Don ’ t Lose Money on Unnecessary or Faulty Auto Repairs
By KIMBERLY BLAKER
Sometimes , we forget the real purpose of a non-profit resale store .
Our dream was for the store to help us provide hospice care to patients with no money . But after a year , our dream was far exceeded and we now serve the community in many more ways than hospice and palliative care .
If you ’ ve ever driven away from an auto repair shop with the gut feeling you got duped , you ’ re not alone . According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , consumers lose tens of billions of dollars every year on unnecessary and faulty repairs . So beware of the ways consumers , particularly women and seniors , are commonly ripped off so you ’ re not caught off guard .
OVERCHARGING All mechanic shops mark up the price on parts but some markup more than others . Some shops base their markups on how easily they think they can get it past a particular customer .
Overcharging for labor is another common practice . Most repair shops charge based on the standard repair time for the job . But some exaggerate the usual time required . Also , if a repair shop charges by the hour , be cautious . That ’ s an easy place for shops to overcharge .
If you ’ re getting multiple repairs done at the same time and the mechanic will save time doing the repairs together , you should even get a discount on labor .
THE SHOP DIDN ’ T REALLY DO THE REPAIR Some shady shops are known to charge for repairs they didn ’ t do . When your car ’ s problem is a cheap fix , they can easily get away with it by claiming the problem requires a different more costly repair . The mechanic then does the cheap fix , and you ’ re none the wiser because they resolved the issue .
EVIDENCE PLANTING Unethical mechanics have been known to plant evidence to claim a part needs repair . Grease and fluids are some of the more common types of evidence planting . The mechanic wipes grease on your axle boots or spills fluids in the engine compartment or on your struts . When the mechanic shows you what ’ s wrong , you see the leak and don ’ t question it .
SABOTAGE Most mechanics don ’ t go to this extreme . But it happens more often than you might think . An unscrupulous mechanic might sabotage a part then tell you it needs repair . Another tactic is to sabotage something you won ’ t notice immediately . Then a few days or weeks later you have to return to the shop for the new problem .
REPAIRS WITHOUT YOUR AUTHORIZATION Never give the go-ahead for repairs without getting a full estimate first . Otherwise , you may be in for a costly shock . If a repair shop does make repairs without your authorization and tries to charge you , take it up with management . If the shop doesn ’ t work with you , you ’ ll have to pay the bill to get your car back . Then you can take the shop to small claims court .
UNNECESSARY MAINTENANCE A frequent ploy of service shops is to recommend unnecessary maintenance . Some shops exaggerate the required service frequency . Always check the intervals recommended by your car manufacturer before giving the go-ahead . Another common trick is to claim your air filter or fuel filter is dirty , even when it isn ’ t that bad . Filters gradually get dirty . So a certain amount of filth is reasonable and doesn ’ t necessarily justify replacement .
UNNECESSARY REPAIRS Both honest misdiagnosis and intentional are quite common . Mechanics do make honest mistakes . But if your mechanic makes a misdiagnosis , the shop should refund or credit you for the cost or apply the money you spent toward fixing the real problem . Another way mechanics rope consumers into unnecessary repairs is by pointing out a part is ‘ going bad ’ or will require replacement ‘ soon .’ Often , the component shows normal wear for its age but still has plenty of life left .
BAIT AND SWITCH Many shops offer special deals on oil changes and other routine services . But often , there ’ s a catch . When you take your car in for the service , the shop provides you a checklist of other items that supposedly require maintenance . Sometimes , they genuinely need to be serviced . But more often than not , they don ’ t .
CHEAP PARTS Original equipment manufacturer ( OEM ) parts are often the safest bet . Unfortunately , they ’ re usually more expensive and not always readily available . Most repair shops , aside from dealer service centers , use aftermarket parts . In some cases , these parts are as good or even better than OEM .
But many aftermarket parts are inferior . So they don ’ t last as long . Some inferior aftermarket parts can even cause new problems that can only be resolved by replacing the parts with better ones . If this occurs , the repair shop should replace the parts at their expense . In extreme cases , an inferior aftermarket part can cause damage to other parts of your car . Aftermarket axels are a good example . They ’ re often inferior and fit incorrectly , which can cause wobbling and put stress on other suspension components .
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