Quoted $2500 Ends up $3960!!!!!! What do i do

[scoupedy]

My engine rebuilder has called me saying that my engine is ready, he quoted me $2500 to do the job, he was suppose to call me and check for any extras needed he did this once saying that i needed a new flex plate which was suppose to be ~$150 now he has told me that the total is $3960 and that i added balancing after which is BS as i always wanted it balanced
what do i do about this guy? :jab:

[[dave]]

did he give you a quote in paper

[Mark351]

Fair trading, got a written quote as evidence?

[scoupedy]

He wouldn't give me a writen quote i have what i gave him (what i wanted done) the rest is verbal contract same as writen contract

[bob 351]

Mate I Would Tell Him To Bash It Where The Sun Don't Shine If You Hav'nt Given Him Any Money You Are Not Bound Buy A Contract Then Go And See Another Engine Builder And Get Another One Made At The Price You Want To Pay Sound's Like He's Word Or Hand Shake Aint Worth A Cracker

[scoupedy]

Yeah i would like to Bob its just that he has my matching number 351 with 4ma crank and a whole heap of parts that i supplied (why it was only $2500)
Between pamel beaters and mechanics ive just about had it will never do it again

[scoupedy]

what i gave him when he quoted $2500

Comp Ratio ~9.5 :1 high as possible using 95 octane and mild cam

Heads: 4v (3v) Valves fitted
Starlite inserts
Tuffride valves
Clean up
Parts supplied: Valve springs (crow)
Roller rockers (scorpion 1.73)

Parts Needed: Valves
Inserts
Collets Retainers

Block: Clean
Debur
Pressure Test
Balance
Hone/Bore
Clean up conrods
Machine crank (4ma)

Parts supplied Oil pump
Push rods
Cam (stage 1)
Cam Bearings
Lifters
Timing chain
Timing chain cover
Water pump
Welsh plug & cam plugs
Felpro gasket kit
Harmonic balancer
Petrol Pump
Hei Dizzy
780 holly
Engine bolt kit
Head bolt kit
Chrome sump

Parts needed Piston (hypereutectic)
Rings (moly)
Main bearings
Piston pins
Oil pump drive

[Falcon Coupe]

Has he given you a written breakdown of the costs ?

[scoupedy]

He says he has that (i have not been over to see yet) but he was suppose to check before racking up another $1300

[flappist]

Which state?

In sunny QLD if you have nothing in writing then it is your word against his and he has your engine.

It is a civil matter and you have little hope of winning.

The good news is the he cannot keep the engine as hostage but if you try to stiff him then YOU will be the one in court and liable for all costs.

Rules may be different in other states.

[dave289]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

My engine rebuilder has called me saying that my engine is ready, he quoted me $2500 to do the job, he was suppose to call me and check for any extras needed he did this once saying that i needed a new flex plate which was suppose to be ~$150 now he has told me that the total is $3960 and that i added balancing after which is BS as i always wanted it balanced
what do i do about this guy? :jab:

tell him you will give him the $2,500 +the$150 for the flex plate as this was the price you were originally quoted and if you knew it would cost that much you would not have gone ahead with it.and get your matching bloke out of there immediately.im not sure what this block is matching to but who nows what he might do with that.the fact you dont have a written quote makes it a lot harder on you so take note anybody else considering similiar type of work.you may need to go to a tribunal which is what happened to a mate of mine that was quoted in only a verbal agreement with a panel beater for a job on his car and later the panel betaer told him it was going to cost $3,500 instead of the original $2,000 he was quoted.

[bob 351]

MAYBE YOU NEED TO SEND THE BOY'S AROUND TO PURSAUDE HIM TO KEEP TO HIS WORD SORRY TO HEAR THAT HE HAS ALL YOUR BIT'S AND PIECES .THAT QUOTE SEEM'S TO BE WAY OVER THE TOP CONSIDERING WHAT YOU SUPPLIED AFTER ALL SOUND'S LIKE ALL HE HAS DONE IS ASSEMBLED THE MOTOR FOR YOU

[scoupedy]

The engine is matching number for a XB Coupe dave

He did some machining and supplied the pistons ,rings, main bearings, valves , valve seats, oil pump drive.
he says the extra is for the oil pump drive, balancing (both of which should have been included in original quote) a block off plate for the EGR on intake, new flex plate, ARP conrod bolts, ARP flex plate bolts and other odds and sodds

It is Sunny QLD home of the shonky dealers....as far as i know a verbale contract is as good just prooving it is F@cking hard

[S3SR]

just ask him what happened with checking with me about the price if its over what was quoted? ... it could just be that he's been flat out and forgot (i do sometimes)

if he seems hostile then you take it one level, "you were spose to contact me if the price went up...we had an agreement which is why i went ahead with the such and such" ..... then after that if you dont get at least in between the quoted and new price id be threatening with ACCC even further action as he broke a contract

sort it out with the guy first...ACCC and lawyers, etc take alot of your time and alot of stress....talk to the guy but be reasonable...

[MITCHAY]

A quote is only as good as what's written down on paper IMO. I would have demanded it in writing before proceeding forward with the work.

They could just as easily say that they quoted you correctly and you are trying to screw them.

I would take their word more as an estimate rather than a quote even if it has blown out by a massive amount.

Hope it all works out for you but I can't say it would be easy.

[Thunder Kiss]

I don't know - I had my 302 Windsor rebuilt a few years ago and I think your $3960 bill sounds fair for what he did.
Granted, he should have checked with you before going over $2500.
The other way to look at it is your car's value is appreciating so much at the moment (as are all Aussie muscle cars) it really doesn't matter. In the long run you're gaining a lot more than you're losing.

[cs123]

Odd, I imagine that a quote for an engine rebuild should be pretty easy to estimate, provided nothing out of the ordinary needed doing.

Probably the best bet is to get a breakdown of costs and check that the prices for parts a labour are appropriate.

You could suggest that any parts he has supplied should be at cost price as his quote was so far out.

I'd be stating to consider having another engine builder to a dismantle and check....

[kremmen]

get the breakdown then maybe meet him halfway.

[Kev_BLNXR8_Ute]

This sucks,
Been there done that.

Although your price has gone up it still sounds pretty good for the parts and the work done.
I would keep working him for the best price posible, Maybe even suggest 50/50.

Good luck......


Kev

[Paull]

Originally Posted by kremmen

get the breakdown then maybe meet him halfway.

Compromise and a bit of friendly discussion.

All the best and hope it works out for you.

[ILLaViTaR]

This happens many times and I'm pretty sure they cannot hold your property against your will.

My dad years ago put our antique clock into the jewelers to get fixed and they came back trying to charge an extra $60.

My dad instantly threatened them with legal action telling them he knew his rights and they instantly handed it back.

He quoted you $2500, you told him to ring if it surpasses that. It is common with a lot of mechanics (Most mechanics are scum and it's hard to find a good one) to do something like this. I'd ring up and find out your rights first then after you know what you can do go and pick your engine up. DO NOT TELL HIM OR THREATEN HIM, he could very possibly do something to the engine that will kill it in the long term. You want to get your engine, pay him the $2500 and let him know you're not paying $3900 all at the same time. If he threatens you tell him you know the law and he can try whatever he can.

Our situation was with a clock (expensive antique though) but an engine is a much higher costing item, although the principle should be the same.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

This happens many times and I'm pretty sure they cannot hold your property against your will.

What is the normal case is that when you sign over your goods for repair/replacement, you give the repairer a general or specific right of lien. Effectively what this means is that the repairer has a right of ownership on said goods to the value of the repair being effected.

More simply put, although th repairer does not own the item, they can legally sell the item to recoup monies owing.

There must be a signed acknowledgement of this though.

[DBourne]

just have a calm chat with him.

no point getting all worked up and running in there with ideas about ripping into him or saying you'll sue him etc.

just have a calm, rational chat about why the cost has gone up. as some have said, maybe meet half way between what you thought you were going to pay and what he wanted.

Don't forget this is your pride n joy, no point pis5in someone off over a grand and then end up with more damage on your hands.

[scoupedy]

Thanks guys for the advise...as some have said it is only another $1300 on top its just that he didn't get my approval first....his quote was the cheapest (that will learn me) and he is far from local if he had quoted this to begin with then i would have used someone else much closer

I have learnt my lesson but i will never rebuild another car

[Sam_Boss260]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

he is far from local if he had quoted this to begin with then i would have used someone else much closer

I have learnt my lesson but i will never rebuild another car

WHen you have your calm discussion with him, actually tell him this......

[dave351cid]

i had simillar experience with my first engine rebuilder.....didnt end happy.
he was never going to be cheap but was supposed to be very good. ended up costing about double the original quote and the engine was a total failure, lasted 600km..

another thing i would suggest is when you get your engine back , get a complete itemised account of every thing that was done to the motor including stuff like bore / bearing sizes , brand names of parts , etc.

[ebxr8240]

Pay him by cheque so he pays tax on it also..

[Falc'man]

Cheap work is not good and good work is not cheap.

Does he acknowledge he's quoted less than what he's asking?

[JPDyno]

Not a nice thing for him to do, i dont condone his actions, but from the sounds of it was your mistake of not getting a written quote that will be your downfall.

[Buddy 1]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

My engine rebuilder has called me saying that my engine is ready, he quoted me $2500 to do the job, he was suppose to call me and check for any extras needed he did this once saying that i needed a new flex plate which was suppose to be ~$150 now he has told me that the total is $3960 and that i added balancing after which is BS as i always wanted it balanced
what do i do about this guy? :jab:

Pay him what he quoted you plus the cost of the flex plate I guess.

I always get a written quote & it is that I will pay & no more unless the person calls me & informs me the job needs something extra along with an explanation why it does lol

I do not think is any excuse for this sort of thing no matter what anyone says as a quote is as good as your word which I regard highly when I give it.

Oh if he is holding your car & will not give it back till you pay him in full, simply write him a cheque for the entire amount & after you get home with your car cancel cheque & mail him another with the correct amount & let him chase you through the small claims court if he wishes lol