Ok a friend of mine has a small truck a 90s model small truck. sorry do not know the model or make. anyhow took it to the shop and they said it was the fuel pump and it would cost 600 to fix. we'll I told her she should have shopped around . They pick it up today and the bill was over 900.00 they charged over 350.00 in labor. shouldnet this cost been disclosed before they started working on it? I know she got screwed but what if anything can someone do about it?
paul h2008-03-21T16:59:36Z
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Most states have laws that prevent a shop for charging anything that is not authorized in writing by the customer before hand. If authorization was given over the phone, it must be documented by the shop as such with date, time, person, etc... Check the pricing for the job with other shops and see if it's within reason..the shop should have let your friend know beforehand and some customers will just fight the bill with a lawsuit. Any shop that does work without letting the customer know up front should be avoided and taken to court if possible....bad tactics should not be rewarded. Call your state's Attorney General's office and file a report....or the BBB if they are a member.
If the truck was a 90's 4WD Chevy S10 style truck, the fuel pumps ARE about 500 to 600 dollars and the labor to change them would be roughly 350. I did one a few years back and they are very labor intensive. The dealer was the only on who had the pump and we had no choice to pay what they wanted. Maybe she heard 600 for just the pump. I am not sure of the rest of the story. They may be shady or whatever......if so the better business bureau will have info about them. If they have a less than desirable rating, then I would bring it up to them that you are unhappy with their service.
I am not exactly sure what to apropriate cost should be for that job. What I recomend is that your friend get a few quotes for the same job. If the quotes are simular or lower to the 600 dollar quote I would take them back to the shop and say this is what you should charge for this job. If you don't refund me the diffrance I will take you to small claims court.
Most fuel pumps for a truck that year will cost around 200.00 labor should not been over 200.00 to 250.00. I am a mechanic for over 28 years and I can say she got the shaft. Call better business bureau and see what they can do.