Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Georgia
My 1999 Ford Taurus blew a hose and the coolant leaked out. I have since had it towed to a local repair shop. The owner called me in the morning and said a hose had to be replaced and the cost would be $118.63. Later in the day the owner called back and said the price had suddenly jumped to $403.00 because the hose was supposedly only available at the dealership. In other words, it would seem the owner did not even know the part that needed to be replaced, but gave me a price based on what she THOUGHT the part was. She said the shops in the area sent her the wrong part twice before they figured out what part was actually needed. The mechanic had already started working on the car based on the first cost quote. Since I was already given a price on repairs and ok'd the work on that price, can they change the price like that having not even known what part they were actually looking for?
2 Answers from Attorneys
You obviously left out a key detail. When you got the second call, did you approve it or not? If you did not either insist they stick with the original price, or told them to get it ready for you to move it to another shop, the answer to your question is yes.
Scott''s answer is incorrect, but the news gets worse.
Whhen you bring a car to a mechanic you give them a complete blank check to charge you anything they want and do anything they want UNLESS you do a writen repair order that puts specific limits and actually says they cannot do repairs without authorization.
Nexttime you'll know the correct way to do a car repair. As for this time, you owe them the $403.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
