Recourse with a Body Shop?

[GeorgeG.]

I doubt the DA or sheriff will do anything. He signed forms to authorize the work. The flares weren't part of the insurance claim so I doubt they will have a say on the labor to install them.

I see your best option being to convince them of the manufacturers estimated labor time and keep pressing the issue. Mean while, go ahead and post this on social media, local message boards, etc now. You can always go back later and edit your post to praise them should they eventually resolve the issue. Be sure to use the appropriate hashtags so that it comes up in searches. Keep pushing the issue, no one wants bad publicity.

I had to do that with my FedEx issue when my camera didn't make it to my front door. By the time the wife went to their office in Sherman, FedEx had already informed them of my post and were discussing the issue internally. My wife did this recently with a service company when they performed repairs without getting her authorization. Like mentioned before, they're banking on you caving in.

[Big Dad]

Pay the bill ..move on, or it will get much worse

[Silverback]

Pay the bill ..move on, or it will get much worse

Trump's in office, the white man wins here!

[Chili]

Unless he signed a waiver with the paperwork.

I'd still contact them.. The worst that can happen is that they come back and remind you that you signed a waiver..

[Chili]

I doubt the DA or sheriff will do anything. He signed forms to authorize the work. The flares weren't part of the insurance claim so I doubt they will have a say on the labor to install them.

I agree that the Sheriff probably wouldn't, but did you look at that link? It's pretty clear and it specifically instructs you to contact the DA.

[GeorgeG.]

No, I didn't. But sounds like the fender flares wouldn't fall under the usual type of work that gets flat rate hours. I'd say it falls in that customization area like welding up roll bars. However, the second bullet might be what saves him.

Under that Act:
◾Repair garages must obtain a consumer’s written consent to any repairs, before those repairs are performed
◾A repair garage must provide a written or oral estimate of all costs associated with a particular repair
◾A repair garage may not collect any charge for labor or parts in excess of the estimate plus ten percent of that estimate or twenty-five dollars, whichever is less, without the consent of the consumer

Also, OP, you can also argue that the authorization you signed is for the work that the insurance company agreed to pay. Did you get a copy of the form you signed?

[LANTIRN]

Killdozer?

[Rick Modena]

Trump's in office, the white man wins here!

lmfao!

[FunFordCobra]

Pay moneyz. Learn lesson.

[Chili]

Man, lots of balla's here comfortable walking away from a thousand bucks!

[jluv]

BOOM! It's resolved to my satisfaction!

I reminded them that they do not have a signed work order for those flares, and that they never gave me a quote, despite me asking several times.

They called Bushwacker themselves and were told 8-12 hours, just like they told me. Funny enough, they then called 4wheel parts to see what they charge, and said that 4wheel parts told them they charge $120/hour x 10 hours. I then reminded them that if 4 wheel parts had quoted me $1200, I would have taken it elsewhere, just like I would have taken it somewhere else if this shop quoted me their price of $1600. Point being, they never gave me the chance to say yes or no. You can't just do it and try to charge me later!

For what it's worth, other people on the truck forums are saying they paid $300-500 for the flare install.

I didn't mention this earlier, but they also were trying to charge me $1200 for other shit - a $500 admin fee (for dealing with the insurance supplements), $100 to paint the mirror cap that got busted in the wreck, and $600 to replace all of the sound-deadening material in the two doors that were crushed, and to reinstall the custom speaker pod in one of the doors that had to be replaced. They told me that the insurance company refused to pay all of that. So, I called the insurance company myself and they told me they would absolutely pay for all of that stuff. WTF? I don't know if the shop was trying to double-dip or if they just didn't want to mess with it and thought I would pay it myself.

Anyway, I laid all of this out, and then I told them I would pay for 12 hours of labor at $50/hour ($600), and that's it. They said "FINE"! I win!

Now, I just hope they don't do something fucked up to my truck before I can pick it up.

[jluv]

Pay moneyz. Learn lesson.

What lesson, though? I don't see where I did anything wrong that I wouldn't do next time, other than not use this particular body shop again.

[Chili]

Awesome!

[jluv]

Awesome!

Hell ya!

I think the "no signed work order" thing put them on the ropes. then, when I told them I called the insurance company myself about the other stuff, they knew they weren't dealing with a pushover.

I'm still surprised it went 100% my way, but I'll take it! And for that, I won't be bashing them online.

It's sure to be awkward when I go to pick it up!

[bcoop]

Man, lots of balla's here comfortable walking away from a thousand bucks!

These brokedicks would be on here screaming and crying if it was their money. Pay no mind.