Archive for July, 2011
Last summer, the charges brought against Sears highlighted many of the problems that consumers confront in taking their cars in for automotive repairs. Serious questions were raised regarding the pervasiveness of automobile repair fraud in America.
The problems of automobile repair fraud are national in scope. The Sears case alone resulted in actions by 43 different States.
Following the hearing of last year, the National Associations of Attorneys General established an automotive repair task force to examine the issue from the State perspective and to coordinate enforcement efforts. As part of the settlement with Sears, the National Association of Attorneys General received $200,000 to create an automotive repair industry reform fund.
Given the sophisticated equipment in most automobiles today, it is no wonder that consumers find themselves at the mercy of auto repair shops, and are often left wondering whether the $500 they just spent for repairs was necessary, or was it just money that was wasted?
Even if a given repair was necessary, questions often linger over whether the repair was properly performed, and whether, indeed, the repair will last for a period of time.
Because of this situation, undercover sting operations are one of the most effective methods for discovering abusive practices and are extremely useful for their deterrent effect.
While it is clear that the routine trip to the auto repair shop is every consumer’s nightmare, it is less clear how to remedy the situation.
So straight away, right off the top, make sure you understand everything you are being told. Get an estimate, and get it in writing. Before you authorize anything beyond that estimate, make sure the mechanic gets your direct approval.
Before you have the work done, check around. At the very least, call around. Find out what other mechanics think of that estimate. Is it a rip-off, or isn’t it? Other mechanics might have an opinion that is a little bit better than your own.
Also, before you go ahead and have that work done, talk to the mechanic. Tell him you want your old parts back. It may not guarantee that you will not be ripped off, but it will put the mechanic on the defensive. It will tell him that you are no idiot.
At one shop we went to, the repair man simply said he could not provide us with our old parts. That is a tip-off right away that something unusual is going on.
Also, a couple of the shops we went to, we got an estimate before the mechanic even looked under the hood. That should be another tip-off that something sneaky may be going.
Also, another important question to ask is, how much are they going to charge for those new parts? Some shops will charge you only list price. However, at a number of other shops we got stung for as much as two-and-a-half times list price.
Obviously, it is better to be armed with knowledge and a checklist of how to approach a car repair, rather than being an obvious victim.
Couple of men and women realize what you may do with an automotive repair manual, just a little bit of totally free time, some fundamental automotive tools, and a bit of money to throw around. A great deal of men and women take it for granted that you need to have all of your auto repair performed by experts, but this just isn’t the case. It depends a good deal on the model of the automobile and sort of issue, but most auto repair is really pretty basic to do. Occasionally, you may save hundreds of dollars on fixing your automobile by taking an easy shortcut. For instance, I employed to own up an old and clunky Voyager having a rusted out rear air-conditioning unit. All the coolant leak out of it, and they said it would cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Instead, I use a clamp from a typical hardware store to cut off the rear air-conditioning unit. It cost me much less than a dollar, took me no a lot more than an hour to do, and completely solved the challenge!
Nevertheless, for more serious problems, auto repair is definitely a have to. I know some people today who do automotive engine repair on their own, but I wouldn’t suggest it unless you actually know what you might be performing. Today’s cars are extra sophisticated and complex than ever, and it takes a quality automotive technician to really diagnose and fix the challenge. Don’t get me wrong – when you have an individual there to help you who knows what they’re performing, you are able to in all probability get sufficient help to work your way via. Nonetheless, if you’re even the slightest bit unsure of your abilities, you should in all probability leave the auto repairs to the professional.
One of the most effective compromises would be to let your mechanic diagnose the problem, then go and repair it your self. One of the largest dangers with attempting to perform your own auto repair isn’t understanding what the problem is. Amateur mechanics can jump to conclusions and miss out on the complete issue at hand. This can cause all kinds of complications, and will usually lose you far more funds than you are able to gain by not hiring a mechanic. In case you have your mechanic determine what is wrong, even so, you are able to still save a whole lot of money on labor costs by performing the job yourself. It does not make sense for everyone, but for some men and women it genuinely does.
Having a crystal ball and predicting the future isn’t something many of us can boast, but with obvious signs that holidaying at home is increasing, it can safely be said that the future of “UK holidays in the great outdoors is definitely looking bright”, as reported on Travel Daily News.
Leading camping and caravanning site Pitchup.com have “looked into their crystal beach ball to make predictions about what the future may hold for camping and caravanning”, and signs are positive especially if you add this to the fact that the volume of “pitch nights significantly surpassed expectations in 2009”.
A country that really knows how to make the most out of the motorhome lifestyle is America. What better way to live the American Dream than to travel round in a luxurious house on wheels, arriving at each destination in style and class? In a BBC News article it is claimed that “in Britain you need a professional license to drive such a vehicle, however in America all you need is the nerve and desire”.
With an increase in the number of people planning to take motorhome or caravan holidays, manufacturers will have to battle it out to attract RV and motorhome customers. RV maker Winnebago Industries believe that “customers are drawn to quality and well-established brands, particularly during the challenging economic conditions”.
Now glamping (glamorous camping) has gone mainstream and the demand for camping and caravanning continues to grow, there is likely to be a flurry of both rural and urban campers. Travel Daily News reports that “as London 2012 approaches, the great urban outdoor and motorhome breaks away will become increasingly en vogue as an alternative to expensive city centre hotels”.
Camping is now seen as rather fashionable, which means the introduction of sleek-futuristic mod-con motorhomes or caravans will be on the agenda, as well as additional facilities and features added to campsites. Spokesperson at The British Holiday & Home Parks Association agrees that the future looks bright for camping, predicting “we will see an increase in high-quality accommodation, and the introduction of even more luxury spas and leisure facilities as sites invest to broaden the park experience”, which provide even more enticing reasons to stay in the UK during holiday season.