I took my car in yesterday for service B. When i made the appointment they asked me if there is anything else they wanted me to look at. i told them about the EC light staying on they said they would look into. when i went to go pick my car up i find out they they charged me 150 extra for fixing the air conditioner. aren't they suppose to call me and ask me if they should fix it or not. is it possible to do something and get my money back. because i remember learning that they are suppose to ask you before if they should fix it or not.

 

yea, that's pretty crappy.

 

it depends on if you left your car in for early bird then there is a check box hat you are supposed to check to say notify the owner before installing anything over $25

however, if you dropped it in during normal business hours then it is job of the dealership to contact you to justify the expenditures..but not too much that I know for getting money back, unless you call the headquarters

but let me know what happens..

 

That's not even close to being the law out here. In California, State Law says there must be a written estimate for ALL repairs - that's section 9884.8 of the California Business and Professions Code. No increases in prices are allowed without consent. Period. That's Section 9884.9 of the California Business and Professions Code. The Code clearly reads

9884.9. (a) The automotive repair dealer shall give to the customer a written estimated price for labor and parts necessary for a specific job. No work shall be done and no charges shall accrue before authorization to proceed is obtained from the customer. No charge shall be made for work done or parts supplied in excess of the estimated price without the oral or written consent of the customer that shall be obtained at some time after it is determined that the estimated price is insufficient and before the work not estimated is done or the parts not estimated are supplied.

Now, I'll bet when you picked up the car you signed an agreement that says you were notified of the increase in price. You also signed that agreement BEFORE money changed hands. If so, you're screwed. The time to raise hell has passed. Don't sign anything you don't agree to. When I drop the car, there is a written estimate. That is the extent of our contract. Period. If the price goes up by one cent they'd better have received permission or they eat the costs.

In California, we have a state entity called the BAR - the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The BAR is a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs - the DCA. The DCA is a regulatory agency for the State of California. They hand out business licenses. If they decide a business shouldn't do business in California, that's it - the business closes their doors. As soon as I saw the increase I'd tell the service manager (not the service writter, but his boss) that I never agreed to ANYTHING beyond the original written estimate. If they threaten to hold the car, call the BAR from the service manager's office and tell them the problem. If they still won't budge, ask to see the dealership's general manager. Explain the problem to him/her. Write their name down and tell him that your going to pay the bill under protest and have have them personally served when you sue them in small claims court. Then call Mercedes Benz from the dealership at the 800 number and tell them exactly what the dealer pulled. All before paying anything.

 

what did the service statement say as to what was performed on your car for the $150?