to feel I've been a bit ripped off? (car related)

[hormonallyyours]

And if so what would you do about it?

I'll start by saying I'm fairly new to the world of car ownership. But my dad (sadly no longer with us) worked with cars for many years, and I picked up some stuff from him so whilst i couldnt repair a car myself I'm not totally clueless either.

So just before Xmas my exhaust took a bit of a knock, and split. Me and DP had a look under, and were both fairly sure the back box, and possibly the center section needed replacing.

I called a few places but as it was literally the day before Xmas no one could fit me in immediately. Of the places I spoke to, only one was clear on price (80 plus Vat for the back, 110 plus vat for the whole thing. Others were a bit vague (one said £50-300!), or said I'd need to bring it in first...the local national exhaust franchise said £130. But I decided to stick with first place which was local and clearest over price. They also had excellent which reviews etc.

So it went in today. Dropped it off this morning, told they'd call when it was done.

No call. So at 4pm I called them. Yes it was fixed but they couldn't tell me the cost. And they shut at 5 so could I fetch it asap?

Eventually called me back half an hour later. The cost was £150, they've replaced the front section (which looked fine to DP and I) and salvaged (their words) the rest.

AIBU to be fed up with the lack of contact, or update and feel if you've specified a price for the whole thing, and then only replace part, the cost should be less not more?

I've checked the cost of the replaced part and it's £50-60. So that's £100 or thereabouts just on labour!

[Heratnumber7]

£100 for labour isn't unreasonable. They do have to pay heating, lighting, rent, rates, insurance etc etc AND make a profit you know.

[britbat23]

They fixed your car. Relatively inexpensively.

If you want better customer service go to a main dealer (and see how you like them prices!)

[ddubsgirl77]

£150 Inc labour? That's a good price

[nocake]

The price doesn't seem unreasonable but their service is a bit rubbish. I'd ask around for recommendations so you have somewhere better lined up for next time.

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

Labour is £25-60 an hour for most garages I know. The dealerships being the most expensive. How many hours of labour did they put in? They forgot to ring you, it's hardly the end of the world.

[TweedAddict]

I don't think that's too bad a price to be honest

[19lottie82]

My husband is a mechanic and most his garage charges £55 ph. The chains prob charge even more.

They have to pay wages at around £15 an hour plus all the other overheads.

You weren't ripped off.

[hormonallyyours]

My main issue wasn't regarding the labour cost if you read my OP, it's that they charged a totally different price to what was quoted, and didn't inform me of this. Indeed they didn't call at all, and when I did speak to them it took another half hour to confirm the price for work they'd already done.

They couldn't tell me how long was spent, and it's not on the invoice. Some searching online suggests it doesn't take more than an hour tops to do this work.

Spoke to a friend who has a similar car to mine. She got her exhaust replaced at Kwik Fit a few months ago for £135. I thought using an independent garage was a better option...apparently not.

[caroldecker]

£150 less VAT is £125. They quoted you 110 plus VAT, so basically the bill was £15 more - not a huge amount over.

[SnatchedPencil]

If they quoted then YANBU. If they gave you an estimate, they can basically charge whatever they like. Quotes and estimates are very different things, and estimates are usually dressed up as quotes to sucker people in.

The actual prices you give seem reasonable for their labour, but if you were quoted a price, then that is the end of the matter.

[britbat23]

OP you really are stunningly naive.

Kwikfit are always best avoided. Just read the reviews.

If you have money to burn and want good customer service (maybe) go to main dealer.

Otherwise go to recommend independent who will fix your car for a good price. Which is what you did and what you got.

If you want a pampering experience try a day spa.

[hormonallyyours]

They called it a quote, but of course I have nothing in writing. The issue for me is they didn't tell me when the price changed (in fact when I called they couldn't give me the actual cost at all which seems weird) plus the price of £110 was for the full exhaust, they've only replaced part but charged more, which makes no sense.

I feel quite dissatisfied with the whole experience. I can't see why a local garage would be more expensive that Kwik fit, who people are always told to avoid as they're so expensive!

[chipsandchilli]

That's about right, when my brother done mine the whole exhaust was about £80 from Euro i think then he done it but he replaced all of it when only one bit needed done, he said he might as well do the whole lot as it will need done eventually.

[chipsandchilli]

oh sorry just seen they salvaged the rest and only replaced one section when you could have got it done cheaper elsewhere, yeah i would question the quotes and prices

[RedHelenB]

Kwik fit have always been fine when I've used them but definitely trey and find a trusty local garage.

[hormonallyyours]

Well having just been out in the car, there is a strong smell of burning which has never been there before. I'm concerned they may have damaged my car in some way do I gave any redress? It was completely fine this morning other than a split exhaust.

I'm now scared to drive it.

[hormonallyyours]

I don't want a pampering experience I want them to provide a service at the price they specified, and to keep me informed if that price changes.

When the car was collected they said 'it might smell a bit' allegedly this is normal if you have a new exhaust?

It's not something I've heard of before, and searching the internet hasn't produced anything. 15 mins in the car the smell was so strong it's given me a splitting headache. That can't be right surely?

[allchattedout]

I paid £150 to get the back box of my exhaust repaired and replaced. The price they have charged is fine. Really weird that they couldn't give you the quote over the phone though. If you can smell burning, you need to go back and get them to check it- they should not charge for this. In the future, you need to tell them firmly on the phone that they need to give you an exact quote. The whole point of calling you once they have checked the car is to tell you the price. The estimate when you drop it off is more a ballpark and liable to change once they check it over.
By the way, Shit Fit tried to scam me out of about £600 for work that didn't need doing, so I wouldn't hold them up as paragons of virtue.

[allchattedout]

When the car was collected they said 'it might smell a bit' allegedly this is normal if you have a new exhaust?

It could be normal actually. I think they might have said that to me- I can't remember. Unless they are total cowboys, I would actually be inclined to trust them on that one. Unless there is now smoke pouring out of your car or something.

[hormonallyyours]

They never called me once they had checked the car, they just went ahead with the repair, and didn't tell me even when it was done, I had to call, then wait for a call back after half an hour with the actual price and conformation of what they'd done.

I feel sick at the thought of having to drive it there again tomorrow, the smell is awful. I suspect they will fob me off and tell me it's normal.

Alternatively they'll say something else is wrong and demand more money to fix it.

So much for being a Which trusted trader.

[ExitPursuedBySantaSpartacus]

Maybe car ownership isn't for you.

How on earth can they quote for a job over the phone?

[hormonallyyours]

There's no smoke I don't think, it's rainy and dark though so hard to see. But surely it shouldn't be bad enough to bring on a headache? (I'm not usually susceptible to smells, rarely get headaches for any reason)

[gamerchick]

IME the price at the till is never what they quote you.

Plus they add the VAT on at the till, not in the quote. Also IME.

[WaitrosePigeon]

Welcome to cat ownership.

[WaitrosePigeon]

Car ownership