Mad, Mad, Mad!

Our van's transmission went out on Christmas Eve while Dan was driving to work. We had to borrow a vehicle until we got our income tax return and could afford to fix it. We got estimates from several shops, then chose the one Dan felt more comfortable with. It wasn't even the lowest price one, but the one that offered the best warranty on their work. Dan picked the van up on Friday, payed a very large amount of money, and was told the lady who runs the office was sick so they couldn't give him an invoice or even tell him for sure how much the bill was. Now, we had told these people that we could spend X amount of money, but absolutely no more. If what we needed done was going to push us over that amount, they were to call us. They were to rebuild the transmission, replace the spark plugs and plug wires, replace the thermostat, and service both the front and back brakes. Well, today we find out they want $400 more and that does not include the back brakes because they haven't done them yet! What????? I am so mad, I could spit nails! They told Dan that they knew doing the front brakes would put us "a little" over what we could afford, but they were metal on metal and had to be done. How odd, a competitor had quoted us half that price for both front and back brakes to be done! I am mad, mad, mad! Dan is going to pick up the itemized bill after work.

My question is, do we have to pay them this additional amount? We've paid all but this, and they couldn't be bother to give us the final bill when we asked for it. $400 may be "a little" to them, but it's a heck of a lot to us! It's more than half a paycheck! They told us they would not go over that amount without calling us and discussing it first! I am so mad that I'm in tears! I just don't know what to do! Why can't people keep their word!

My apologies for this long, rambling rant.


SAVING is good.