my $5800 bill surprise- NEED INPUT PLZ!

My 2004 Tacoma is just finishing up with its frame replacement. While the frame was out, I figured I would have a ton of other things done to it as well. This is a great way to save on labor costs. I asked them to do things like swap out the suspension, cab bushings, and other things that they are going to have easy access to anyway. On top of the easy things, I requested some things that require some labor, but are easier to do with the frame out like the clutch, oil pan, axle seals, 4x4 actuator, charcoal canister.

I requested a long list of items to be done and brought in a lot of my old parts. I requested a meeting with the service manager to go over the work to be done and to discuss how much extra labor would be involved and what that would cost BEFORE the frame arrived.

Fast-forward to last Friday. I get a phone call from the dealership saying that they are halfway done with the frame swap and that I need to come in and figure out the additional labor. He goes on to tell me that ALL of the requested work has been completed and that the bill is $5800. I never agreed/approved ANY work, but merely requested a quote for all of it. I anticipated at most $2500 for the additional cost between the clutch and a few other things.

What do I do? I need to pay for the truck by Monday. Please help me with any input. I believe that I shouldn't have to pay for any work that I did not approve, which is all of it. I also believe I should pay for some of the work, but I am not sure how to settle this. I did not get an estimate. The work was done at a discounted rate, but some of the things I would not have gotten done if I knew they would cost what they ended up being.

 

If you never agreed for the work then you’re off the hook legally. I’d fire back that you never approved it and you’d like to talk to the service manager.

 

unless they have it on paper that you approved and signed off on the work that was completed ide fight that 100 percent and wouldn't pay a dime.

 

I think you should express your concerns to the General Manager, not us.

 

All I know is this is going to be very interesting for the outcome, but if they don't have anything signed by you for the work I would think its open and shut....

 

Thanks guys. Just not sure how I am going to get my truck back if I they make me pay for it. They can hold it until I pay the bill, which in this case is a b.s. bill.

 

OP, You might want to seek legal advice.....

If there was a law broken here you might be able to work a deal for a discounted cost for the work already done.....

 

Definitely seek legal advice. DO NOT sign anything.

I had a shop do that to me once. I did sign and made a manual note *Work was not approved* signing ONLY to get possession of car and keys. I then talked with a lawyer and sent a certified / registered letter (and kept a copy) explains the situation and what I was prepared to do. They refused the letter so I never had to pay and never heard from them again .

I was told never sign and that almost sealed the deal for me.

 

Waiting for outcome?

 

Why did you bring the truck in with parts to be installed without the quote being completed?

My best friend is a motorcycle mechanic. He sees broke assed MF’rs all the time who have big dreams and no money. If he quotes anything it must be approved before he touches anything. I mean anything. You want an oil change and new tires and a quote on doing a clutch. Until you approve everything the oil change and tires don’t get done. Otherwise his bench is tied up while you figure out if you have the money. Been burnt too many times by customers wasting his time, screwing him for payment and the list goes on. He had a guy show up to pick up a bike 2.5 years after the work was completed steaming mad because he got a letter from court informing him my buddy was making a claim for ownership to recoup his bill and to legally be able to part out or dispose of this abandoned motorcycle. This is the reality of any mechanic in any industry.

IMO if you brought in parts that means you have approved the work. Maybe a miscommunication which you now are going to screw the dealer over for. Personally if I was the dealer I would put a lien on your truck and let my lawyers argue it out in court which he may lose but you may be a long time without your truck. Maybe the dealership is shady and is pulling a fast one but you still own a big part of the responsibility for not sorting the quote and approval BEFORE dropping the truck off.

This was an IQ test. Do you want to know how well you scored?

 

As well as every other person that posts on the world first before they talk to an attorney when thousands of dollars are on the line?

 

So if I take my Truck in for a oil change and there is brake pads on the front seat they can put them on without my approval and charge me?

 

"I asked them to do things like swap out the suspension, cab bushings, and other things that they are going to have easy access to anyway. On top of the easy things, I requested some things that require some labor, but are easier to do with the frame out like the clutch, oil pan, axle seals, 4x4 actuator, charcoal canister."

"I requested a long list of items to be done and brought in a lot of my old parts. I requested a meeting with the service manager to go over the work to be done and to discuss how much extra labor would be involved and what that would cost BEFORE the frame arrived."

Sounds like you asked them to do that stuff

Just sayin

 

Lulz. Just because he brought parts doesn’t mean he just left them a blank check. I’d be pissed.

 

If you said to them “brakes are on the front seat” then yes.

 

How? You legally have to sign the quote before they are allowed to do the work.

 

I mean, you said it in this first post. Asking for quotes of things to be done is different than asking for things to be done, and bringing in the parts to do said requested work.

 

Don’t be an idiot trying to stir up shit. If you talked about installing them and asked for a quote and then on the day you show up with brake pads and there was a previous discussion about installing them what would you do? Send the vehicle back to the customer who freaks out that you didn’t bother to install the parts you left on the seat and previously discussed? Only so much time can be spent on trying to locate and confirm with the customer. Either they get installed or they don’t.

If you are worried put it in writing. Dealerships have developed sign off procedures to protect themselves from douchbag customers claiming they didn’t authorize the work. Luckily for consumers the same paperwork can be used by them to protect themselves from dealerships doing unauthorized work. But if neither side has paperwork the court must look at what’s reasonable. Leaving parts with a vehicle for previously discussed work can be reasonably interpreted as authorizing the work. Different jurisdictions may have different case law or president.

 

You failed the IQ test.