Mike's RV aka Mike's Mobile RV Service Overcharged $972.65 on $700.00 quote Rogerville Tennessee
When we parked our motorhome in an RV park near Troutville, TN, the parking brake wouldn't hold. I noticed an RV service truck at another trailer so I approached the man in the truck. His name was Mike (I never got his last name) and asked if he would look at my brakes. When he finished the other job, he came by and checked it out. It turned out that the parking brake is on the driveshaft of a Workhorse chassis, and it was completely burned out. Mike said it would take several days and at least $2000 to replace it if the parts were even still available. He suggested an alternative of installing a valve to lock the regular brakes. I asked what that would cost, and he quoted $700.00. I gave a go-ahead based on that. He asked for a credit card to guarantee payment, wrote down the number, then looked over my motorhome to see exactly what he would need. It was late in the day, so he said he would be there first thing the next morning to do it.
He didn't show up until nearly 10:00. Soon after starting, he realized that the brake lines he brought were too short. He left to get longer lines, and it was nearly an hour before he returned. It took about two hours to cut into the rear brake line and install the valve, but one of the connections was leaking. He re-flared the tubing, but it still leaked. He said the flaring tool was faulty, and he left again to get a new flaring tool. 45 minutes later he returned, flared the tube again, but still it leaked. Finally he removed the brass union that he had installed and found that it was damaged. A new union finally fixed the problem. He packed up and left. I assumed he was charging $700.00 as he had quoted. When I got home and checked my Discover card statement, I found that he had charged $972.65, and he had charged that amount twice!
I filed a dispute with Discover Card. I felt that a modest overrun would be reasonable, say $800.00, and asked for a refund of $172.65. Discover put temporary refunds on my account, but Mike sent then an invoice showing the $972.65 total. I had never seen that invoice until Discover sent me a copy. I pointed out that there was no signature authorizing the charges, but Discover would not continue the dispute. Mike charged $397.25 for the valve, but it's available at several auto parts stores for about $300.00. The invoice includes $465.00 for labor. It seems he charged me for the time he had wasted due to the damaged union that he had installed. I feel that Mike owe's me at least $172.65.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Dan
Farmington,New Mexico,
Was the rebuttal from a lawyer?
#3Author of original report
Sat, August 03, 2013
The person who wrote the rebuttal was not Mike but sounds like an attorney who represents businesses that overcharge customers. A few points:
1. Mike knew exactly what he needed to do. Cut one brake line, and extend the lines up to the valve next to the driver.
2. From what Mike proposed, it was obvious that he had done it several times before. In fact, he said he had one on his truck.
3. The overcharge was NOT less than $200. It was $272.65 (a 39% overrun), but I had allowed for $100.00 (14%) overrun and claimed only $172.65.
4. The charges included $397.25 for the Mico 02-640-125 valve which sells for less than $310 at several auto parts stores (examples: $306.99 at O'Reilly Auto Parts or $300.30 at FindItParts).
5. He charged $60.00 for the service call (no argument there) but an additional $405.25 for labor. It appears that he charged me for the time he had wasted due to the damaged union that he had installed.
Tyg
Pahrump,Nevada,
Quote...
#3General Comment
Sat, August 03, 2013
It is unfortunate that you feel you have been overcharged. But the mechanic gave you a quote based on the job without first fully knowing everything they would have to do. This sometimes causes a extra amount to be put on the bill. Unless you requested a signed quote that would state you ONLY had to pay XXXX amount of money, you were leaving it up to fate as to the final price. Because sometimes jobs take more then what you were originally quoted. The mechanics only real mistake was that he didnt actually inform you if there were going to be any extra charges. Im sure had he explained there was going to be a XXXX amount difference, you would have happily paid it. It seems your more mad that the job cost extra then anything else.
It really looks like you got a honest mechanic. I know from my own experiences that the machines that they enter the information into can sometimes be glitchy. If it had a comunication issue during the data entry part then they would have had to re-enter the information twice. Thereby causing the double bill. Most CC companies notice this and only put one through.
You were charged a difference of under $200. If this mechanic was shady at all the bill would have been quite a bit more. As this was a job off site from a RV shop, meaning a moble mechanic, then it really looks like you got off easy. This could have been a lot more money. Count yourself lucky that you found someone to do the repairs right there.
And before you go on the "But he said" rant...let me be the first to say that he gave you a quote. This isnt a legally binding issue. He gave you a IDEA of the costs. The job itself can cost more as a quote doesnt factor in issues that tend to crop up DURING the repair. Like I said, you got lucky.