can my mechanic ask for a payment before the work is complet
by Guest » Thu Jun 17, 2010 08:34 pm
The mechanic called and said because the charges might be "a lot" he wants us to make a payment before the work is complete. Is that legal?
Total Comments: 10
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:13 pm Post Subject: insurance
(Just talking outloud here..)What would be the point of paying him when you don't know what has to be done yet? Did he give you an estimate? "might be alot?"..that would be a red flag for me. Your mechanic doesn't even know how much everything will be until the work is complete.
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:16 pm Post Subject:
Sure it's legal. Do you have to have agree to it? Nope. Can you go some place else? Yes. He can charge what he wants, when he wants.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:12 am Post Subject: insurance
I really didn't think the mechanic could ask for some kind of payment when he doesn't know how much the final bill would be. That just sounds fishy to me. When I had repairs done on my vehicles, my mechanic gave me an estimate (before any work was started) and I didn't pay him until the work was complete.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:13 am Post Subject:
That is the way most places work. It does not make asking for the money up front illegal. Personally, I'd not pay 100% up front.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:19 am Post Subject: insurance
I wouldn't pat all of it,'upfront' either...very true. I guess that's just me, however......would just put up a 'red flag' with me.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:06 am Post Subject:
The mechanic called and said because the charges might be "a lot" he wants us to make a payment before the work is complete. Is that legal?
Legal? probably...smart? NOPE...It's kind of a life rule..you NEVER pay for something until you receive it...he has all the leverage to get paid when he's done (he'll keep your car till the bill is paid)...I'd personally be a little worried about this shop. First they want paid in advance, and second they say it may cost "a lot"? :? So you may owe 50k when it's done...run friend run.
What 'type' of work are you having done on your car? Is this an insurance claim?
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:17 am Post Subject:
This is not an uncommon occurance. When I ran a repair shop, work outside of insurance, vehicle owners prepaid for parts or in the event of a large repair an amount was agreed upon before work has started. Holding the vehicle until the bill is paid is acceptable, but never a gaurantee. It's understandable that you may not agree with it, but you would understand the many reasons why if you have experiance managing a repair shop. As far as the mechanic saying it's going to be "a lot", that's not professional. He should be able to diagnos what the problems are and give you an estimate of the repair costs.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:13 pm Post Subject:
Only time I ever required any type of pre-payment on a job (when managing a shop) was on resto work...those jobs could last months, sometimes up to a year...and would only require the parts be paid for.
I just wouldn't no way, no how, leave a car, truck, bike or watch for repair with a guy that told me, he wanted me to pay up front cuz, it 'might' cost 'a lot'...nope...not this girl :wink:
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 03:26 pm Post Subject: insurance
Yea..doesn't make sense (to me, anyway). I think, if the mechanic was honest, he would wait until the work is completed, toask for payment. You just don't know how much the bill would be before the work is complete.
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:16 pm Post Subject: Payment up front for repairs, when job cost to car ratio up.
As the economy has slumped our shop had more and more cars "abandoned" with our shop after repairs. On cars where the repair is over one third the value and not an insurance repair we would require the payment in full up front.
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:13 pm Post Subject: insurance
(Just talking outloud here..)What would be the point of paying him when you don't know what has to be done yet? Did he give you an estimate? "might be alot?"..that would be a red flag for me. Your mechanic doesn't even know how much everything will be until the work is complete.
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:16 pm Post Subject:
Sure it's legal. Do you have to have agree to it? Nope. Can you go some place else? Yes. He can charge what he wants, when he wants.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:12 am Post Subject: insurance
I really didn't think the mechanic could ask for some kind of payment when he doesn't know how much the final bill would be. That just sounds fishy to me. When I had repairs done on my vehicles, my mechanic gave me an estimate (before any work was started) and I didn't pay him until the work was complete.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:13 am Post Subject:
That is the way most places work. It does not make asking for the money up front illegal. Personally, I'd not pay 100% up front.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 04:19 am Post Subject: insurance
I wouldn't pat all of it,'upfront' either...very true. I guess that's just me, however......would just put up a 'red flag' with me.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:06 am Post Subject:
The mechanic called and said because the charges might be "a lot" he wants us to make a payment before the work is complete. Is that legal?
Legal? probably...smart? NOPE...It's kind of a life rule..you NEVER pay for something until you receive it...he has all the leverage to get paid when he's done (he'll keep your car till the bill is paid)...I'd personally be a little worried about this shop. First they want paid in advance, and second they say it may cost "a lot"? :? So you may owe 50k when it's done...run friend run.What 'type' of work are you having done on your car? Is this an insurance claim?
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:17 am Post Subject:
This is not an uncommon occurance. When I ran a repair shop, work outside of insurance, vehicle owners prepaid for parts or in the event of a large repair an amount was agreed upon before work has started. Holding the vehicle until the bill is paid is acceptable, but never a gaurantee. It's understandable that you may not agree with it, but you would understand the many reasons why if you have experiance managing a repair shop. As far as the mechanic saying it's going to be "a lot", that's not professional. He should be able to diagnos what the problems are and give you an estimate of the repair costs.
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:13 pm Post Subject:
Only time I ever required any type of pre-payment on a job (when managing a shop) was on resto work...those jobs could last months, sometimes up to a year...and would only require the parts be paid for.
I just wouldn't no way, no how, leave a car, truck, bike or watch for repair with a guy that told me, he wanted me to pay up front cuz, it 'might' cost 'a lot'...nope...not this girl :wink:
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 03:26 pm Post Subject: insurance
Yea..doesn't make sense (to me, anyway). I think, if the mechanic was honest, he would wait until the work is completed, toask for payment. You just don't know how much the bill would be before the work is complete.
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:16 pm Post Subject: Payment up front for repairs, when job cost to car ratio up.
As the economy has slumped our shop had more and more cars "abandoned" with our shop after repairs. On cars where the repair is over one third the value and not an insurance repair we would require the payment in full up front.
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