Having a car repaired, or even serviced, can be stressful because of the uncertainty about what might be wrong with it and what the costs might be.
Avoiding the pitfalls
To make it as stress free as possible, below we set out some advice provided by the AA on how to avoid some common issues encountered by consumers
Do
Get a firm quotation or written estimate (whenever practical) before authorising repairs – especially if these are substantial.
Bear in mind a garage can charge for work involved in preparing an estimate (unless agreed otherwise), if you withdraw your instructions.
Leave a telephone number with the garage with instructions to contact you for further authorisation if unexpected work becomes necessary.
Don't
Don’t stop payment of your cheque after it's issued for unsatisfactory work without taking legal advice.
Don’t remove your car from the garage (unless authorised) while payment is still outstanding
You may also find it useful to read the AA’s advice on their website about some of the common problems that consumers have when dealing with garages that are repairing or servicing their vehicle.
Where can I go for advice?
You can visit The Citizens Advice website page that cover repairs and servicing of cars. If you need further assistance, our partner organisation, The Citizens Advice Consumer Service, can provide you with advice on 0845 4040506.