Did I get gouged or what?!?

[Kurtis]

So my clutch pedal decides to start screwing up. I sit in my car, go to press the pedal to start the car, and it slams to the floor with a loud bang. I'm very busy at the time, and I need to have my car, so I decide to have someone else fix it. So this is what they tell me: apparently its the "ratchet assembly" (I assume they meant the quadrant). They take the liberty to replace the bearings, shaft, and pretty much the entire pedal assembly while they're at it...a "very involved repair." So when all is said and done, it took them 9 HOURS to fix it. That's right, $800 IN LABOR. Where the **** did I go wrong???

Capitalism is a bitch.

-Kurtis

 

[iLkYsPoNy]

Yeah I'd say they pulled a fast one on you. Hopefully you didn't pay it yet because if you didn't sign off on that amount LEGALLY you have a foot to stand on. There's no way they should have taken the liberty to do things you didn't approve. Now if they told you what it needed and you told them yes assuming it would be less, than you're kinda screwwed because in that case, you should've asked the price if they didn't tell. $800 for 9 hours of labor? That's insane, I work at a dealership and our labor rate isn't even that high ( close though lol ).

 

[skunk21]

what was the conversation you had with them and the understanding you had about the repair? I'm not agreeing that wasn't a huge bill, but if that is what the book gets for the repair then it is was it is. If they had it in thier heads to go ahead and fix what was needed to be fixed to get the clutch pedal working that is what they where going to do. the nice thing to do once the job started to get invovled would be to call you and let you know what was up.

If they gave you an estimate(which I hope you got) to repair X at around $300 most laws allow the shop to go over by a small % to finish the repair(not sure the amount of the %)although they still need to try and contact you. If you got a written estimate and they went christmas shopping on you then you got something on them. If they gave you a reciept with a list of all the repairs you could have questioned it then and refused to pay, saying you did not authorize the extra repairs or any repairs until they called you with an estimated amount, but if you paid and left you are outta gas.

It sound's like they very well may have taken you, it sucks, but there are alot of places like this and I fell victom once myself. Like the saying goes expensive lesson learned..yeah I hated it when it was used on me . If it was lack of communication then it could fall on both parties or totally on yourself (not knowing most of what went on since it wasn't included in your post), again lesson learned.

If you can fight it I hope the best for you, If not get it in writting or tell them to look it over and call you before you authorize repairs( I always put that in writting and leave it with them).

 

[ShortThrow50]

aftermarket quadrant (better) 40 Bucks I think. Price of install do your self, zero bucks

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

dude that is like a $150.00 job with installation if i did it (quadrant and adjustable cable)

 

[Daggar]

CLICKY CLICKY!

 

[mustangjoe87]

CLICKY CLICKY!

lmao

 

[fastford91]

ouch!!! not only did you get gouged! you got bent over the fender and got the reach around! LOL id be going back and getting money back or something! i wouldn't let it slide that's for sure! tell him if he dont give back some of the money your gunna post his shop on the web with information not to go there anymore! its amazing what something you say like that will do to change a persons mind on something!

 

[skunk21]

I was just on my alldata account and you got really hosed. what you need to do is arm yourself with the labor hours for the repairs and demand tp pay only that and nothing more, or tell them your are going to the BBB or small claims court.

here is what i got but you could get this at any shop/ford or part store maybe. you can use this.

this is to replace the whole thing, pedal assembly and adjuster (not just the quadrant) and it's only 2.4hrs. the quad itself which you don't take out the pedal assembly maybe .5hrs. I also added the cable to show that you can put a whole new cable in the car in .8hrs. I mean really, go after these guys!!!!!

Clutch Pedal Assembly, Cable Adjuster
.
. Replace . C
. 0.0 hrs mfg warr
. 2.4 hrs std
Notes

Copyright © 2007 ALLDATA LLC



Clutch Cable
.
. Replace . B
. 0.5 hrs mfg warr
. 0.8 hrs std
Notes


Copyright © 2007 ALLDATA LLC

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

I hope you atleast asked for three fingers

 

[Kurtis]

I hope you atleast asked for three fingers

It doesnt matter, I got fisted.

Apparently they had to remove the whole pedal assembly, and replace the ratchet, shaft, and bearings. Basically I walked in and was handed the bill, upon which I thought to myself, "I have a feeling this isnt over." I guess this is a sign never to let anyone touch my car again.

So I guess it must've been some kind of screw up on their part. Gonna go talk to the hacks later today. Thanks for your awesome support

 

[2000xp8]

Did you get the old parts back? Don't call ahead to get them either, that will give them time to damage them.

That sounds like a max of 4 hours of work for a backyard mechanic, so a shop should of been able to bang that out in no time.

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

i could see how some would think that the pedal assy. needs to be removed to install the new quadrant but it doesn't you just need to be able to work standing on your head. some people just need their mechanics pass revoked

 

[2000xp8]

The 2 minutes that it takes, to take the seat out for quadrant work, is well worth it.

 

[Kurtis]

Well, went back today armed with some of the knowledge gained in this thread. Asked for the manager, got in his face, raised my voice a little, stated the obvious...the whole nine yards......they ended up cutting the bill in half.

I guess I'll take it. Considering that this includes parts and taxes in addition to the $hitload in labor, it makes the whole thing a little easy to swallow. I got the feeling that the guy kinda knew I was getting at least something cut off the bill when I started talking about the hours according to alldata and all that good **** (thanks greensvt21). Definitely a lesson learned.

 

[skunk21]

glad you atleast got something. lesson learned for the future .

 

[Daggar]

Yeah... Not as hard to swallow when the bill is cut in half.

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

Sweet man congrats, see never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups .......glad we could help I hate seeing that happen to people

 

[Bottomlesspit]

Wow, cut in half with little resistence is pretty darn good. Labor sure isn't cheap, so you know going in that if they are going to work on something it's going to cost. It's just so important for us to be armed with accurate info about the proper parts, time, costs , etc so we can keep a watchful eye out. That's where Stangnet shines through for everybody.
Congrats on making your case.
Ken

 

[talladam]

Thats a lot of bread. The GM dealer near me is charging 85 or 90 an hour. Ilikeponys, you probably heard of it. Dorr Chevrolet in Milan.