I asked this shop for a printout of how much to fix my car after taxes, and of course..?

Question

and of course it took them longer then expected to do the job.
Now should they be allowed to charge me extra time for doing the job when they already told me that it would cost so much?

Answer 1

Did you get a written estimate? If not, you may have a hard time proving that they told you a lower price. If you did get the written estimate, I would hold them to it. Most mechanical and body shops have estimated times for certain repairs, and that is how insurance companies pay their claims. If it took them longer than the "book" time, that's their problem, not yours. Good Luck!

Answer 2

of course nothing. you were not given a firm price, but an estimate for repairs. labor charges are xalculated accordint to a standard induswtry rate/hour plus parts. look at the bill and determine what is different. it could be either or both, and may be higher or lower than the estimated figures. some repairs can be very accurate, while others can have large differences. it is the type job which determines how close the estimate is to the total charge. most repair shops can give you base price, even a set price for some types of work. while they can also give a range in which the repairs should fall, assuming nothing else is wrong.

Answer 3

If there are no complications, they should not charge you more than promised. But consider this: let's say they disassembled something, and found more damage. Or they ran into a corroded bolt that cannot be removed, and needs to be drilled out by a machine shop? Don't take me wrong - I'm on your side here, and you as a consumer are mostly helpless but is it any different with lawyers, doctors, etc.?!? That's why I always try to convince my customers that they should buy a vehicle that needs no repairs, and has the highest probability not to require repairs in the future.