Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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A friend of mine's car broke down over the weekend, AA was called out and they told her that the alternator was knackered.
The car was towed to some garage (on the AA man's recommendation) and on Monday the garage in question were told to diagnose and quote on the job, and give her a call later to advise. The AA guy said to her at the time that if the price was unreasonable or whatever that they could tow the car back to her home.
Short version of the story - they did the work and charged her £167 + VAT for labour and a 'new' alternator as apparently a recon couldn't be sourced, they then later on said it was a recon not brand new as first said... 
Anyway, my question is - can they do this (i.e. do the work and charge for the parts and labour without prior authorisation first)?
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JamesSXI
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Registered: 18th Jan 13
Location: South Yorkshire
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I would guess not its abit out of order like
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
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So if the price was unreasonable the aa drop a broken car on her drive and I'd assume she would have to arrange to get it towed elsewhere?
The price seems fair to me, for what it's worth I'd pay it and just be happy the car is up and running again.
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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Yeah I think that was the plan apparently (to drop it back) - she's a fair distance from home at the moment.
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mattant
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Registered: 19th Jun 10
Location: South Yorkshire
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They shouldn't but it's happened to me before. My car failed the MOT so they decided to replace the parts and fix it without telling me.
I wasn't too bothered though as I would have had them do it anyway.
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SXi_Tim
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Registered: 11th Mar 03
Location: South Yorkshire Drives: RS3, LET B
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It does happen yes, especially none dealer garages. Sometimes it can be miscommunication or the garage trying to make a quick buck.
To be fair £167 for an alternator and fitting doesn't seem too bad, at least the job is done now.
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dragon2309
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Registered: 1st Mar 09
Location: Strood, Kent
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£200 inc VAT though, bit less palettable than £164. But still, it's not sky high.
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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The will have probably used a recon alternator - alternators are the kind of parts you get money back from when you give the old one back to the shop.
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
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I never do anything without an ok from customer or insurance.
http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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Generation
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Registered: 7th Jul 09
Location: Essex
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Already says they did
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Oh yah 
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Christopher
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Registered: 14th Oct 10
Location: Eastbourne
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When my head gasket went and i was all the way in newcastle (baring in mind i come from eastbourne) They came out, did the 45 minute check and then he said to me we can either tow it to the garage and get them to get a quote or tow you home! I chose home  I think they should have quoted you first but i think its not bad! If it was something like my head gasket and they had done it and left me with a bill of £600+ then that may have been a different story!
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Mattb
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Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
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they cannot carry out any work without your authorisation. its that simple.
my manager made that massive fuck up with that R8 engine i replaced - didnt get authorisation from the owner - he found out and refused to pay - he took the car with a nice new engine for nothing
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daymoon
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Aug 08
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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Simple answer is no.
What car is it? I would ring local motor factors and find out how much a re-con alternator was. Then offer that amount to garage or re-fit old one.
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LeeM
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Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
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No obligation to pay. If I was her I'd offer to pay what it's cost them for the alternator, including the part exchange they will have got for her old one. No labour.
Tell her to say a friend would have done it for her for the cost of a second hand alternator so they've cost her more money handheld would have otherwise had to pay.
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broster
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Dec 02
Location: Drives: E39
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I always had the customer confirm costs before carrying any work out.
How was it booked in? Any paperwork?
End of the day the way I see it is if you didn't ask for it then you don't pay for it.
Most of the time alternators will be on exchange. And that's not too bad a price for recon exhale alternator fitted.
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Chris
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Sep 99
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Lucky when my car got towed to a garge i was told a least a week till they could start the job.
But NO they should not have done the work, but if they give a refund they might go down the stoarge cost route as the car was taking space up.
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corsadonk
Premium Member
Registered: 4th Jul 09
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire
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I had this last week, I took my gearbox to a transmission place to get, a LSD fitted. I said a few times I only want the diff fitting, he yeah that is fine, I'll do it cheap as possible. Then he rang me back the day say he wanted £300 +vat to get it back in one piece. 
I told him to get stuffed, and I picked it up. Now I've be putting it back together I can see he didn't need to do half the stuff he did.
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
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She's not entered an agreement verbally or wrottern that she has accepted the quote or asked them to go ahead without a quote. As far as I would be conceded is that they have replaced parts on the car of their own back.
Question is...... Are you happy with the amount paid and the work done? If not tell them you want the car back as it stands or tell them to remove the parts they have replaced and don't pay anything.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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What car Sam?
An alternator, fitted, for £200 is decent, regardless of if its new or recon.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Incidentally, most motor factors only sell recon units as the new counterparts are prohibitively expensive for most people. Both the factors I've worked for have been he same, new units are normally only available if a recon one isn't.
Was it reconditioned or remanufactured?
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Archie
Organiser: Scotland
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Registered: 18th Dec 07
Location: South Ayrshire
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What car was it ?
Price doesnt seem too bad especially when you factor at least an hours labour dependant on the car.
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LeeM
Member
Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
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i'll bet the alternator cost them less than £100
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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That's how the motor trade works.
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mattant
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 10
Location: South Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Robin
That's how the motor trade works.
That's how any business works
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