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According to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, there are over 25,000 consumer complaints filed concerning fraudulent auto repair every year. Car owners lose an estimated $20 million annually on unnecessary car repairs. And while most shops are, in fact, honest, it’s easy to see how dishonest mechanics can take advantage of customers: most people know little or nothing about car repair. But to avoid falling victim to auto repair rip-offs, it’s good to know about the ones that are commonly used.

False Estimates
This scam happens when mechanics give you a low initial repair estimate, only to hike up the costs when you come to pick up your vehicle after repairs have been done. The excuse for the extra costs will usually be that new problems were found during the work and they needed immediate fixing. Most people end up paying the hiked up price because they have no way of verifying the legitimacy of the mechanics’ claims. Get all estimates in writing and signed to avoid falling victim to this scheme. Continue reading ‘Common Auto Repair Ripoffs’ »

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In a perfect world, cars would never break down or run out of gas. As we all know, this is not a perfect world and things can happen to your car that you may not foresee. Even new cars can break down without warning. When they do, you need to be able to find an auto repair and service company that will not only provide you with a fair deal, but also get the job done right.

To help you get the right auto repair and service company for you, here are some quick tips. You should ask your friends if they have any recommendations. Try and see if anyone has had the same problem as you and then check out the mechanic they used.

Continue reading ‘Finding the Right Auto Repair and Service’ »

When something unfortunate happens to your car, it becomes a very frightening experience to know that you must get it fixed. It is something that we nobody wants to deal with, but it becomes a necessity. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a qualified mechanic in your family or circle of friends, you will certainly have to find a repair shop to take it to. Commonly, it is difficult to find someone who is genuinely happy with their mechanic. If you are fortunate enough to find one, it’s usually a shop that is so well known and so popular that you can drop your car off and they will get give you a diagnosis on what’s wrong with your car in about an hour.

You should always be aware of your surroundings when you go into an auto shop. Some mechanics find it hard to explain to female customers, and sometimes can get very impatient. These are the auto shops you want to stay far away from. If they think you are ill knowledge on the subject, they will most likely take advantage of you as a customer. Continue reading ‘Don't Become a Victim of Auto Repair Fraud’ »