Evaluation
The Consumer Protection Act stipulates specific rules governing all repairs costing more than $50, parts and labour included.
Installing tires or batteries is not considered a repair under the Act when both the purchase and installation are on the same invoice.
The Act requires the repairperson to give you a written evaluation before carrying out repairs costing more than $100, except in the following cases:
- if you renounce this requirement in a handwritten, signed document;
- if the work is done free of charge for repairs covered by the warranty.
The evaluation must contain:
- your name and address and that of the merchant;
- a description of the vehicle: brand, model and registration number;
- the nature and total price of the repair.
The repairperson may not charge for an evaluation unless you were informed of the cost beforehand. If you decide not to have the repair done, he may not charge anything, including the cost of parts and labour for reassembling the vehicle or a part thereof.
Accepting the evaluation
Once you accept the evaluation, both parties are bound by it and the repairperson cannot charge more for that specific repair than the total indicated in the evaluation.
The repairperson cannot carry out a repair not indicated in the evaluation without your express authorization. If this authorization is given verbally, it must be indicated specifically on the copy of the written evaluation the repairperson keeps on file.