodgy Del Boys chancing their arm and leaving me with an iffy repair / service or whatever. The exception to that would be somewhere I’ve used before and we’re both agreed on a reduced price to “smooth the way” that suits both of us.
Smint said:
Their house their rules.
Maybe it isn't just credit card charges, maybe they've been defrauded one too many times and now its cash, debit card or transfer only.
If the place does good work and is good value i'll pay whatever method helps keep their costs down and them in business.
Maybe it isn't just credit card charges, maybe they've been defrauded one too many times and now its cash, debit card or transfer only.
If the place does good work and is good value i'll pay whatever method helps keep their costs down and them in business.
exactly thisI wouldn't be very hopeful of doing a chargeback due to poor quality repairs as there are so many other variables which could cause a subsequent failure - other problems which could interact with the repaired system, how the car's then driven and maintained, environmental conditions. Sure I could imagine possible scenarios in which it might help, but they feel relatively unlikely to me.
In general I try to find garages I trust to take my cars to, if they let me down and refuse responsibility then I'll go elsewhere in future.
deadslow said:
Smint said:
Their house their rules.
Maybe it isn't just credit card charges, maybe they've been defrauded one too many times and now its cash, debit card or transfer only.
If the place does good work and is good value i'll pay whatever method helps keep their costs down and them in business.
Maybe it isn't just credit card charges, maybe they've been defrauded one too many times and now its cash, debit card or transfer only.
If the place does good work and is good value i'll pay whatever method helps keep their costs down and them in business.
exactly thisSo many people are into getting points on their credit cards that sometimes it's an unreasonable expectation. I remember as an 18 year old working in a shop and someone presenting an Amex card. We didn't take Amex and had no way of taking it, yet there was this 50+ year old man arguing with me, as someone 18 years old on minimum wage, dealing with a grown up having a tantrum over some stupid points. I wonder how these people deal with cash only places? Their minds must implode with rage at their rights for points.
Seeing a lot of prominent signs around small businesses lately.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
Doesitdrive said:
Seeing a lot of prominent signs around small businesses lately.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
But some/most business bank accounts have charges for cash deposits/withdrawal facilities too." CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
IMO most "cash is king" places I'd assume are trying to save on the amount they have to declare to the taxman, or to avoid any potential credit/debit card chargeback liabilities!
mmm-five said:
Doesitdrive said:
Seeing a lot of prominent signs around small businesses lately.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
But some/most business bank accounts have charges for cash deposits/withdrawal facilities too." CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
IMO most "cash is king" places I'd assume are trying to save on the amount they have to declare to the taxman, or to avoid any potential credit/debit card chargeback liabilities!
Think about it though, once all payments are through banks, what do you think they will do?
Say we are making too much and cut charges, or make the most of the Monopoly?
Doesitdrive said:
Seeing a lot of prominent signs around small businesses lately.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
Yet there are usually bank charges if you deposit cash into a business account... " CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
Doesitdrive said:
mmm-five said:
Doesitdrive said:
Seeing a lot of prominent signs around small businesses lately.
" CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
But some/most business bank accounts have charges for cash deposits/withdrawal facilities too." CASH IS KING" Explaining how paying in cash means they get full payment without bank charges, harder for them to increase prices to cover it like big business I guess.
We are the ones paying the increased costs in the long run.
IMO most "cash is king" places I'd assume are trying to save on the amount they have to declare to the taxman, or to avoid any potential credit/debit card chargeback liabilities!
Think about it though, once all payments are through banks, what do you think they will do?
Say we are making too much and cut charges, or make the most of the Monopoly?
Many businesses get say 5% discounts from suppliers if they pay cash on delivery as suppliers want to avoid giving credit if they can help it. For a small business that buys in £100k of stock that can be the difference between profit and loss.
I don't think any of the workshops around my area refuse credit cards.
Well, maybe the few I wouldn't touch with a barge pole may do?
People get the workshop thing so wrong sometimes, going for the cheapest option.
I always look at a worshop in that, will they do the right thing if they make a mistake?
Mistakes happen, Oh yes, even in main dealers!!!
But will the mobile mechanic guy sort a new engine for you if a mistake is made?
Will the workshop down the road that do "cash only mate" step up if they make a mistake costing thousands?
Well, maybe the few I wouldn't touch with a barge pole may do?
People get the workshop thing so wrong sometimes, going for the cheapest option.
I always look at a worshop in that, will they do the right thing if they make a mistake?
Mistakes happen, Oh yes, even in main dealers!!!
But will the mobile mechanic guy sort a new engine for you if a mistake is made?
Will the workshop down the road that do "cash only mate" step up if they make a mistake costing thousands?
The few indies/bodyshops/MOT garages I use around here all take card, even the really ancient old-boy type places. Some won't take Amex, but otherwise no issue. I live out in the sticks and even here I don't think any would survive very long if they decided not to accept card.
I honestly wouldn't expect to pay with cash or bank transfer to any walk-in garage or bodyshop, unless it was a "cash agreed" deal up front.
I've got a small business account. It is undeniably more difficult and more expensive for me to take a cash payment than it is to take a bank card. Bank transfer avoids fees yes, but cash is an absolute ballache. The only reason to *prefer* cash payment is to keep it off the books, simple as.
I honestly wouldn't expect to pay with cash or bank transfer to any walk-in garage or bodyshop, unless it was a "cash agreed" deal up front.
I've got a small business account. It is undeniably more difficult and more expensive for me to take a cash payment than it is to take a bank card. Bank transfer avoids fees yes, but cash is an absolute ballache. The only reason to *prefer* cash payment is to keep it off the books, simple as.
I haven't encountered any garage that doesn't accept Credit Card payments either specialists or main delaers, bank transfers have never been mentioned.
Even a small mobile tyre fitter I use has a card machine
Only times i've been asked for bank transfers was when I've used mobile mechanics in a pinch (nothing against mobile mechanics but it's not my usual choice)
Even a small mobile tyre fitter I use has a card machine
Only times i've been asked for bank transfers was when I've used mobile mechanics in a pinch (nothing against mobile mechanics but it's not my usual choice)
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