Don't become another victim of a car repair scandal!.
You've taken your car to a repair shop after noticing that it pulls sharply to the right whenever you hit the brakes. The mechanic tells you that your front disc brakes need to be adjusted, asks you to leave your car, and says he"ll call you with an estimate. But you've heard of the many people who get scammed and ripped off at car repair shops. What should you do?.
The best answer is to find another repair shop. Front disc brakes are self-adjusting, which means, that something else, maybe a problem with the left-front caliper, is causing your car to pull to the right. But like most unscrupulous repair shops, this one preys and profits on the fact that relatively few drivers have a clue about what's under the hood, let alone how to fix it. As a consequence, according to car expert, Carole Fleck, national figures indicate Americans spend more than $20 billion a year on faulty or unnecessary auto repairs.
Auto repair rip-offs, in fact, consistently rank among the top five consumer complaints in many states, according to the Consumer Federation of America. In a recent undercover investigation by a Canadian consumer organization, a test vehicle with an intentionally disconnected vacuum hose was taken to 37 repair shops in three cities. The cost of repairs ranged from zero to $613. Seven of these shops replaced brand new parts that were working perfectly. So how do you protect yourself against auto repair fraud? .
A study at www.allsands.com, suggested these ten tips to keep from becoming a victim to an auto repair scandal. For example, a service attendant, while checking tire pressure, "discovers" a gashed tire you never even suspected. He may be setting you up. Put on your spare and drive home or to a dealer of your choice before replacing the tire.
Wires loosened by someone who checks under the hood causes a warning light to come on. He may even create smoke by dropping barbeque sauce on the hot alternator.
