I am being picky? Garage invoice...
Discussion
I took the bus, aka a 2011 C200 diesel, for an MOT on Wednesday and it failed. One of the hard brake pipes for the OSF burst during the brake test. A bit odd because they were not mentioned at all the previous year.
Plainly I can't drive it home, so arrange for them to fix it the next day, and replace the NSF as well at the same time because it is looking a bit crusty. Price was £335, which breaks down as 4 hours of labour at £70 an hour, 2 flex hoses at £10 each, 3m of brake pipe at £18, some fittings and fluid. During the conversation about the work, they said most of the work was in changing the OSF because it goes all the way around the bulkhead, the NSF is a straight shot from the ABS pump to the flexi.
I have been under the bonnet for something that I thought was unrelated since, and found they haven't replace the full OSF pipe at all, they have replaced just the corroded end piece, but they have billed me for the full 4 hours of labour for something that plainly took at lot less and even told me how much of a challenge the job was when I picked the car up!
The unrelated issue I went under the bonnet for, was a low coolant level alarm that appeared the same day, coincidence I assumed. The level was slightly low, but only by 5mm or so, I added some coolant anyway. Which hasn't fixed the issue. I just googled where the sensor is and have been out of the car to look at it. Guess what... yep, it is not connected and the join they have put into the OSF brake pipe is suspiciously close to that area.
So, let it ride, or have a chat with the owner, who I should add, I used to work with!
Plainly I can't drive it home, so arrange for them to fix it the next day, and replace the NSF as well at the same time because it is looking a bit crusty. Price was £335, which breaks down as 4 hours of labour at £70 an hour, 2 flex hoses at £10 each, 3m of brake pipe at £18, some fittings and fluid. During the conversation about the work, they said most of the work was in changing the OSF because it goes all the way around the bulkhead, the NSF is a straight shot from the ABS pump to the flexi.
I have been under the bonnet for something that I thought was unrelated since, and found they haven't replace the full OSF pipe at all, they have replaced just the corroded end piece, but they have billed me for the full 4 hours of labour for something that plainly took at lot less and even told me how much of a challenge the job was when I picked the car up!
The unrelated issue I went under the bonnet for, was a low coolant level alarm that appeared the same day, coincidence I assumed. The level was slightly low, but only by 5mm or so, I added some coolant anyway. Which hasn't fixed the issue. I just googled where the sensor is and have been out of the car to look at it. Guess what... yep, it is not connected and the join they have put into the OSF brake pipe is suspiciously close to that area.
So, let it ride, or have a chat with the owner, who I should add, I used to work with!
4 hours is about right to do the full pipe, they are a pain. If the have only replaced the small section which I assume is the bit in the wheel arch then that’s a bit cheeky as is charging you for more brake pipe than is needed.
As for breaking, it’s very common on these and I suspect last years mot missed quite a bit
As for breaking, it’s very common on these and I suspect last years mot missed quite a bit
the-norseman said:
I'd ask them for an explanation.
I'd go with this. Try and speak to someone senior and ask them exactly what you're thinking. You don't have to bowl in there all angry but explain your thoughts on it and ask them if that's the case. If they say they only replaced that end piece, then ask why it would have taken 4 hours and point out the old pipe you mention. Might find it's the mechanic that's claimed the job took that long and what the work was, the garage have just written the receipt up by default and it needs a bit more looking into by them. I don't think you're being picky though OP.
Could be the tester told the garage to quote for the full pipe and when the job was given to the tech he seen the work and decided to do a join to the good part of the pipe. Brake pipes are one of the most hated jobs for us techs due to mess involved and trying to route it back through cleanly.
Either let it slide are have a chat with the owner and ask to confirm what was meant to have been charged for.
Either let it slide are have a chat with the owner and ask to confirm what was meant to have been charged for.
66HFM said:
Just have a chat with the owner, especially as you used to work with him, ask him to double-check that the full pipework was replaced as that what you were charged for.
It maybe you worked with him and he doesn't like you....
Fair! It maybe you worked with him and he doesn't like you....
We do get along though, I have used him since he set the business up ~10 years go. I think the crucial bit though is the business has grown quite a lot, and he doesn't tend to be on the front desk anymore.
Thanks for the thoughts though, I will have a quite word when I am next in the area.
FWIW, I think the price charged of £335 is fine for the work they quoted for, this issue is, that is not the work they have done, and I think there is at least and hour, if not two, less work involved.
I would say something I think.
If it was just the level sensor, I might leave it till next time I am in, and or not even mention that if I went now.
But I would be narked if I had been charged for full replacement, told how hard it was, and then found it had not been done.
Even if the repair they have done it valid (and its if done well I would be happy with it) and the money isnt and issue, morally you have been lied to.
Seems very little reason for it all really.
If it was just the level sensor, I might leave it till next time I am in, and or not even mention that if I went now.
But I would be narked if I had been charged for full replacement, told how hard it was, and then found it had not been done.
Even if the repair they have done it valid (and its if done well I would be happy with it) and the money isnt and issue, morally you have been lied to.
Seems very little reason for it all really.
Update, I went back today. Politely ask to speak to the owner in private, he wanted to do it in the reception, even though the guy that billed me was there with him.
Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Megaflow said:
I took the bus, aka a 2011 C200 diesel, for an MOT on Wednesday and it failed. One of the hard brake pipes for the OSF burst during the brake test. A bit odd because they were not mentioned at all the previous year.
Plainly I can't drive it home, so arrange for them to fix it the next day, and replace the NSF as well at the same time because it is looking a bit crusty. Price was £335, which breaks down as 4 hours of labour at £70 an hour, 2 flex hoses at £10 each, 3m of brake pipe at £18, some fittings and fluid. During the conversation about the work, they said most of the work was in changing the OSF because it goes all the way around the bulkhead, the NSF is a straight shot from the ABS pump to the flexi.
I have been under the bonnet for something that I thought was unrelated since, and found they haven't replace the full OSF pipe at all, they have replaced just the corroded end piece, but they have billed me for the full 4 hours of labour for something that plainly took at lot less and even told me how much of a challenge the job was when I picked the car up!
The unrelated issue I went under the bonnet for, was a low coolant level alarm that appeared the same day, coincidence I assumed. The level was slightly low, but only by 5mm or so, I added some coolant anyway. Which hasn't fixed the issue. I just googled where the sensor is and have been out of the car to look at it. Guess what... yep, it is not connected and the join they have put into the OSF brake pipe is suspiciously close to that area.
So, let it ride, or have a chat with the owner, who I should add, I used to work with!
Explanation please mr garage and take it from there. fPlainly I can't drive it home, so arrange for them to fix it the next day, and replace the NSF as well at the same time because it is looking a bit crusty. Price was £335, which breaks down as 4 hours of labour at £70 an hour, 2 flex hoses at £10 each, 3m of brake pipe at £18, some fittings and fluid. During the conversation about the work, they said most of the work was in changing the OSF because it goes all the way around the bulkhead, the NSF is a straight shot from the ABS pump to the flexi.
I have been under the bonnet for something that I thought was unrelated since, and found they haven't replace the full OSF pipe at all, they have replaced just the corroded end piece, but they have billed me for the full 4 hours of labour for something that plainly took at lot less and even told me how much of a challenge the job was when I picked the car up!
The unrelated issue I went under the bonnet for, was a low coolant level alarm that appeared the same day, coincidence I assumed. The level was slightly low, but only by 5mm or so, I added some coolant anyway. Which hasn't fixed the issue. I just googled where the sensor is and have been out of the car to look at it. Guess what... yep, it is not connected and the join they have put into the OSF brake pipe is suspiciously close to that area.
So, let it ride, or have a chat with the owner, who I should add, I used to work with!
king cowboys piss me off. Megaflow said:
Update, I went back today. Politely ask to speak to the owner in private, he wanted to do it in the reception, even though the guy that billed me was there with him.
Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Fair result. Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Not entirely sure I’d use them again though…
Megaflow said:
Update, I went back today. Politely ask to speak to the owner in private, he wanted to do it in the reception, even though the guy that billed me was there with him.
Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Fair enough if true. If not then not.Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Gigamoons said:
Megaflow said:
Update, I went back today. Politely ask to speak to the owner in private, he wanted to do it in the reception, even though the guy that billed me was there with him.
Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Fair result. Put across the case, making sure I pointed out I had no issue with the price for the quoted work, I just didn’t get the quoted work. They got the workshop supervisor to go outside with me to look, and he held his hands up and said he knew about the change, but it was a busy day and forgot to tell the bloke behind the counter doing the invoicing. Given they squeezed it at short notice that is highly probable.
I got 2 hours of labour and some of the pipe cost back.
Sounds like a genuine error they quickly corrected.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Not entirely sure I’d use them again though…
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