Every year there is a steady rise in the number of consumer complaints regarding paying too much or being overcharged for repairs. Some of the most common repair problems that you have to pay high prices for are your car maintenance and repairs or the repairs of major electrical equipment in the house. To avoid paying way beyond what you actually need to, you can research the market and shop around for the best quotes.
Know what you are paying for and do not accept the quotes if you find it unreasonable. When you are investing money into anything whether it is mechanical car maintenance, plumbing or electrical repairs or simple home maintenance it is important that the quote should be itemized so you know the exact amount you are paying including purchasing the parts and their labor fee.
For example if your car is getting overheated and you need to replace the thermostat on the car. If the repair shop charge you around $500 for this service, then they should have in writing how much they are charging you for the purchase of the new thermostat and the amount for labor charges for replacing the thermostat. If a new thermostat would cost you less than $60 and replacing that thermostat entails removing and fixing two bolts, you know that you are being overcharged (for labor) for a simple repair.
Get at least two to three quotes especially when the repair costs are high. Shopping around for better quotes helps you in finding not only the best price but also give you an idea about the terms and conditions put forth by various repair shops. Consult your friends and family to find out about some reliable repair shops that can give you good prices for quality and timely work.
Do not give the repair mechanic free reign. Telling him to do whatever he can to fix the car is bound to get you a huge bill in repair work. Instead try to clearly understand each and every repair problem, understand what the mechanic is doing and how much it will cost.
Ask questions to the repair shop owner and understand the actual problem that you might be facing. Doing extensive research (also called homework) before you step into a repair shop could save you a lot of hassles and not to mention a significant amount of money. Remember that not every service that you are being charged for is a rip off. Instead understand many repairs can cost quite a lot. However it is best to stay on guard, shop around for the best repair prices and avoid being overcharged for repairs.
Contacting a relevant industry body or even a dealer can help you ascertain the best price for the goods. This will help you judge if the quoted price is reasonable enough or not. Repairs for certain items like jewelry and collectibles is often difficult to price. It is a good idea to get an independent valuation in such a case.
If you too have been overcharged for repairs, or ripped off in some way and want to avoid this in the future then secure for yourself, your children and your spouse a legal life insurance plan that provide you legal help 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Not only do these plans equip you to deal with day to day legal problems, but you can be assured of being covered at all times even if it's just a simply legal question because legal help is just a phone away.
