Car needed brake pads, bushes and cv boot for a WOF.When asked, I was given an approximate prices of $200 for parts, plus 2, most 3 hourslabor
I have no issue with the parts component of my account
Long story short, there was a lot of swearing and tantrums from the mechanic and another 2 hours wait for it, even tho they had said 45 minutes prior it would be ready at 3.30. I was told work started at 1pm, and it was ready to go finally at 5.30
I had a 4 km drive home, during which a terrible noise started from under car somewhere. Mymechanic neighbor, with 50+ years experience said they had neglected to lube the ball thingies Car checked next day,2 hours it was fixed.
The bill - work done remove front wheels, adjust front wheel bearings, remove, & replace frontswaybar mounts, remove front control arms, remove worn bushes, build up worn mounts in chassis, refit control arms, remove LH hub assembly, remove worn CV boot,fit new CV, refit hub assembly. NOTE: had to remove broken bolt in top ball jopint Customer returned with vehicle makings a squeaking noise, located noise in RH front, removed wheel, lubricate suspension joint, couldn't hear noise again
Labour costs: $500 + GST this is not broken down by hours, nor is there any indication of their hourly rate.I reckon this is way over the top!Mechanic neighbor says ball joint bolts don't break unless excess pressure applied, and that the noise made after the repair was not a squeak, it was the sound of rubber Am I being ripped here! I don't think you can just throw in a figure for labor. Is that 10 hours $ 50, or 5 hours at $100! I think the job took longer because they broke the bolt, and I don't think I should be charged for the noise repair, which they created. I think I should pay them a max of the first day for labor, but not even sure about that, given I think the job was longer due to their breaking the bolt
Any thoughts please!
gazzat22,
Jan 7, 1:30am
Isnt it a requirement that any invoice should state ,number of hours labour and the hourly rate(s) plus an itemised list of parts used with costs for them.I would certainly take it further.
parryduck,
Jan 7, 1:39am
I'm sure you can't just throw in some arbitrary figure - it's a nice neat sum, $500 - a bit too neat I think.I will talk to them, just want to be sure in my own mind.
gazzat22,
Jan 7, 1:45am
I would start with the citizens advice bureau,i,m sure they could put you in touch with the right people,Commerce Commission or similar but approach the garage first.Good Luck.
elect70,
Jan 7, 2:46am
Some daysit all turns tocustard.i hadgarage spend 14hours tofind out whymy range rover EFI wouldntrun . Nothavinganydiagnosticon boardhehad nochoice buttoobtainusedknownworking parts&fiteach in turn until it ran.Sometimes even the simplestjobs turn toshit .
intrade,
Jan 7, 3:14am
cant see to much wrongwith invoice . swearing however does not help in working efficiently it deductsbrain power from actuarlyfiguaring outwhat one is doingwrong, if i start swearing i stop and have a cup of coffee as it becomes non productive to carry on . andyeai seldom need to swear when working.
intrade,
Jan 7, 3:20am
also there is placeswhom charge 500$ upwardsto make somewrong diagnosisand cantfix the car . so essentiallyyou pay money for some moron to tell you wrong $hit . That is the stuffi would like to take to court and there seems to be tousends in this country just ordered2 radiator hoses for a mitsubishi pajero. the waterpump is newand plain water in cooling system hosesfeel like crisps when you squish them. Professional mechanicdonethat job. or should i say another fkn moron. just immagin what these people do when there is a electronic problem whom comes to there shop. if i cant fixsomething i saysorry i cant do it not charge 500$ for me messing aboutsnot knowingwot the f.k i even do. i look at things like that hondacant fix it give ideaswhat it could be and tell em to go to automaticspecialist if it points to trans problem what i find like on my honda thread.
snoopy221,
Jan 7, 3:24am
And the vehicle is! You state car-however with adjustable front wheel bearings mentioned and c v joints That implies 4 wheel drive
parryduck,
Jan 7, 3:26am
Yes, quite correct, 4 WD Nissan
tony9,
Jan 7, 3:28am
Price may be fair, and you may have cracked the broken bolt prior with a kerb incident.
Suggest you have a gentle chat with them.It does look like they did quite a bit and in that elapsed time it would take more than one working on the job to get it done.
If you get stroppy and want more detail you may find the detailed invoice will add up to more than they billed you.
snoopy221,
Jan 7, 3:33am
Yip and they can be a swear inducing confined spaced minimal access bolts breaking when undoing -Pain- Garage may have priced initially not realising it was 4wd
parryduck,
Jan 7, 3:38am
Tony9 - I do intend the gentle chat first.They do need though, to give me a breakdown of how many hours, and at what $ I have been billed.I don't want a confrontation though
Snoopy - they did know, as they did the WOF .and they were doing that when I asked for a price guestimate
purplegoat,
Jan 7, 3:39am
The old trick of just a total for labour is one that franchise workshops are notorious for. When you get a trolley of groceries the docket doesnt just say " groceries " , it says quantity and unit price . A mechanic should be no different. If the invoice total is over $1000 they are breaking the law as the IRD requires quantities on the invoice.
Regardless of $$ value i would be asking for a full breakdown of quantity and hourly rate . If a franchised or larger workshop then you can also ask for the individual job cards of each technician that worked on your car
snoopy221,
Jan 7, 3:45am
I had a 4 km drive home, during which a terrible noise started from under car somewhere
suspect noise would have been in the bush mount area.
. remove worn bushes, build up worn mounts in chassis,
parryduck,
Jan 7, 3:49am
Thanks - I see under $1000 they are not legally obliged to break it down, but I do want to know at least the rate, and hours billed.It is nota franchise, but a privately owned garage.I know they use job cards as I saw them.
parryduck,
Jan 7, 3:51am
snoopy221 wrote: I had a 4 km drive home, during which a terrible noise started from under car somewhere
suspect noise would have been in the bush mount area.
. remove worn bushes, build up worn mounts in chassis,[/quote
I'm not sure - the noise did not exist prior to their work. are worn mounts in the chassis something you would see doing a WOF!ie. with wheels on, up on the hoist!
snoopy221,
Jan 7, 3:51am
2, most 3 hours labor K would suspect they may well have underpriced say by 1 hour on that specific vehicle and possibly when it bit them in the proverbial overpriced by an hour. I.E. if a compromise is achievable and everyone is happy with say 400 labour Hope This Helps.
snoopy221,
Jan 7, 3:53am
Not really noticeable until dismantled and bushes removed. Again 4 w d and sods law.
parryduck,
Jan 7, 3:57am
I hope a compromise can be reached
a.woodrow,
Jan 7, 4:44am
I think the telltale here is build up worn mounts in chassis. This probably took a fair chunk of time.
franc123,
Jan 7, 5:04am
Job was underestimated (not stated as quoted I notice) in the first place, and that's before issues with broken bolts and control arm mounts.Time disappears quick when further work is needed once things are apart that are not usually needed.
msigg,
Jan 7, 5:18am
$100 / hour some garages. yes snoopy221 has it.
rkauto,
Jan 7, 8:30am
sounds fair ,They also may have rounded it down to $500
elect70,
Jan 8, 2:45am
See on Turbothatwoman who had aheinkel bubblecarrestored.16pagesofparts&$45000US
gazzat22,
Jan 8, 3:09am
Evey repair invoice i,ve ever had,car/washingmachine/boat/ho- useapart from which said "as per quote" has had the number of hours and the hourly rate as well as the parts and price itemised regardless of total bill so cant see what the IRD has to do with it unless its for GST. The extract you show states "supplies" and i,ve been told all bills should have the details as previously stated not just if over$1000.
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