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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I pay this?

50 replies

TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:42

Car is a skoda octavia, 2010 model. Overall a very reliable car, never had any major work done. Booked it in for a service/repairs prior to the upcoming MOT. Garage rang today to say the repairs were over £700 due to needing a new door panel and various other things. I knew the door was broke. I've used this garage for years and although they're pricey, they're honest. Certain parts had to be sourced from the manufacturers hence the cost. Wasn't overly happy about them not contacting me prior to give me a heads up on the cost (they completed the work already) but tbh I would've likely paid it anyway had they told me as can't afford another car. Told DH the cost and he is utterly furious at me for agreeing to pay. Due to the age of the car, its probably only worth about £1000 however there's no way I can afford a newer car at present or any time in the foreseeable. He thinks I should've scrapped it. I work in a professional role but currently only PT due to young DC, so my take home pay just covers the basics. Either way the work needs to be paid for but I now feel even more crap about his attitude about it all. Buying a car on finance isn't really feasible at present either. Has anyone else been in this situation and what did you do?

OP posts:
Bobiverse · 09/12/2025 15:45

You didn’t really have a choice then; you need the car so it needs to pass its MOT. Would it have passed without the door replacement?

It’s a stupid cost for a car that isn’t worth much more than the repair cost itself so scrapping and getting a new car would have been the ideal, but if you cannot afford to get another car then that wasn’t an option. You had to pay the repair.

I wouldn’t use that garage again though. They shouldn’t have done the work without asking first. What if you said no? Can you get a discount because they went and did it without permission?

Hankunamatata · 09/12/2025 15:48

I think garage were dodgy carrying out that much work on a car thats worth 1k and not discussing it with you
I had similar last year with same age car and garage advised me to scrap as they said it could easily have another thing go wrong next month. I was grateful they offered me the advice. We had to get a loan for a newer car.

Original poster
TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:51

Car wouldn't have passed without the door as it wouldn't open from the outside, it would have automatically failed on that alone.

OP posts:
NewCushions · 09/12/2025 15:53

The garage shoud have called you first. So you could make a decision. However, I actually think £700 for a new door plus fixing a few other things seems like quite a reasonable price. And if your Skoda Octavia is anything like ours, the fact that it's only worth £1000 on paper massively udnersells its overall reliability and cost effectiveness to run (ours is a 2014 model and recently we had to replace the brake pads - first major repair we've ever made!).

Meerkatmanor4 · 09/12/2025 15:57

You were driving around in a car that was a death trap. I would pay up and thank my lucky stars!

£700 is reasonable for repairs of that scale too.

The book price of your car does not reflect the cost for you to replace it too.

themerchentofvenus · 09/12/2025 15:58

TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:51

Car wouldn't have passed without the door as it wouldn't open from the outside, it would have automatically failed on that alone.

In which case I assume you gave them permission to do any work needed?

But... saying that, I personally would have tried to get another door from a brokers yard, even if it was the wrong colour. That would have surely been much cheaper than £700?

As the car is only worth £1000, then it wasn't the most economical decision for them to go ahead, but what was its scrap value? At least you know the car well and can hopefully keep it running for another year. I would have still expected them to contact me given the cost!

Original poster
TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:58

I dont actually know what my question is. I have to pay it regardless as the work is done, I'm not happy about them not contacting me first so for that I'll not use them again. I think I'm more upset about the attitude of DH, he was so angry. Saying how stupid I was and "this is what happens when you make decisions by yourself." He also told me "not to go crawling to him for money". I had covid last month and needed to take time off. I don't get sick pay when I I'm off so he loaned me £400. He's brought it up "jokingly" numerous times since which has upset me so it just feels like further salt in the wound today

OP posts:
Meerkatmanor4 · 09/12/2025 16:00

Your DH needs trading in not the car!

NewCushions · 09/12/2025 16:00

TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:58

I dont actually know what my question is. I have to pay it regardless as the work is done, I'm not happy about them not contacting me first so for that I'll not use them again. I think I'm more upset about the attitude of DH, he was so angry. Saying how stupid I was and "this is what happens when you make decisions by yourself." He also told me "not to go crawling to him for money". I had covid last month and needed to take time off. I don't get sick pay when I I'm off so he loaned me £400. He's brought it up "jokingly" numerous times since which has upset me so it just feels like further salt in the wound today

Oh, well, that's a whole different issue and he's a complete wanker. I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

the realitt is that the £700 you spend means you can continue to run this car. And there is no way in hell you'd have been able to pay £700 and get a car that was reliable or serviceable. So it was a better option than scrapping it.

And if your supposed "d"h can't see that, and is jumping down your throat for a perfectly reasonable decision, he's not a very nice man.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 09/12/2025 16:01

TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 15:58

I dont actually know what my question is. I have to pay it regardless as the work is done, I'm not happy about them not contacting me first so for that I'll not use them again. I think I'm more upset about the attitude of DH, he was so angry. Saying how stupid I was and "this is what happens when you make decisions by yourself." He also told me "not to go crawling to him for money". I had covid last month and needed to take time off. I don't get sick pay when I I'm off so he loaned me £400. He's brought it up "jokingly" numerous times since which has upset me so it just feels like further salt in the wound today

Could the question be "how do I get away from this abusive prick?"

TheMorgenmuffel · 09/12/2025 16:01

Your husband is twat. You know that, right? A big one.

Re the car, if it was me i would ask the garage why they did the work without authorisation and why they thought you'd be willing to spend so much on a car worth so little.

They fucked up here. There may be room for negotiation.

BoudiccaRuled · 09/12/2025 16:01

Second hand cars are gold dust at the moment. Far far cheaper to pay £1000 a year fixing up the Skoda for another 5 years. Otherwise you will pay £8k + for another car of a similar age.

Theslummymummy · 09/12/2025 16:06

The car market currently is wild. A similar car with a years mot will cost you more than 700. No idea what he's on about, if you can't afford a née car currently what does he think you should have done?

InSpainTheRain · 09/12/2025 16:09

You have a “D”H problem not a car problem. Is he usually such an arse? At least you have it sorted and now have an MOT completed.

TeatimeForTheSoul · 09/12/2025 16:10

I have a car of similar age and value. Each year I pay a bill similar to yours as it would cost a lot more to get a similarly reliable new car. So I think if yours is a reliable car, obviously with age there will be some bigger bills. You are not being unreasonable.

Rosealea · 09/12/2025 16:11

Go round at least a couple of other garages.

TeatimeForTheSoul · 09/12/2025 16:13

Just read your update. Woah!
this is what happens when you make decisions by yourself and your DH loaned you £400?!?!

It’s definitely not a car issue. It’s a condescending and controlling man issue.

RonObvious · 09/12/2025 16:15

Are you sure it’s only worth £1000? We went used car shopping recently, and the Octavias were all disproportionately expensive - due to their reputation for lasting forever! I’d have paid for the repairs - if the car was otherwise okay - too.

LumpyandBumps · 09/12/2025 16:27

A car you know to be reliable is often worth more to you than its value on paper.
Keep the car. Scrap the ‘D’ H

Cornelire · 09/12/2025 16:27

NewCushions · 09/12/2025 15:53

The garage shoud have called you first. So you could make a decision. However, I actually think £700 for a new door plus fixing a few other things seems like quite a reasonable price. And if your Skoda Octavia is anything like ours, the fact that it's only worth £1000 on paper massively udnersells its overall reliability and cost effectiveness to run (ours is a 2014 model and recently we had to replace the brake pads - first major repair we've ever made!).

This, your car wouldn't have sold for much if it was going to fail the MOT. You cannot afford a new car so of course you pay to repair the car you have as it should still last you. Ask the garage what the scrap cost would have been just for curiosity. If work needed doing, it needed doing.

My friend said we should have just bought a new car when our £2k on paper car was costing £1500 for service and MOT. It also failed on a passenger door that could not opened from the outside plus various other things.

That car usually cost about £300 each time and after the £1500 lasted us another 4 years before we needed a larger car. We sold it "for scrap" for £250 but someone bought it and it now has 110k miles on it. It is a 54 plate Skoda. We look at the MOT every now and again, it was a tank of a car.

A reliable car is a godsend.

Original poster
TheOldTeaBag · 09/12/2025 19:05

Although the garage definitely should've rang me first out of courtesy, it was all work that needed doing for the mot. Most years it's cost me under £200 which included a service. DH earns over twice what I do and drives a brand new car (on finance). This has never bothered me as fancy cars have never interested me. However his whole demeanour today has really upset me. It reminded me of the dynamic between matilda and her dad "I'm smart-youre dumb" etc. I appreciate it seems like throwing good money after bad when the car is so old and not worth much but I simply cannot afford a different car at the min. I feel like transferring him £400 out of my savings as a fuck you over the comment about asking him for money. For PP asking, he's not normally this vile but it's certainly not the first time he's been horrible. He's currently in bed with suspected flu which may be a mitigating factor but it's unacceptable nevertheless

OP posts:
RollOnSunshine · 09/12/2025 19:14

If you knew the door was broken you should have specifically got a quote for that job before booking the MOT.

Did you mention that at all when booking or when dropping it in?

BotterMon · 09/12/2025 19:21

Well you needed the car serviced in order to pass the MOT and that's what garage did? Unless you specify that you want to be phoned before costs go over a certain amount then you can't blame the garage.
Sounds quite a reasonable amount for an old car with quite a bit of work needed to get it through.
Yes your DH is a dick and using finance to make you feel shit. Either he stops or he can ship out with his fancy financed car.

Mosaic80 · 09/12/2025 19:29

I’d pay it, it does cost more to keep an older car on the road but it can be worth it as you dont have regular car finance payments or a large outlay for a new car. How many miles has it done? Thats more important imo than the age (I drive an older car and just had to scrap my old so I’m wry well versed in older cars and their worth right now!).

What else does your DH suggest you do given you need a car? Maybe you should suggest you have a new car on finance from family funds like he does?!

it sounds like a bigger conversation on finances is needed. You should not be scraping by with an old car for you and the dc while he has a higher lifestyle. That’s not what a marriage is about.

EssentialGarage · 09/12/2025 19:36

If you get a car on finance, how much will you be paying a month? It won't take very long to be much more expensive than £700.

The garage should have told you in advance but for another year of motoring for that, especially as there is nothing actually wrong with the car is a bargain .

Your DH is a twat though