my $5800 bill surprise- NEED INPUT PLZ!

The service tech should have a paper that clearly states what is to be done, parts laying there or not.

For the mechanic to not ask his boss before hand would be idiotic. Previously discussed or not. You do not do any work that is not on your paper

 

EPIC failure ......But thanks for the Cranial Rectosis reflex....

Look I am not here to get into a pissing contest over this but if he signed nothing authorizing the work they should have not done it.

I'm curious what you would do if this happened with you?

 

Ask for a complete break down of what everything cost and how they got to that #. And seek legal advise immediately. Do not under any circumstance sign anything or bring up the fact that you have sought legal help. Once needed let the attorney do all the speaking.

 

If you signed nothing giving approval for the work like an estimate. The dealer does not have a leg to stand on.

You might have to go to court.

I can tell someone exactly how much a repar is. I never have them sign anything. Im honest and if they are honest it works out, if not i take my parts before the police get there, so it aint gonna be pretty.

I had a problem wirh a non payer after installing a new ac unit. After 2 weeks of no one returning calls and blowing me off.

I went back put the ladder against the house and took the power disconnect.

She called and said the ac is not working. I said as soon as you pay it will. She says im calling the police, i said go ahead. She said qhat you did is illegal, i said no. The ac unit is not paid for so i own it.

She said im calling the police, i said ill meet them at your house.

You have no proof it was me, if another company so much as looks at the ac ill void your warranty and the 2 years labor.

And ill make sure the police know about the fraud, canceling the credit card is wire fraud.

So please call the police, bye.. by this time it is 110 inside her house, she calls with a diffetent credit card, i run it and it goes through then before i fix the problem i have her sign she is happy with the work and will not dispute the charge.

My boss wanted to know, how did i get her to pay so fast, i sent him a pic of the disconnect.

 

It wouldn’t.

The reason is simple. COMMUNICATION. First off I sort my quotes BEFORE I hand my keys over. Then I verify the work being performed. When it comes to dropping the vehicle off I again confirm the work being done BEFORE I hand the keys over. I read the work order and I know what “value added” items are being performed on my truck when I come in for a simple service like an oil change. I make it MY RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that what I want done gets done. No grey area. No miscommunication.

Now let’s take a situation like the OP’s. Lots of work being requested with what I am assuming is some used and some new parts. Also the timeline is very critical. Some parts could be installed to the frame while other mechanics are working on removing the cab and disassembling. You need to know what the WHOLE job entails so you can efficiently allocate manpower. You can’t start a job like this and not know if other work is being performed. Drivetrain is out but you don’t know if your transmission specialist can touch it? Now the drivetrain is next to go in but you just got the call to do the clutch and now the whole shop is waiting on the clutch job but no more vehicles can be serviced because of space and now you have mechanics standing around because they have no jobs to work on? Get real. I guess as an industrial mechanic I get how the work flow goes and therefore know things have to be sorted before you start (aside from things that come up as the job progresses). As a dealership I can’t have guys standing around because they want to get paid. If they are working book pricing not hourly they sure as hell won’t stand for it.

Now my last reason for making sure my communication is crystal clear. I want to make the decisions not the dealership or mechanics. I can’t count how many times over the years I go to buy parts and they keep trying to sell me the knock off discount parts when I am there for OEM quality and am willing to pay OEM prices. How do I ensure I get what I want and expect if I don’t communicate exactly what I want?

My last mechanic I used before moving and subsequently buying the new Tacoma was one of 2 in the shop. The other mechanic had my phone number. So I was speaking to the guy working on my truck which eliminates miscommunication. In a dealership scenario the customer, the service writer and the mechanic might not even speak directly to each other so paperwork is key to ensure the communication is accurate from one department to the other. So act accordingly based on the situation. In the dealership I always go the extra mile to ensure my wishes are clear and DOCUMENTED. I take responsibility for my success or failure when doing business with my dealer.

 

Sub'd.

 

Awesome! But OP seems as if he still didn't sign anything giving the approval to do the work. He 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. Didn't happen according to OP!

 

So who’s fault is that? Would you leave the dealership with a new truck and sort out the pricing and details next week? If you didn’t speak with the service a manger BEFORE the work was done but still dropped it off that is in you. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that discussion takes place. Just because you requested a meeting and then dropped it off anyway it is still on you.

Do you see million and billion dollar companies making those massive mergers or acquisitions without locking down each and every little detail? No they don’t. They ensure they get the deal they negotiated by making sure they have addressed every line of the contract.

 

true, there was no meeting at all. I was first called when the frame was a apart and they were halfway done with the clutch (for which I did not bring in parts and was never given an estimate)

 

Exracer, your missing a major detail: I dropped the truck off for a frame swap. I was told to come back for a meeting with the service manager to go over estimates. That first meeting happened halfway through all the work.

 

Subd for outcome

 

The way you word it makes it sound like you agreed to have them do the work. But what do I know, I wasnt there and neither was anyone else on here.

On a different note, why do you think you needed all that extra work done anyway?

 

This happened to a friend of mine. Not a dealership, but an independent shop.
We drove 4 hrs from Houston to Dallas to pick up the vehicle and we did not plan to leave without the car.
The owner threatened to call police and we said "sure, lets settle this". The law enforcement showed up and released the car to my friend. My friend is only liable for what was quoted and done. The Popo said shop can take my friend to court if they wish, but at that moment the shop cannot hold the car hostage since nothing was in writing.

 

Winner winner chicken dinner! if I was you OP I would call there bluff and roll the dice.

 

I would get an itemized list of cost for parts and labor. Some places also charge a markup if you bring in your own parts.

Suspension change and clutch change I would think can run close to 2k alone. Plus the list you are stating other little things being replaced. Little things add up but no one knows unless u get an itemized list.

While this does seem like a huge mistake by the dealer, sometimes when you sign to drop off the vehicle and then get a call asking about doing other things a verbal confirmation can be the only thing needed.

It sounds like your pretty young. Whatever the outcome I would take this as a lesson learned and do more research how much things cost and not just assume it will be cheaper cuz they have easy access. Along with figuring out the details beforehand ie quote.

 

So many legal experts in one thread. I'm surprised nobody stated you should sue them and have your vehicle replaced with a brand new truck for the emtional toll this has caused.

 

He left his truck to get the frame replaced right and while this was to take place he wanted a meeting and price for the addl work to be done that did not happen till after the fact!

 

OP needs too roll the dice call the cops get his Truck back then sort it out in court and when the Judge asks let me see the signed work order approving the work....

 

Each state is different, but a singed agreement stands up in every state.

Judge did you sign a contract to have the work done?.. no, . .case closed. Or a dealer would just perform work and hand you a bill and there would be nothing you could do about it?

 

It is a civil matter, i doubt yhe police will do anything, except tell the op it is a civil matter.