The Effects of Auto Repair Rip Off: More than Just the Expense

Auto repair rip offs leave a bad taste in the mouth for many reasons, foremost of which is the ballooning cost that these demand from car owners. But, while the focus has always been on unnecessary and huge repair expenses, there are actually more to these illegal practices. Other than the money you spend for nothing, there are other crucial concerns. Check these out:

1. Safety

Shoddy automotive work can mean premature part damage, non-functioning components, and unexpected system failure—and all these can lead to accidents. If the rip off had been done on a repair involving a crucial system like the brakes or the steering assembly, you’ll never know what might happen while you’re driving on a busy highway.

2. Convenience

Poor repair would almost always result in the failure of the part or assembly involved, and this would just mean the need to return to the shop, or to another repair facility—wasting your time, effort, and energy. If you’re going on a long travel, the sudden breakdown of the parts would mean a lot of trouble for you.

3. Trauma and stress

Most individuals who have experienced an auto repair rip-off become traumatized after the incident, especially if there’s harassment or outright hostility involved. It’s no wonder many people view the auto repair industry with disfavor—because of these incidents. Some people even reach the point of dreading instances of going to auto repair shops, fearing that they’ll encounter an experience similar to a past one.

So you see, the effects of auto repair rip offs reach far and wide—these effects go beyond the money involved. And sad to say, the positive elements of the industry and the picture of honest mechanics are losing the limelight, replaced by those of the unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of unsuspecting car owners.

DIY Saturday: Some Add-ons to Consider to Protect Your Vehicle from Damage

They say prevention is better than cure, and that especially applies when it comes to your vehicle. Aside from regular maintenance, one way to arrest and prevent the occurrence of any problem is by getting parts that will protect your ride from any possible damage. Here, we outline some of the things that you can get to help you save on repair costs.

1. Floor Mats. These are simple mats (plastic or rubber) that you simply place on your floor area to protect that metal panel from dirt, water and mud from your shoes, as well as spills when you drive. The said elements can intensify wear and tear on the floor area, and you may just wake up one day with a rusted and corroded floor. Prevent this with floor mats.

2. Tonneau Covers. These are ideal for trucks, protective truck bed add-ons that will cover the bed and all the cargos that you place inside. The result? You don’t only get a neat look—you also protect the cargos and the truck bed from rainwater, snow, sunrays, and other elements that can cause damage.

3. Car Covers. Your car needs protection even when parked. In fact, it has to be protected even when it’s just inside your garage! And when it comes to stationary protection for your car, nothing beats a good car cover. Choose a breathable cover, an all-weather type if you park your vehicle outside the home, and one that’s custom-made to fit your vehicle well.

These vehicle add-ons are very simple, but they go a long way when it comes to offering protection to your vehicle. While your car is still in good shape and not yet damaged in any way, it’s a good idea to invest on any of these, and more, to keep your ride in tiptop condition for a long time.

Friday’s Advice: Voiding Your Auto Warranty

Last week, we’ve talked about checking recalls and TSBs as a means to save on auto repairs. There’s actually another means to save, if you’ll just pay attention to it: your auto warranty. There may be parts in your vehicle that are covered by specific warranties, so you don’t have to shell out big bucks when you replace them.

If your car is still covered by warranty and you want to be sure that you’ll get the most out of that warranty, it’s important that you take care not to commit actions that can result in voiding the warranty on your car and its parts. What are some of the actions that you have to watch out for?

Well, one is maintenance. When a part gets damaged and the manufacturer finds that it is poorly maintained, you may be denied a warranty claim. While your car is still under warranty, it’s very important that you follow the recommended maintenance to avoid problems should the need for warranty claim arises.

Another is the installation of aftermarket parts. It’s not advised that you mount upgrades to your vehicle while it’s under warranty. When any problem occurs and the carmaker finds any relationship between the upgrade and the problem, your warranty will end up void.

The use of your vehicle in extreme activities can also void its warranty (especially if your car is not designed for such rides). This is termed as misuse, and this can include the use of a vehicle in such activities as racing.

Finally, odometer tampering is one other common reason that can void an auto warranty.

If you want to know all the dos and don’ts when it comes to your vehicle, carefully read the contract as this will state all the requirements that you need to follow.

A Look at After Warranty Assistance

Most warranties cover three years, but do you know that the said rule can be bent a little when needed? About.com talked about what is so-called as a “secret warranty.”

What exactly is this kind of warranty, and how can it benefit you? Well, this is an after warranty assistance, a kind of “warranty after the warranty” – meaning, this is offered when the given warranty has already expired (but, only for a short time after warranty expiry). This kind of warranty, however, is only offered when you asked. And, it is only given according to the discretion of the manufacturer.

If you encounter any problem in your car a few days after its warranty has expired, you have another option aside from bringing your car to an auto repair shop and spending on car repair. You can try getting in touch with the manufacturer to ask for help on the repair of the part involved.

Most manufacturers will consider the idea of providing assistance as long as: (1) the customer is loyal to the company, and (2) the correct interval has been followed when it comes to the maintenance of the vehicle.

The first is important because it shows the manufacturer that you’re bringing them some profit, that you’re a contributing car owner, so to speak. And, they can get some more benefits when they help you. Meanwhile, the second is sort of like standard procedure. Of course, no shop would want to offer assistance if the mechanics know that you’re not taking good care of your vehicle.

The first thing to do to avail of this warranty is to just try. The manufacturer may not shoulder the whole bill, but there’s a great chance it will slash off a certain amount from what you have to pay for the repair.

A Tale of Auto Repair Scam

I came across this story online just recently, that of a man who has been sentenced to prison after being found to have scammed insurance companies. The style was typical, only he was not directly ripping off the customers and car owners who came to his shop—he was ripping off their insurance companies.

Robert Buckingham of the Robert Christopher Collision practiced the fraud from 2005-2006. Some of the things he did are as follow:

1. He exaggerated the damage of cars brought to his shop in order to get more money on insurance claims.

2. He claimed for payment on new parts despite the fact that he used old parts on the cars brought in for repair.

3. In a similar manner, he claimed for payment on replacement parts when in fact he just fixed the damaged parts on the cars of his customers.

4. He filed insurance claims for repairs that were not actually finished.

It was found that Buckingham committed the fraudulent act together with other employees working in the facility. Some of these employees have already admitted to the act and were given their respective sentence some years ago. The case includes five vehicles, and the insurance companies involved are New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, Travelers Auto Insurance, Selective Insurance, and Mercury Insurance. The defendant pleaded guilty to the fraudulent act.

As a result, he has been sentenced to three years in prison, and possible fine for civil insurance fraud. As of now, a complaint is also filed to ask for the forfeiture of the property utilized by the facility.

You see, auto repair rip offs and fraud can take on many forms, but they’re all the same any way you look at them. And, it’s a good thing that people are starting to take action about this situation.

A Look at the Usual Auto Repair Warranty

Warranty is one controversial issue in auto repair, and there are a lot of gray areas when it comes to this topic. What warranty are you entitled to when you have your vehicle repaired? How long is the said warranty in effect? What are the exceptions? And what are the processes involved when it comes to the processing of claims?

An auto repair warranty is a detail-filled document that requires careful paying of attention. This document varies from shop to shop, from case to case, so you can’t expect a previous repair warranty to be similar to the warranty that you’ll get on a present repair. As to the questions mentioned above, there’s no specific answer that applies to all situations.

So, given this fact, it is of utmost importance that you pay attention to the complete details in the warranty offered by an auto repair shop. There are certain details that you need to look into when checking out any warranty from a shop.

Aside from the usual details (such as the time covered by the warranty), you also have to look into the smaller but more important details like deductibles, if any. Other pertinent information that you need to check would be the shops that can perform warranty repair—this is important in case you need the repair while you’re in a different place. In the same manner, you have to know the procedures involved in making a warranty claim.

The process is crucial because it is sometimes the reason a claim is denied despite its validity. Every small detail in the claim procedure must be checked and followed to ensure that the claim will be approved and that approval will not be delayed.

And when you go for a repair, be sure that you get a copy of the warranty afterwards so that you won’t have troubles should problems arise.

DIY Saturday: Weird Automotive Smells and What They Mean

Diagnosis is usually the first step to solving any problem in your vehicle. And if you want to save on auto repair costs by doing a repair the DIY way, then you must learn techniques to doing diagnosis. As I have already mentioned in this blog, diagnosing a car problem means using all your senses to find the culprit behind that problem. And when it comes to your senses, one of the most important senses that you have to use would be your nose, your sense of smell.

Weird odors are among the most common culprits behind a problem, and there can be a variety of odors depending on the issue. Below, we look at the three common odors that you need to pay attention to:

1. Gasoline smell

Needless to say, this is a dangerous smell. And, the most common reason behind this is a leak of your car fuel. It could be a leak on the fuel lines, the fuel pump, or even on the fuel cap. This problem should be attended to at once. Otherwise, a fire could always result, and the worst this could lead to is an explosion, something you sure don’t want in your car.

2. Rotten egg smell

This is a common smell that indicates a problem with the catalytic converter or the exhaust assembly. This means that you’re having an emissions trouble, and your car’s exhaust components need replacing or fixing. Attend to this at once before the problem gets more serious.

3. Burning smell

This could mean a problem in your car’s electrical system—a burnt out fuse or switch, or a shorted component. Like all the problems mentioned above, this also demands attention and must not be neglected.

If you notice any of the smells discussed, be sure that you do the necessary diagnosis to find the problem, address it, and prevent further troubles.

Friday’s Advice: Finding Areas to Reduce Expenses on Car Repair (A Review)

Who wants to reduce their expenses on car repairs? For sure, everybody does. But, who’s making a way to get that reduction? Chances are, not all do. Or, not all are aware that they can.

I’ve already talked a lot about auto repairs, rip-offs, avoidance, and ways to save on repairs. In this post, I just want to sum up all that I’ve mentioned before to give concrete examples of ways to save on auto repairs.

1. Recall and TSB

These I have mentioned in my last few posts. By being aware of recalls issued on your car, you can save on repair costs. On the other hand, being aware of issued TSBs can save you on unnecessary expenses due to wrong diagnosis and incorrect repairs.

2. Replacement parts

By being resourceful, you can find ways to save on the part that you mount as a replacement. Although some shops will not allow you to buy your replacement on other sources, there are shops that allow this set up, and this is a great way to save on repair costs.

3. Labor

When it comes to labor cost, there is a so-called flat rate or a book rate, which means the shop bills according to the manufacturer-indicated amount of time for the specific repair, regardless how long the actual repair takes. Meanwhile, a straight hour rate is a rate based on the actual amount of time consumed to do the repair.

4. Work done

To reiterate, you can save a lot on auto repairs by being a DIYer. By familiarizing yourself with the automotive basics, you will not be totally dependent on auto repair shops when it comes to problems, so you won’t have to shell out cash every once in a while.

With all these means, it would be easy to save more on auto repairs.

Differentiating Between a Recall and a Technical Service Bulletin

During the last two days this week, we’ve been talking about recalls and technical bulletins as things that all drivers need to know when bringing their car to a shop, and a means to reduce repair expenses. Recalls and TSBs, however, are two different things.

RECALL:

This is issued by a manufacturer either voluntarily or due to a demand from the NHTSA. The latter is usually issued when the problem is deemed to affect the safety of the car occupants while the former is issued as determined by the manufacturer. When a recall is made, you would have to bring your car to the dealer to have it repaired.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN:

TSBs are similar to recalls for the reason that they are also issued by manufacturers and they also concern problems reported by consumers. Only, this bulletin is drawn primarily as a guide to dealerships and auto mechanics in performing common repairs—contrary to recalls, whose main aim is to ask owners to bring their car to the dealership for a fix to the problem. TSBs only serve as guides to make diagnosis of problems easy, especially problems that are a headache to diagnose.

COST DIFFERENCE:

The biggest difference (and the most relevant) between the two is in terms of cost. Whereas a recall automatically means the repair to be done is free of charge (or reimbursable), this is not always the case with a TSB. If your car is still under warranty, then the repair cost is free. But, in case it’s already out of warranty, then you’d have to pay for the repair. The only benefit you’ll get here (aside from avoiding more serious problems and accidents because you’re informed), is that you won’t have to deal with too long a diagnosis because you and the mechanic will know what to do at once.

What to Do When You Had an Auto Repair and Found a Recall Notice Later On

This is a common issue: you bring your car to an auto repair shop to have a problem fixed, you pay for the repair, and then later on discovered that there has been a recall of the part that you had fixed. So what do you do now?

WHAT TO DO:

Well, the first thing to do in this case is to prepare to file for a reimbursement. Among the most important things that you’ll need during the filing process are the documents that show proof of the repair done on your car. You must also show proof that the repair performed on your vehicle solved the problem for the reimbursement to be approved. You can find forms online or in the website of the manufacturer of your car. You just have to fill up the forms, send to the concerned individuals, and then wait for notice of action.

WHICH CAN BE REIMBURSED:

There’s been this belief that manufacturers will only reimburse payment for repair when the repair was done in the dealership, but you can actually be reimbursed even if you brought your car to a third party auto repair shop as long as you had proper documentation. In fact, some are reimbursed even if they do the job themselves—just that the reimbursement is only for the part mounted and not for the labor.

You can also claim for a reimbursement when you had the vehicle repaired after a notice had been released, if you haven’t received the notice yet or if it’s an emergency situation or were not aware that the problem was related to the recall done. Just call the manufacturer and negotiate.

SOME CONDITIONS:

If there’s one condition here, it’s that your car has to be 10 years old or below based on the date of purchase. Older than 10 years old and you your car is already excluded from the recall.

A Look at Recalls, and How They Can Benefit You during Auto Repairs

Auto repairs are becoming more and more expensive at present. And when you add in the cost of replacement parts, it’s no wonder many car owners dread going to auto repair shops these days. You should know, however, that there are certain areas in auto repairs in which you could save. All you really have to do is to be resourceful.

One way to save on car repair is to check out for TSBs or recalls made on your car make and model—some of these might be related to the problem you’re having, the reason you’re bringing your car to an auto repair shop. And if this is the case, then you won’t have to spend on the repair.

The repair related to the recall is done for free. Notices of recalls are actually sent to car owners. But, in case you haven’t received any, it pays to still check.

Auto repair shops are tasked to check whether the problem you’re having in your car is related to a recall or TSB. It should be listed in the repair order as a recommended repair. However, not all mechanics may do this. Some will charge you for a repair even though it’s part of a recall.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to do the checking yourself. This way, you avoid chances of being charged by a shop on a repair that you could have availed for free. You can check online for notices of recalls and TSBs. You can visit the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a list.

In the next posts, we’ll try to take a closer look at recalls and technical service bulletins and differentiate the two. We’ll also find some answers to possible problems that might arise in relation to this issue.

DIY Saturday: How to Use a Dipstick

You can compare the benefit of oil to your engine to the benefit of air to human beings. And much as we need to breathe in air so that we can survive daily, the engine needs oil so that it can work properly. One important part of car maintenance is the regular checking of the oil level in your engine, and this is a simple enough task that you can do anytime. How? Through a dipstick.

REMINDER: Be sure that your car is parked on a flat surface before you do the job to ensure that the level is accurate.

1. Locate the dipstick, which is under the hood of your vehicle. This is a long metal stick inserted in the engine. Depending on your vehicle, it may be bright in color or it may have the word “oil” on it.

2. Pull out the dipstick (it has a loop that you can hold) and wipe it off with a rag until the oil in it is removed.

3. To measure, re-insert it inside the engine (as far as you can) and then take it out.

4. Hold it horizontally to inspect the oil marking. You’ll see near the tip of the stick that it has two lines with crisscross marks between. The oil level should be within these lines. When it falls below, that means you need to load up.

5. Do the refill slowly, and be careful not to overfill – better fill less and just add more later than fill more and remove some. In between refills, check the level again and again until the measurement falls within the correct limit.

6. Once done, replace the stick on the engine and tighten the cap to avoid oil spills.

With the process done regularly, you can be sure your engine will always work in tiptop condition.

Friday’s Advice: A Look at Mechanic Etiquette

Just like your family physician, your favorite hair stylist, or your trusted financial mentor, a mechanic can be a great partner in your daily activities, especially concerning the welfare of your car. But, in the same way that you observe proper manner when dealing with the said personalities, there also exists such thing as mechanic etiquette.

A good relationship with any mechanic is one that is built over the years, so don’t expect instant success. Among the things that you need to observe when dealing with your mechanic are the small courtesies and forms of kindness. So which is okay, which is not, and which is fine both ways? Take a look at three of these below:

1. Asking a mechanic to install a part that you get from another source. So you bring your car to an auto repair shop, and the mechanic diagnoses a problem. Instead of getting the needed part from the shop, however, you get it from another source that is cheaper, and bring it to the mechanic to be installed. Well, in reality this can be done and most mechanics would agree. Only, don’t expect warranty on the part installed.

2. Asking a mechanic for second opinion. I’ve mentioned this in one of my posts before. In case you brought your car to another mechanic and then realize later on that you need the opinion of your previous tech, you can ask for that. But, if at all possible, don’t tell that it’s a second opinion.

3. Tipping a mechanic for work done. This isn’t necessary nowadays, although you can do it if you’re that thankful to your mechanic for a job done. Over the years, when you already develop a good relationship with your mechanic, there are many ways to pay your mechanic—invite him on social gatherings, out for coffee, and many others.

Some Small Things to Remember When Visiting an Auto Repair Shop

Since the beginning of this blog, we’ve been talking about auto repair rip-offs and unscrupulous practices by some automotive mechanics. Other than avoiding rip-offs, however, I figured it’s also a good idea to talk about improving our overall auto repair shop experience, not only in terms of the financial side of the matter but as well as the overall ordeal.

The overall shop experience of car owners is defined not only by the major and obvious things, but as well as by the small stuff during your shop visit. And to ensure that you’ll have a good auto repair shop experience, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Three of these are as follow:

1. Set an appointment before you go to the shop. Similar to many other types of appointment, visiting a shop entails that you call first and check availability of mechanics during the schedule that you prefer. After all, there’s nothing more annoying than driving to the shop and wasting your fuel only to find out that no one in the shop is available to work on your car.

2. Shops can’t solve all your automotive dilemmas. Sure, most shops can handle general repairs and simple automotive and installation jobs, but there are jobs that require specialization and may need shops specializing in the said task. There are only a few shops that can handle everything, so it pays to shop around before bringing your car to a particular repair facility.

3. Don’t expect the worst. You may encounter shop mechanics who will make the real problem seem a little bit more serious, for the sake of urgency and upselling. But don’t give in to these. Investigate and inquire until you see the real scenario.

By keeping all these things in mind, you can expect comfort and peace of mind during your shop visits.

Some Hard Facts You Need to Swallow When You Bring Your Car to a Shop

Auto repair rip-offs are becoming more common these days in the auto repair industry. Other than this, repair rates are also getting higher. There are things, however, which you may find hard to accept but are actually acceptable trends that have developed in the said industry over the years. There are also certain truths about rip-offs that may sting, but are worth considering. Take a look at these:

1. When you bring your car to a shop for repair, you don’t actually pay just for the repair. In reality, the total amount that you pay does not cover the labor and parts alone. For one, there’s tax. Added to this, the fact is that a portion of your payment is also for shop tools, another portion is for the operating maintenance of the shop, and so on and so forth.

2. When you pay for a certain task, you don’t pay for the actual number of hours consumed to do the work; you pay for the projected number of hours for that work. This is the case with many shops. For every kind of task, the car manufacturer estimates the number of hours needed to accomplish the said task. And, it is in that on which many mechanics rely. For instance, if the manufacturer of your car says that replacing its alternator can be done for a couple of hours, the mechanic will charge labor for two hours, even if he was able to finish the task in less than that amount of time.

3. If you’ve been ripped off, you’re part of the blame. This may sound cruel, but in most cases this is true—you have a teeny tiny bit of percentage of blame for what happened. In the first place, you should know enough to watch out for things like rip-offs. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle. And you must shop for a trusted shop. But whatever your mistake here, you can rectify by complaining about the shop who did the rip off. That’s the first step.

The Right to Complain

Sure, many mechanics are dishonest. Many shops are out to rip you off. And many car owners have been victims of these mechanics and shops. There’s just one question that you have to ask, though: what is being done about this? Well, there are institutions that help victims deal with problems with auto repair shops.

You have to understand, though, that everything should come from the end of the car owner. The mentioned institutions won’t be able to do anything if the car owners will not cooperate and take the lead. The first thing to do about this is to merely learn to complain and to fight for one’s rights. Complaining is actually the key.

This is where the difference lies. In actuality, there are a lot of auto repair rip offs happening today. But, not all of these rip-offs are known to us. Why? Because not all of these are reported. Because not all individuals complain. Because not all car owners resolve to fight for their rights even if they find out they’ve been ripped off. And as long as the situation remains like this, nothing will happen; the practice will continue.

So, as a car owner and as a customer, you must recognize your right to complain whenever you become unsatisfied with the service that you have received. I have already talked about the proper way to complain in one of my previous posts, and that can serve as your guide so that you’ll get desirable results. Remember that by complaining, you do not only get justice; you also bring to light circumstances like this and you help other victims get justice for themselves.

So speak up and assert your right. This is not only a benefit that you can enjoy but also a responsibility on your part.