ATOT, lend me your eyes!!!

[Dudewithoutapet]

So some underhanded work came into play today. My friend drops off her car for simple maintanence work at a Goodyears store. The estimate was ~$90. She goes and walks around the mall, gets a call from the store. They say this and this need fixing, total is a lot. She tells them she doesn't want those things, ends conversation, and continues walking. She gets back to the store and sees that they did it anyways. Now they want her to pay ~$1600+ in order to get her car back. She ends up signing the invoice that included "I acknowledge the notice and oral approval of an increase in the original est. price." Now she has her car but obviously feels robbed. I am asking everyone I know, including you guys, if there is anything she can do at this point?

Cliffs:
Drops off car (est $90)
walks around
gets called for a bunch of fixes
Says no
comes back and find they did it anyways and they say she agreed on the phone
signs a paper that has printed on it saying "she acknowledge notice and oral approval of an increase in the original estimated price"
shes signed it to get her car back and didn;t know what else to do at the time
can she do anything?

I know some might believe that this should belong in the Garage, however I believe more people will see it here and it is about a scam more than a car. Please help and thanks in advance.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

she got screwed, but should never have signed.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

If she said to the mechanic that she didn't want that work done on her car, she should never have signed the invoice. The fact that she did now negates any chance of you recouping any of that money. $1600 lesson learned.

What I would do now is get in touch with both the stores supervisor and the city's Better Business Bureau. Unfortunately because she signed the invoice, you really don't have much of a rock to stand on, in my opinion.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

What state was this in and was she maybe under shock from what they were saying that she signed it without thinking?

She got herself into a tough situation and I think that if she paid on a CC, she can dispute it through them.

 

[Dudewithoutapet]

She thought about it but was also unsure of what else to do and was kind of intimidated. She was with her friend and well probably the two of them were not as big as one of the two mechanics there. They were kinda afraid.

I realize she shouldn't have signed it too. I feared that there was lil she could do at this point. I was just wondering if someone was able to fix this. thanks guys.

AgaBoogaBoo: This was in California. The ironic thing is that it was put on her newly opened Goodyear account since they convinced her to sign up for one for "additional" savings back when the est. was $90. However, we have been unable to find a card number or anything on the invoice.

 

[Jhill]

Have a man go there with her and calmly ask for the manager and discuss what did or didn't happen.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Surely there must be some law that prohibits a $1510 increase on the estimate...I mean, be reasonable here. That's like saying they could have rebuilt the entire car for ~$20k and gotten away with it?

 

[LordMorpheus]

I wonder how much of that extra 1510 dollars of work actually got done.

Hell, I wonder how much of the original 90 dollars of work happened. These chain places exist only to rob the clueless and/or easily intimidated like your friend.

 

[jackace]

You might have a chance to fight it, but it might cost you more then that in legal fees. Hope she learned a good lesson and never take the word of just one mechanic. ALWAYS get a second or even a third opinion if the estimate balloons upward. Even ask for a parts list you can take to another shop or check against online prices.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Surely there must be some law that prohibits a $1510 increase on the estimate...I mean, be reasonable here. That's like saying they could have rebuilt the entire car for ~$20k and gotten away with it?

EXCELLENT point and I'm an idiot for not remembering.

You have to be within 10% of the estimate by law and so the shop is at fault. See if you can get a lawyer to write up something quickly saying that you'll take legal action or something unless they correct because they of the law they broke.

I'm not an expert and don't know if it varies by state or what the situation is, but that might be the key to getting your money. I know this from a basic law class and really regret tossing away the notes from it... or not taking them

Anyway, you should be able to fix this situation, speak firmly and research in advance the applicable laws. If she paid on a CC, see if you can find what things merchant account holders have to abide by. Print out the laws that apply and are on her side.

If you present all that, you should have no issue getting them to waive all the costs.

 

[Old Hippie]

You have to be within 10% of the estimate by law and so the shop is at fault.

That applies only if she didn't OK the increase.

signs a paper that has printed on it saying "she acknowledge notice and oral approval of an increase in the original estimated price"

Good Luck!

 

[FoBoT]

she could go to small claims/magistrates court, but it is mostly too late if she paid them

she could try to complain to corporate HQ, but that won't really get her anywhere

SOL FTL

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: LoKe
Surely there must be some law that prohibits a $1510 increase on the estimate...I mean, be reasonable here. That's like saying they could have rebuilt the entire car for ~$20k and gotten away with it?

EXCELLENT point and I'm an idiot for not remembering.

You have to be within 10% of the estimate by law and so the shop is at fault. See if you can get a lawyer to write up something quickly saying that you'll take legal action or something unless they correct because they of the law they broke.

I'm not an expert and don't know if it varies by state or what the situation is, but that might be the key to getting your money. I know this from a basic law class and really regret tossing away the notes from it... or not taking them

Anyway, you should be able to fix this situation, speak firmly and research in advance the applicable laws. If she paid on a CC, see if you can find what things merchant account holders have to abide by. Print out the laws that apply and are on her side.

If you present all that, you should have no issue getting them to waive all the costs.

Even if you did sign, they can't go above the original estimate by that much. Call the cops, she's getting ripped off.

 

[imported_Imp]

Situations like this make me thankful that someone in the family is a professional/top-notch mechanic...

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Update please?

 

[ForumMaster]

she signed the paper and that screwed her. she should never have signed.

 

[Captante]

If she hadn't signed the invoice saying she approved the price increase she would be in good shape & really could have called the police herself, however once she DID sign it things became a lot tougher because she has now said she approved the work those jerks did.

I suggest speaking first to a mechanic you can trust & see if they even really did the work they claim to have done ... if it turns out that they lied about some of it & the original parts are still in the car you'll at least have some bargaining power, you may also want to have a conversation with an attorney provided you can find one who offers free consultations.

Good luck, sounds like your friend is going to need it unfortunately.

 

[Jeffwo]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Update please?

Yeah...anything happened yet?

NM

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Dudewithoutapet
She thought about it but was also unsure of what else to do and was kind of intimidated. She was with her friend and well probably the two of them were not as big as one of the two mechanics there. They were kinda afraid.

I realize she shouldn't have signed it too. I feared that there was lil she could do at this point. I was just wondering if someone was able to fix this. thanks guys.

AgaBoogaBoo: This was in California. The ironic thing is that it was put on her newly opened Goodyear account since they convinced her to sign up for one for "additional" savings back when the est. was $90. However, we have been unable to find a card number or anything on the invoice.

I think fear is an often used excuse for stupidity.

What did she think that the whole Goodyear Tire Posse was going to beat her a$$? Worst case scenario she could have said she needed to come right back and called for help.

 

[DigitalCancer]

Goodyear/Sears BLOWS. I got screwed over on a tire a few months back. Went in to get my brakes changed and i've got (4) GoodYear tires all the way around because i like their tires. Well, after the brakes were changed, i notice my car is not as 'smooth' driving, but go about my way. A couple months later i'm looking at one of my tires, noticed they put some crappy tire on it (forget the brand) and so now i have 3 goodyears and one no-name tire which makes me mad b/c i'm the type of person that like everything in order. ^_^

Anyhow, i tried to fight it because they said NOTHING about a tire. My total was around $200 i think, but they told me that they would buff my rotors, change brakes, and...something else, and i ended up w/ a new tire. They argued with me, finally said i could bring it in and they'd give me an identical tire to match the others. I go in, they tell me it'll be about $90 (price difference of the new tire) and i'm like....what?? So i just walk out. I REFUSE to ever go to another Sears auto place....they are just crooked as hell if you ask me.

Hope you friend can manage to get her money back, do try and get it inspected for work, hopefully they DIDN'T do it. She shouldn't have signed the waiver however. But maybe the fact that they raised the estimate $1510 will manage to sway in her direction. G'luck!

 

[Mxylplyx]

Chicks, particularly the young naive variety, should never deal with a car mechanic alone....never.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Surely there must be some law that prohibits a $1510 increase on the estimate...I mean, be reasonable here. That's like saying they could have rebuilt the entire car for ~$20k and gotten away with it?

They gave her an estimate and have proof she approved it (signed invoice). She's screwed.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Chicks, particularly the young naive variety, should never deal with a car mechanic alone....never.

My girl, at 7, knows more about cars then most grown women. I dread the mech who tries to pull a fast on on my wife. She has helped to rebuild a full size Kenworth truck before (but doesn't do any know, and doesn't look like the type)

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Chicks, particularly the young naive variety, should never deal with a car mechanic alone....never.

Exactly.

 

[Safeway]

Go to the mechanic with a lawyer friend, threaten legal action for them screwing you over, get car keys.