SmartMoney Provides Five Tips to Beat Car Repair Scams

People taking their cars in for repairs are at the mercy of a little word called "trust." The automobile service industry is one of the most lucrative in the world. But many often wonder whether their mechanics are truly on the up-and-up. Finding a trustworthy mechanic has proven to be somewhat of a headache for many Americans. So, SmartMoney has decided to provide five various auto-mechanic "scams", and the "sneaky" ways that consumers can avoid being the target of dishonest automobile repair companies.

SCAM #1: "TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE"

The scam goes something like this: A customer goes into the repair shop to have one thing repaired. The mechanic locates something else which needs repair. The customer agrees, but then realizes that he/she was charged for double dismantling---in other words, for taking the car apart twice, when in actuality it was performed only once.

Julie Sussman, author of "Dare to Repair Your Car" indicates that consumers in this predicament should ask about any additional labor costs prior to letting mechanics repair more parts. Once the work is completed, the bill should be thoroughly reviewed to make sure only "one" labor charge is billed.

SCAM #2: "STALLING FOR REPAIRS"

Another ruse that mechanics have is in "guessing" what your car problems are. In reality, the mechanic is acutely aware of the problem, but will keep tinkering with the parts in an attempt to fool the consumer into believing that he cannot figure out what is wrong. In turn, the customer is more apt to return for additional work. The mechanic in effect, is stalling for time so that more repair charges are justified.

The way to get around this, according to Anthony Giorgianni, with Consumer Reports, is to simply ask the mechanic to refund any monies paid in relation to the first "error" in diagnosis. Asking for a discount on future repairs is also another solid option. In essence, he states that when customers continue to pay for "guessing", they are actually paying for a problem which did not exist. Giorgianni also advises that persistent returns to a mechanic warrant the procurement of new auto-service personnel.

SCAM #3: "STUPID CUSTOMER PLOYS"

Perhaps the most frustrating thing that auto-mechanics do is capitalize off of their customers' sheer lack of basic knowledge about their own vehicles. An Edmunds.com representative notes that this ruse can be as simple as dipping the oil dipstick only so far into the tank so that it appears to be low on oil. But bigger tricks can be played on customers, like simulating major engine trouble with the manipulation of one mere spark plug.

The easiest thing to do to beat the mechanics at their own game, is to understand the basic make-up of your automobile. Make sure that you know how to check your own oil; learning how to change it is even better.

SCAM #4: "PRETTY FIXES"

This ruse involves making the replaced parts in a car appear that they are new, or refurbished. Per Jack Nerad, editorial director of Kelley Blue Book, these parts are typically very easily removed. At times, mechanics will even advise their customers that parts were replaced with refurbished ones---all the while replacing nothing at all.

A good way to get around this is to secretly "mark" the old part in the vehicle, and then check the "new" part which was the supposed replacement. After the work is done, ask the mechanic for the old parts. You might also ask the shop for its purchase replacement order. These are all legitimate things that consumers have a right to do. Many simply take this kind of investigative work for granted.

SCAM #5: "EXTRA PADDED REPAIRS"

Often, automobile service professionals will advise consumers to accelerate certain standard services. The problem is that many times, the services are not necessary until much later on. Karl Brauer (editor in chief at Edmunds.com) says that consumers should consult their manufacturers' guide for scheduled maintenance.

In general, it's best to be extremely specific about the work you need done, and how often. If not, there are dozens of different ways mechanics can take advantage of the unsuspecting consumer.