Audrey's Auto Repair

I dropped off my car for a complimentary estimate at Audrey's Auto Repair and they called me to tell me they were going to keep looking at it. They did not tell me they were going to do a diagnostic. When I talked to them about an estimate they said it would be approximately $2000 to $3000 to fix. I said it's too expensive I can't afford to get it fixed and I will just pick up my car. She said I owe them $100 for the diagnostic I said but I didn't ask for a diagnostic, I just got one at [redacted] why would I want another one I just wanted an estimate for the work that needs to be done. She then said my dad who initially called never told her about the diagnostic at [redacted] and all she knew is what I told her over the phone. I talked to my dad he said he told them it already had a diagnostic. [redacted]. I told her I only took it there for the free estimate she said no one does anything for free and that they looked at the car for 3 hours and she's giving me a deal. I didn't agree to a diagnostic and that's what she's charging me for. I can't pick up my vehicle unless I pay the $100 plus taxDesired SettlementI am willing to pay $50 if I have to, but I only took it their for a free estimate not a diagnostic. [redacted]Business Response [redacted] phoned and made an appointment for a 2008 [redacted] for December 3, 2014. I asked him what was wrong with the vehicle and he stated that it stalls when turning corners and the engine light is on and that it was somewhere else and they just did an engine flush but it is still doing the same thing and he would like us to find out what is wrong with the vehicle. On December 3 around noon, [redacted] called me and said we had her 2008 [redacted] and wanted to know if we found out what was wrong with it yet. I advised her we were still working on it and I would call her back. I called her back to tell her there is a failure in the variable valve timing and in order to tell her exactly what is wrong we would need to start dismantling the engine and she should be prepared at that time that the timing may need to be replaced and it may cost between 2 to 3 thousand dollars depending what parts need to be replaced. She said she couldn't afford it and she wanted to pick up the vehicle. I told her, her bill was $115.50 including tax and she became upset. When she came in to pickup the vehicle, she said she already had it diagnosed at [redacted] so she wasn't paying for us to diagnose it again. When I asked her what [redacted] told her the problem was and what there estimate was to fix it she couldn't tell me. [redacted] also said when her dad ([redacted]) booked in the vehicle he told me it was already diagnosed at [redacted] and that he just wanted a free estimate. [redacted] was not present when [redacted] came to pick up the vehicle so I suggested that we phone him and get to the bottom of what was expected when the vehicle was dropped off as he was the one I originally talked to and he made the appointment. I phoned [redacted] and had him on speaker phone and asked him what he his intention was when he made the appointment and he said he wanted us to find the problem because it has been to [redacted] twice and they have done engine flushes but don't know what the problem is and his daughter is getting frustrated with them. I asked him it he knew he would be charged for us to diagnose the vehicle and he stated he assumed he would be. [redacted]. She finally agreed to pay her bill but expressed how unhappy she was. In closing, [redacted] and myself made arrangements to diagnose the vehicle with the understanding there would be a fee for doing this work and I'm sorry if [redacted] felt she was treated unfairly but maybe next time she should make her own appointments and get a full understanding of what will be done and how much it will cost. The invoice was actually made to [redacted] so if he has a problem with the invoice, maybe he should be the one complaining, not [redacted]. I have talked to [redacted] several time and every time he has confirmed our arrangement. We actually spent 2 hours diagnosing the vehicle and only charged for 1 hour. I believe this to be fair. Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)On November 10, 2014, I took my 2008 [redacted] to the service department at [redacted] in Saskatoon so they can find out why my vehicle keeps stalling. The results of that service included a diagnostic.My Dad, [redacted] scheduled an appointment with Audrey's Auto Repair for December 3, 2014 to get an estimate on the cost to repair my vehicle. He told me spoke to the lady on phone and they were going to do a complimentary estimate. On the evening of December 2, 2014 I dropped my vehicle off at Audrey's Auto Repair and left the keys in their drop box because the auto shop was already closed. On December 3, 2014 at approximately 9 a.m., I called Audrey's Auto Repair and the lady told me they would call me after looking at it. They did not call me back so I phoned them again at approximately 1:00 p.m. to ask for an update. The lady told me they were going to keep looking at it and she said it appeared the engine was mis-firing and they could not see what the problem was. It was at this time that I explained when I make sharp turns my vehicle stalls. At the end of the business day on December 3, 2014, I received a call from a lady and she said they would need to look in the engine and to be prepared to spend $2,000 - $3,000. She said if I want I can think about it and pick up my car for the time being but it would cost me $100 plus taxes to get it out. I asked her why it would cost me $100 because all I agreed to was a free estimate. She said because they did a diagnostic on my vehicle. I told the lady that it did not make sense for them to do a diagnostic because [redacted] already did one in November 2014. I told her the only reason I took it to their auto shop is to find out what they would charge to fix it. [redacted]. [redacted] When I went to pick up my car on December 5, 2014, I asked both Co-Owners, [redacted] and [redacted] what I was being charged for and they said for diagnosing the check engine light being on and stalling when turning corners. I asked her even though when my Dad called you he told you it already had a diagnostic at [redacted] in November 2014. Furthermore, I did not ask them to do a diagnostic. They said they received verbal agreement from my Dad. Well, my Dad is not the registered owner of my vehicle. I had no choice but to pay the $100 plus taxes otherwise [redacted] told me they would not release my vehicle to me. [redacted]