Ric's Auto Repair Team

On December 27th, 2013 @ 3:50 pm I called and spoke to [redacted] for an estimate to change an alternator on a Montana van. I purchased an alternator from [redacted] for $306.00. [redacted] quoted me $247.00 [redacted] I asked [redacted] when the vehicle woud be done and he stated Monday December 30th or Tuesday December 31, 2013. [redacted] Vehicle was left in [redacted]'s yard on Sunday December 29th, 2013. I called [redacted] on Tuesday December 31st, 2013 @ 12:23pm and he told me they didn't touch the van and it would be done on Thursday (January 2, 2014). No calls were received [redacted] so I called [redacted] on Thursday January 9th, 2014 @ 4:47 pm to ask if the Montana van was done, he stated no, so I said "what, it was suppose to be done on Thursday January 2 and he says hang on [redacted] comes back on the line and says yes it is done but will not start, it needs a battery,, but he tells me it will not start as battery is dead. I tell [redacted] that is a new battery we just put in the van. [redacted] tells me the van cost over $600.00 [redacted]. [redacted] I say WHAT you quoted me $247.00 only to change the alternator and [redacted] says I would not quote a price. He goes on to say we called to get confirmation to fix the power steering hose that was broken .I told him nobody called I only wanted the alternator changed hoses were fine .[redacted]Desired SettlementI would like the business to honour the verbal agreement as I did not give consent for additional repairsBusiness Response [redacted] phoned our business and asked for an estimate to install a supplied alternator which she had already diagnosed herself & purchased. The book (Alldata) labour guide indicates that this job pays 2.7 labour hours. Our labour rate is $105/hour. Our company policy is to add 30% to the labour rate if the part is customer supplied to compensate for lost profit on parts, wrong parts supplied & incorrect diagnosis on the customers behalf. We have been using this estimation method for over 10 years. Using this formula [redacted] was quoted (283.50 X 30% + 19.95 shop supplies + 10% tax = $427.35). The vehicle was dropped off in minus 40 temperatures. It was dropped in the middle of our parking lot and we were unable to start it or work on it at those temperatures. A young lady stopped in the inquire about the status of the vehicle and we informed her of this at that time. Once the vehicle entered the shop there were pieces taken apart that were not required to be taken apart for that repair (taken apart seemingly by the customers husband). A power steering return line had to be repaired & the belt tensioner was siezed (regular wear/tear on the vehicle).The difference in price between what [redacted] was quoted and what actual invoice total is $186.16 which reflects the price of the power steering repair & the belt tensioner. [redacted]'s van still requires battery replacement but as we could not reach her, we did not replace the battery. The battery likely requires replacement because the alternator was not charging, thus draining the battery. [redacted] has made no attempt to pay this bill and we are still in possession of this vehicle.[redacted]