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Making dealerships accountable

Making dealerships accountable

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Making dealerships accountable
8/5/2015 at 10:34 AM

Another friend was taken by a dealership in town. Went in for a noise in the driveline, came out with a $5000 bill. Turns out it was a hanger bearing on the driveshaft, about $400 installed estimated high, I would think. All the other stuff was just because they had his credit card on file. They even changed the oil, synthetic which was done about three weeks ago.

How can the consumer be protected? We can't publish the name of the dealership because it will be removed from this site. You can't get your money back, you can't make them accountable, so tell me how can the consumer protect themselves. Car dealers make their money on service, not on sales but they take advantage of people everyday. When will it stop?

I don't have the answers, i wish I knew. Very upsetting and enraging.
zombie
Joined: This month
Posts: 368

zombie
Joined: This month
Posts: 368

.
8/5/2015 at 10:39 AM

He most certainly can get his money back, just because they had his credit card info on file does not give the dealer the authority to charge to it at will, they require a signature.

Tell him to contact his credit card company and demand a charge-back.
Jaxon
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 409

Jaxon
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 409

this is unfortunately just
8/5/2015 at 10:39 AM

the world we live in. It seems there is always someone out there willing to take advantage of our hearts, our bodies and our trust. Sigh....
Dinah Mo Humm
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 235

Dinah Mo Humm
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 235

I agree...
8/5/2015 at 10:45 AM

...contact the credit card company and let them know that you didn't authorize that work.

Plus...contact the Dealer Principal.

If that doesn't get satisfaction, contact the head office for that brand (GM, Toyota..etc).

If that doesn't work, contact the media.

I just keep going higher until I get results.
Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

I have to be more vigilant
8/5/2015 at 10:51 AM

in spreading the word about them, verbally. I meet allot of people as I am in the construction business. Allot of trucks involved.

Once, my wife rescued a couple from them, she was in the parts department and over heard the conversation. She bought the vehicle from them as they were going to leave it there as the transmission was gone, so the dealership said. She gave them a ride to Wpg from Brandon, for their flight they were trying to get to. Paid them for the old van and they flew back to Germany where they live. They were on holidays here. Turns out there was nothing wrong with the van. My wife bought it for parts, turns out it was fine. Dealership told the couple it was not worth fixing. How can that be? They would have junked it or sold it at auction. At least the couple made their flight and got some money for the van.

It amazes me how this can happen. How are they still in business. I hear it everywhere, in any conversation with anyone regarding dealerships.
GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

Hmm...
8/5/2015 at 10:51 AM

Is there more to this story...?

As of July 2013 repair shops have certain rules they have to follow now. For example they must provide written estimates for any repairs over $100 and ensure the final charges are within 10% of the estimate. They also must obtain and record customers authorization for repairs before starting the work.

Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Office will enforce the rules. They can issue administrative penalties for non-compliance.

You can also read more about these new rules:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo/car_repair.html
Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

no more to the story
8/5/2015 at 10:55 AM

was taken in for a noise in the driveline. Found it to be the hanger bearing on driveshaft. Owner was called to authorize repairs, he did, asked about the oil change, dealership was told no, it was just done. They did the oil change anyway, from wheel bearings, rear pinion seals, and a host of other small items totalling $5000. No of this work, except for the hanger bearing was authorized by the owner. That is the whole story. I work with the vehicle owner, thats it. He is trying to rectify the issue, so far the dealer is protecting their own. I will let you know how it works out.
GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

Repair
8/5/2015 at 11:04 AM

Well if he authorized $5000 in repairs then not much he can do. He should of been provided with an itemized bill so he can verify that the work was done. If he did not authorize the oil change etc. then he can go get refunded for work he didn't authorize.
Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

he authorized the repair of the hanger bearing
8/5/2015 at 11:07 AM

thats not $5000 worth, no where near a $1000 even
GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

GuyRichards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 176

So...
8/5/2015 at 11:09 AM

So he received a written quote of $4500+ for replacing a hanger bearing??

If not then educate your 'friend' on the law and get him to go back to the dealership and tell them he will get the consumer protection agency involved. If they did in fact do something not ethical they will fix it, trust me, they do not want to get involved with those agencies.

You can also go talk with vehicle standards on 1st.

Edited by GuyR, 2015-08-05 11:14:19
foxtrot11
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2688

foxtrot11
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2688

On top
8/5/2015 at 11:26 AM

Of there being a law that a repair shop cannot do work without notice, no company in any service or retail industry is allowed by law to hold on to credit card numbers either.

Something else to look into when you contact the credit card company.
Jessica08
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 102

Jessica08
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 102

I
8/5/2015 at 11:38 AM

do believe there is a LAW in Manitoba that says any mechanic has to provide a written quote, then the person must agree to it and the final cost cannot exceed +10% of the original quote.
Here it is

http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo/car_repair.html

Missed the post that someone already advised of this.

Sounds like if he was not provided a written quote then he will be getting a credit and all the free work.

Edited by Jessica08, 2015-08-05 11:43:04
mackenzie5
Joined: This month
Posts: 420

mackenzie5
Joined: This month
Posts: 420

..
8/5/2015 at 12:01 PM

i suspect that their is another side to this story that we are not getting. most dealerships can be expensive but that is along way from fraudulent
Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Frankly
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14

Update
8/7/2015 at 10:03 AM

not that anyone seems to really care but I have an update.

My friend is being credited for the oil change, a couple hundred bucks, synthetic oil on a diesel engine. A different dealership of the same brand not in the city has had to redo some of the work that was done in Brandon because the boots came off some distance from Brandon. Brandon dealership is paying for all work done and they are crediting my friend for some of the work that was not approved by him, front end work mostly. So my friend will be out a couple thousand instead of $5000 so that is better but completely unacceptable by my standards. The original noise was the hanger bearing on the driveshaft of a long wheel based truck. My friend knew this and approved the work order, the dealership knew this, all other work was not approved.I doubt you would find a garage anywhere that would change more than $1000 to fix that.

Edited by admin, 2015-08-07 10:27:30. Reason: required edit
Dinah Mo Humm
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 235

Dinah Mo Humm
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 235

glad to hear it!
8/7/2015 at 10:05 AM

$2000 is better than $5000!