Fit Service listed 5 deception schemes in car services

Russian drivers often go to a car service center with the feeling that they will at least try to deceive them. The list of horror stories and myths surrounding car repairs has not changed for many years. Dmitry Samoilov, director of partner support for the international network of car service centers Fit Service, told Motor magazine about how to protect yourself from deception.

“I recommend that before starting work you get a detailed estimate and ask them to voice what is critical to do now and what can be postponed. When issuing a car, the master’s promises and the actual work must coincide,” Samoilov said.

The first and most persistent scheme of deception in the service is a “scam” for unnecessary work, when the client comes to change the pads and leaves with a major overhaul of the suspension and a bill for three sheets. In older stations, the list of operations often exists only verbally. To protect yourself from this scheme, you need to require a work order with a complete list of work, fixing the cost and time standards. A conscientious service always shows defects – on the lift in front of the client or in a photo, and any additional operations are approved and await official confirmation, the expert noted.

Another deception scheme – the client is told that the work has been completed, but in fact nothing has been changed. Most often, people cheat in this way when changing oil or spark plugs, because the operations are hidden from the driver’s eyes. It’s easy to protect yourself: at the reception, ask to put the old parts in boxes from the new ones. Removed pads, filters, suspension elements will confirm the replacement. For consumables like oil, checking is even easier – even a non-professional can recognize clean fluid on the dipstick. In addition, the client is protected by a warranty on work and spare parts, the specialist added.

The third scheme – instead of a high-quality part, a cheap fake is installed. At “gray” service stations, the part is delivered without packaging, the origin is unknown, and the warranty ends upon departure. To protect yourself, you need to choose a service where spare parts are selected by VIN code from official distributors. The client is offered several options – original, analog or budget option. If the service carries a guarantee not only for work, but also for spare parts, fraud becomes unprofitable for the business.

Another trick is that unqualified craftsmen take on any kind of work and end up breaking the car. The persistence of fear is facilitated by garage stories, when one person made the engine, the electrics, and the body. You can protect yourself by choosing a service with training and certification systems, where employees have clear specializations – chassis, engine, transmission, electronics. Errors are also possible in professional service, but there they become an internal incident for which the client does not pay.

Fifth scheme – the service accepts all cars, relying on mass popularity and promising quick repairs. But as a result, the service station is overloaded, the deadlines are shifted: the car is left for one or two weeks, it is impossible to get through by phone, and complaints are answered rudely. Choosing a service with online registration, chats, push notifications, photo reports and standard hours will help you protect yourself. There, tools and spare parts are prepared for each visit so that repairs can begin immediately and not miss deadlines, Samoilov explained.

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