One day, your car can be affected by wear and tear and will need repairs or replacements. You’d want a trustworthy mechanic when this happens. But, how do you distinguish an honest mechanic from the one who will rip you off?
There are signs that you are being taken advantage of. Look out for these signs when you take your automobile in for check ups or repairs. You don’t need to know everything about cars, however, basic knowledge and knowing you’re being duped will help you save money and avoid stress. Below are some ways in which your mechanic may be ripping you off.
Cheap car service offers
To get the customer in the door, many dealers will market their services for cheaper costs. But if the price is too good to be true, chances are it probably is. No mechanic or dealership will run losses just to give you service. They will make up for the cost by bumping up the bill with unwanted repairs or replacements.
Brake rotor replacement
The most common way customers are ripped off is through brake rotor replacement. It doesn’t mean that if your brakes need to be replaced, your brake rotor needs to be replaced as well.
You can tell if your rotors need replacement by running your finger along them and checking for any deep ridges. Your mechanic can turn your rotors, which is cheaper than replacement, if they don’t have deep ridges.
Changing spark plugs
With older models, changing spark plugs would need to be done annually due to the carbon build up as older engines would not burn the fuel effectively. Not with the newer models. You don’t need your spark plugs replaced if your car has run under 100,000 miles. If a mechanic suggests it, ask them to explain in detail then get a second opinion.
Engine and transmission flushes
Spot a rip off when your mechanic sets your car’s scheduled maintenance, but it doesn’t match the one in your manual. Extra or unnecessary procedures such as engine and transmission flushes pad the bill and usually are suggested way ahead of the scheduled time.
When it sounds like an emergency, be wary! Most mechanics will create urgency to upsell a product or whatever it is they are selling. Research on whether your engine needs flushing or not before agreeing to the procedure.
Body paint fixes
Some mechanics will make you believe a re-painting, touch up, or car paint protection solutions are needed for them to make an extra buck or two. The paint job does nothing for your resale value and is a waste of time and money. Here’s why you don’t need it.
Charging full for remanufactured car parts
The cost comes in a lot cheaper if you use remanufactured parts to get your car up and running. However, your mechanic can charge you the same as he would for brand new parts. You better get quotes from different mechanics or dealerships before an agreement.
Repair or upgrade your car using the ASAG Reverse Mortgage
A number of our New South Wales (NSW) customers use our equity release solutions to meet their needs at senior age. Using our reverse mortgage to repair or purchase a new vehicle is an acceptable purpose of the loan because it can give our customers reliability, comfort, and safety.
With the ASAG Reverse Mortgage in New South Wales (NSW), accessing a portion of your wealth for your objectives in retirement is possible without ongoing payments and selling your property. You are free to draw down your funds as either a lump sum, regular instalments or a cash reserve to be used for any purpose, including Vehicle Finance.
Our dedicated ASAG team strives to assist our Australian seniors to strategically use the equity in their home so they can enjoy the retirement that they desire. Our lines are open on 1300 002 724 and at info@asagfirst.com.au so give us a call or send your enquiries about our equity release solutions.
To get you started, feel free to use our tool below to assess the available equity in your home.