Legal Question in Consumer Law in Utah

I am Being Charged For Unauthorized Car Repair!!

What can I do about this? I took a car in to a mechanic not knowing what was wrong. He said that it could be several things and when asked for an approximate price he said that he could not say how much it would cost. I informed him that I needed to know how much it was going to be so he said that he would ''run some tests'' and get back to m e. Two days later he called and said that he had replaced the fuel pump and the bill was $610. I was not prepared to pay that much and that is why I had needed the estimate before he did any work. He says he's sorry for the ''breakdown in communication'' and said that the options were to either 1) pay him in full before he will release the car; or 2) He will remove the part and charge labor costs and a 25% restocking fee for the part. I feel that I have been unjustly taken advantage of and that I should not have to pay for repairs on the car that were never discussed with m e. He claims that I said ''I need the car fixed'' before leaving and therefore he assumed that it was okay to fix what needed to be fixed. I contest that the understanding was that he was to find out what was wrong and would call first. There were no writtten agreements on this matter.


Asked on 9/03/03, 4:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alvin Lundgren Alvin R. Lundgren, L.C.

Re: I am Being Charged For Unauthorized Car Repair!!

Pay the amount so you can get your car, and then file a complaint in small claims court. Before court get some prices from other repair shops for the same work. Take those prices with you to small claims and ask for the difference between what you paid and the lowest bid.

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Answered on 9/03/03, 7:02 pm


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