How to avoid the rip-off mechanics

If you own a car that is out of warranty - perhaps you bought an older model to save on car insurance bills - then servicing and repairs are your responsibility. Garage bills can be expensive, so it is crucial to make sure you're not paying more than you have to. Here's how to ensure you find a reputable mechanic that will fix your vehicle at a reasonable price.

Can you choose your mechanic?

The first thing to note is that the choice of where to have your car repaired is not always open to you. If you are claiming for repairs on your motor insurance policy, in most cases you will have to take your car to a garage specified by your provider.

This may be less convenient than using your nearest mechanic - and it could take longer for repairs to be made - but it is probably a condition of your policy.

In some cases, your insurer will provide a courtesy car to tide you over until your own vehicle is road-worthy again: but not all policies do this, so always check when you are shopping around for new cover.

Finding a garage

Recognising that drivers were becoming increasingly worried about falling victim to rip-off mechanics, the motor industry set up its own scheme to help consumers find a reputable garage, and to deal with any problems that arise.

The Motor Codes scheme has a website that helps motorists find affiliated garages in their area.

A survey by the body earlier this year found that 14 million people felt let down by their local garages.

To join the scheme, mechanics have to pay £75 and must then agree to abide by the rules of the Service and Repair Code and provide:

· Honest and fair services
· Open and transparent pricing
· Work completed as agreed
· Invoices that match quoted prices
· Competent and conscientious staff.

Garages must check with customers before starting any extra work that is deemed necessary; and there has to be a clear complaint procedure in place as well.

Your rights

According to Trading Standards, services and repairs are covered under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002. Under these laws you are entitled to expect that the work be carried out with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time at a reasonable charge. If a part is replaced, the new part should be of satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose and as described.

If you're not happy with the work

Trading Standards says that you should give a garage the chance to rectify any faults - but if they fail to do so, you are entitled to get the work done elsewhere and bill the first garage.

Bear in mind also that if you pay by credit card for any work costing £100 or more, you are covered for any disputes under the Consumer Credit Act, and will be able to recover losses from your card provider.

Some garages may charge an extra fee for paying by credit card - but this could be worthwhile given the added protection it offers.

If you have chosen a garage which is a part of a trade body, there should be a clear complaints procedure for you to follow, without having to resort straight away to expensive and time-consuming legal action.

Members of the Motor Codes scheme, for example, offer customers several levels of dispute resolution: any matters not resolved by the firm's own customer services can be taken to the Code's Customer Advice Line, and from there to a Conciliation Service and finally an Arbitration Service.

These bodies may not be legally binding, but any garage that refuses to comply with their findings risks being kicked out of the Code, and is likely to lose business as a result.

About the Author

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Author (bythesea). Submitted on Sun, 5 Sep 2010 Time: 7:55 PM

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