Can A Auto shop charge you before work is complete?
Posted by admin on April 23, 2011An auto shop asked for my credit card before ordering a part and said they just needed it on file. In addition, they already had a card on file (a card issued by the shop) that had a limit of almost three times the cost of the part. The next day my account had been charged over $300 on my card. A charge I did not authorize and the repairs were not complete. In fact, the repairs were not complete until 3 days after my card was charged this amount. Can they do this and if not what are my options?
If the repairs are complete, there’s not much point in complaining. They will just cancel it and then charge it again (for the completed job).
If the card was charged (even though it was promised it won’t be) and you car is not being repaired, then you might have some recourse.
Good Luck…
P.S. Many shops are running a the thin edge of profit, so they might have been worried that job would not be paid.
If it is special ordered parts they can ask for a deposit.
References :
If the repairs are complete, there’s not much point in complaining. They will just cancel it and then charge it again (for the completed job).
If the card was charged (even though it was promised it won’t be) and you car is not being repaired, then you might have some recourse.
Good Luck…
P.S. Many shops are running a the thin edge of profit, so they might have been worried that job would not be paid.
References :
I suspect we are dealing here with a special order part that possibly can not be returned once ordered. It would be normal for a shop to ask for payment in advance in such cirumstance.
Of course you really should be asking the shop what is going on, not a bunch of strangers. Only the principals involved in this transaction have the intimate knowledge necessary to answer your question.
References :