I had a non-start issue with my car.
I search for an auto electrics garage and found one very local and also pick up the car for free and after I had looked at the car as much as I could think of I booked them to come get it as I didn't want to spend loads of money on parts that I didn't need.
On their updates or they told me where that they were making progress the initial deal was to look at it for £30 nothing else.
They contacted me yesterday telling me that there was a bill of £580 and that the camshaft position sensor was at fault and it would be more to fix that issue.
They said that they had spent loads of time on the car and that's that would the price was for the work carried out even though I had not authorised any further work on the car.

The only garage was getting abusive listening to put the bill up, so I involve the police but the owner refused to speak to the police I'm going to meet them there tomorrow to see if he will be more cooperative
He's also stated that unless I pay the bill I'll be charged £15 per day for storage.
The only way to get my money back will be sticking to trading standards and to the Small Claims Court

The garage -

Vehicle electrix
152a Newark road
Lincoln

What are they charging you 500 quid for? Seems they've plugged a scanner in and read a fault code.

You need to get an itemised bill to see what you're being charged for. Then as you said it's a civil matter.

They said they found two engine loom faults and a Ecu immobiser fault which they fixed but they did not ask me for my permission at all.

I would get down to the Local Citizens Advise or even the Martin Lewis website and contact him directly. If your meeting the police at the venue they will act as a middle party and try and make both sides see reason.

Get legal advise

You also want a complete break down of the £580 then you can point out what you authorized them to do and what you didn't. Whether there is a charge or not. ie You authorized them to collect your car

Defiantly , trading standards have got to get back to me but yes going to ask for a proper invoice .
I can't remember but is the code system separate to the Ecu?

Give them a cheque and then cancel it?

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/glos/con1item.cgi?file=*ADV0046-1011.text

Hope this helps

That didn't quite go to plan

Just check on the trading standards website.

how does £30 check up now end up on £580, what have they actually done with the car ? has anything come off to be looked at ? id certainly get Trading standards involved. good luck with whatever happens.

They agreed a £30.00 check over. If they did not clear the work with you, it's their issue, not yours.

A particularly stupid idea as you would be admitting liability for the debt........in writing!

I would honestly get 5 of my mates, storm in there, no threats, just a heavy presence, and make them release the car.

I've had to pay to get the car back and when I told them I was going to be protesting against the bill they said that they would put the bill up as the initial bill was a deal.
They threatened to make the bill which sounds like from me said over 1000.
They said if I pay the bill and don't chase them to court will stay at that but if I do go to court and trading standards then they will chase me for a bigger bill.
And the car is not even running, as all they've done is diagnosed Centre and cut off the wiring the ECU plug and moved it to the passenger footwell.

Finally other reviews where they have used violence and pressure tactics. Defiantly going to trading standards and court. I've had to pay to get the car but have said I don't agree to the amount.

Horror story, hope you get justice with this.

What sort of advertising/reviews do they expect from their attitude I wonder? Don't they realise that if they are in the wrong how much damage the outcome could do to their business?

A preliminary search seems to find no reviews for a company first founded in 1971. Odd.

Missed that....should be interesting fodder for Trading Standards at least.

Oh yes! Reported it to watchdog too

those reviews about this company really makes me wonder how the hell this company is still in business. i really hope they get what is coming to them, at the end of it all id atleast want the company to shut down.

Wow, wish the garage was closer to me as I like a good laugh and the owner sounds like hes the sort where with your phone on record you could get him locked up in under 30 seconds of talking to him!

Either that or he needs a ruddy good punch up the bottom!

Good luck as it sounds like you have a fair old battle on your hands!

Did you pay by credit card? If you did ring them, you have rights and I believe they should be able to give you your money back. I did this 7 year's ago with a yellow coupe. Long story but I owned it 3 months and drove it for a week. I paid for it via credit card and as it wasn't as advertised / fit for purpose I got my money back :-)

Not accessible?

If you paid on your Credit Card, then you can use a Section 75 Chargeback.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jan/20/section-75-chargeback has more info.

Cash as he wouldn't accept any other payment. will try sort the audio

Small claims court. Its not like the criminal Courts where you have to prove beyond reasonable doubt. All you have to prove is a Balance of Probability.
So if it would have been likely to have cost you that amount for that level of work elsewhere. Plus none of the work was authorized before go ahead.

The other option HMRC. If he's forcing people to pay cash how much is actually being accounted for. Just takes a quick call. I've done it several time with a previous job I had

Sounds like a good plan
Correct Audio link - http://vimeo.com/m/85037299

Good bit of evidence. Take it to Trading Standards and get them to listen to it and see what they say.

How much did you pay out of the £580 bill as part payment

I paid £580 but because I'm contesting he said the bill is now near £1000 and if I take them to court it will be that and if I don't it will be only £580

Bloody hell, what a crook. Really hope you pursue with trading standards and get justice! And stop him from doing this to others anymore. Awful.