ONE OF THE MOST COMMON areas of dispute for many motorists concerns servicing and, specifically, whether the work has been done satisfactorily and at a fair price.
Most drivers aren’t mechanics – if they were, they’d probably do a lot of service work themselves – but it is possible for non-experts to protect themselves against scams and overcharging.
- Before you leave your car with a workshop for repairs, get a quote, in writing, before any work begins.
- Ask the repairer to call you should any additional and unexpected costs arise (and make sure you are contactable throughout the day).
- Once the work is completed, get an itemised account and challenge (non-combatively) any charges that you consider excessive.
- If you intend to pay by cheque or credit card, make sure this is an acceptable method of payment before repairs are commenced – very few repairers will release a vehicle unless payment is made on the day.
- If a part needs replacing, ask the repairer to keep the old part so you can be sure the part has actually been replaced, and you can get a second opinion that the replacement was necessary (although this is not foolproof – many repairers will have plenty of knackered old parts lying around the workshop that they can show you as “proof” that your part needed replacement and was replaced).
- Ask the repairer to explain to you what the problem is before repair work begins and if he/she isn’t sure of the problem before repair work commences, have him/her contact you once the problem has been assessed and identified.
- If you aren’t convinced that the diagnosis is correct, or the quoted price is fair, get a second opinion. Don’t feel under pressure to give immediate approval for the work to proceed, although you may be asked to pay for inspection or diagnosis work already conducted.
- Try to be aware of what a problem may be, but don’t try to self-diagnose. Your owner’s manual will tell you what needs to be done at each service interval, so query anything that isn’t specified in the manual.
- Be precise when describing the symptoms so the repairer can make an accurate diagnosis and quote.
- Whenever possible, take the repairer with you on a road test so you can point out any untoward noises or issues that are concerning you.
- Be wary of low-cost services. You may think you’ve come away with a bargain but it could prove to be false economy. Some repairers who offer low-cost servicing do it to get your car into their workshop where they hope to find other repairs that need doing.
- If you are working to a limited budget, ask the repairer which repairs are most urgent and have them done first. Some repairs may be able to be postponed until finances permit.
- If you are having a service done for a fixed price, be clear on precisely what work will be carried out for the price, and what extras (oil, fluids, replacement parts) will be additional.
- If your budget is tight, make sure you tell the repairer upfront.
- For additional peace of mind, choose a repairer who has been approved by the motoring association in your State – if a dispute does arise, the motoring association can investigate and mediate.