I have a thread going about replacing my Crank Position Sensor https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=163753. I dropped my truck off at Cummins after having a phone conversation with the service manager on the phone.

He said that they would only charge me "book time" for replacement of the sensor ... especially in my case where I had the starter already removed and the sensor accessible. I confirmed this again with the service manager face to face when I dropped the truck off.

I go there today to pick it up, and they tried to make me pay:

0.4 Administrative
0.4 Starter - Remove and install
0.1 Sensor - Remove and install
1.5 Miscellaneous.

2.4 Total


2.4 X $95/hr = $228. $228 plus tax ($22.80) = $250.80!!!

The service manager that I had this all set up with was not there today. The guy there today said the 1.5 was for the extra time it took them to get the sensor out. And I told them I had this conversation with the service manager twice that I wouldn't have to pay anything over the book price ... and that's why I chose to take to them versus the Dodge dealership.

So I told him I'd come back tomorrow. The guy there today gave me the key, and I kept it. Keep the key part in mind for below.

What should I do?

I was thinking that I would go back tomorrow and try to work this out peacefully with the service manager. Maybe this guy made up the invoice and is not aware of my conversation with the manager. But if the service manager agrees on the re-neg (meaning he now is changing his tune from when I dropped it off and wants me to pay $250), then I will give them my name, phone number and address and tell them when they have the bill fixed to call me and I will pay it. And then walk out, go get in my truck and drive off using the key they gave me today.

Once they realize they don't have the truck, they should be more willing to fix the bill to what they said they would do to start with. And then I'll pay it.

The thing is, I'll give them their 0.5 for the starter and sensor ... I'll even give them the 0.4 for administrative (which is a jip too), but I'm not willing the give them the 1.5 for the "miscellaneous." Especially since I had the starter off and the sensor easily accessible, and this was exactly opposite of what we discussed.

I need good advice guys!

- Jason

 

.4 for administrative!!! WHAT!!! are you serious. that is just plain stupid. The service advisors should get paid a little bit, but not somethin like that. To me only the tech's should get paid( I worked in a Dodge Dealership), cause all the advisors do is take the key, and type up a piece of paper. ugghhhh I can do that.

 

You can be sued for theft of services if you take the truck and refuse to pay the bill. They can put a mechanics lean against it as well. ( all of this in Indiana mind you - check your own state to be sure ). Be dillegent, and firm, but don't fly off the handle. Try to negotiate an agreed upon price reminding him you are already giving some because of the previously agreed upon price. Did you get that estimate in writing? Did you sign a repair order? did they call and advise of an increase in the charges from the original price quote? In Indiana we are allowed up to a 10% increase on the repair ordere compared to the original estimate for unforseen problems, ect. Keep your cool and be prepared to call BBB, Cummins corporate, their corporate office ( if independently or franchised owned ), anyone who you think it might concern them ! Do that as a last resort. I will tell you though......I have removed some of those sensors.......about 1.5- 2.0 hours is fair. They can be a real bear! I think I responded to your earlier post about trying to get it out. I've been there.....trust me!

 

vz - Thanks for the info. I'm not interested in jipping them. I will pay what is fair and what was discussed. I will pay their 0.4 administrative fee. I'd pay 0.9 right now and not have a complaint. I realize they have to MAKE money to stay in business. And that the CUSTOMER (me) is the one that has to keep them in business. The most fair is this:

0.2 - Starter install (I removed it before I left my vehicle with them, so all they had to do was install. So not the whole 0.4 by the book.
0.1 - Sensor remove and install.

I personally think this is fair. This is what I discussed with them. That I would pay "book rate" for the repair. But like I said, I would pay 0.9 and not make a fuss. 0.9 comes out to $94.05 with tax. Seems ~fair for labor.

Not book rate, plus admin fee, plus 1.5 hours for extra labor to get it out. If I hadn't adimantly discussed this with the service manager, then I would have no grounds to complain.

I'll let them know tomorrow (if it gets that far) that I'm not refusing to pay the bill, but that I'm refusing to be ripped off.

I guess I should have the BBB numbers in hand, as well as Cummins corporate also. Just to show them that I'm not full of hot air about calling them.

 

Be aware that what you spell jip is actually Gyp and is short for Gypsy and is a racial epithet.

Edwin

 

I wasn't aware of that, so I guess I'm innocent. No racial motivation here.

 

There are no racial overtones with the word jip. To me and most likely the majority of folks, it simply implies being ripped off. There are already to many sensitive people in the world.

 

VZ told you the straight dope.You have a problem....reopen negotiations with the service person,ask them what is the cost to obtain a customer and,the cost to RETAIN a customer?Should there be a satisfactory conclusion,great,if not then pay the bill and go to small claims court.DO NOT threaten,jump up and down,yell etc.You must be polite,yet firm, look them straight in the eye and don't blink.Best of luck

 

You crack me up.....you fight to get this part out with no luck and then you want a solid "quote" on what it will be to replace it. If they gave you a quote I guess more power to you though.... If someone brought a truck in wanting a CPS installed and already had the starter out I'd smell a RAT!!

 

J Body - I'm not sure what you mean. I had the starter out because I tried to get the sensor out and ran out of time. I cracked the sensor in the process, but that didn't seem to effect the service place.

When I decided to let the service place take over, I asked them what it would cost. They said, "it costs whatever the book rate is for that job." And I followed with, "what if it takes 10 hours and the book says 2? What do I pay then." He said if it takes 10 hours, you pay the book rate for the job. If the book rate is 2 hours, you pay 2 hours even if it takes us 10 hours."

I said, "OK, go ahead. I hope you guys can do it in book time." Then I took the service manager out to my truck, showed him the starter, starter attachment bolts, terminal nuts, sensor bracket and it's bolt, and the sensor. I had all this stuff stored in a box in the floorboard of the truck ... for those guys.

He knew of course I had removed my starter. They had to push the truck into the service bay too (no starter). Why would they smell a rat? I gave them every detail.

- JyRO

 

I think J BODY like me is wondering if you told them the the sensor was broken off or convienently left that part out .01 is 6 min do you really think thats fair. By the way i charge more when people make my job harder too. Thats why we call them estimates and not definites here.

 

I told them I broke it off. They knew that. Broken off or not, you can't use that part of the sensor to remove it ... because it breaks off. It's just hard to get that sensor out, they didn't believe me. They figured that they could get it out within book time because I had it accessible to them so they didn't have to remove the starter. But when it didn't pan out like they thought it would, they changed their story to make me pay differently than they originally said.

 

Let me clarify. I didn't break it off, I just broke it. The whole sensor was still there, just broken.

 

To me, it sounds like you are getting charged book time. I can't see the starter being in a book as .2 remove and .2 install. If they remove a part, they install it back in.

 

Hmm...

They told you that book rate was 2.0 hours and they are billing you for 2.4 so you are upset?

If it is over the additional .4 for "Administrative" I can understand, 24 minutes for paperwork on something like that is absurd, but give a little credit where credit is due...

THEY were the ones who were able to SUCCESSFULLY repair your truck. If YOU could have done it YOU would have.


Man who throws stones shouldn't live in glass house.