Can I dispute a credit card charge that I signed?

Question

Truck leaks tranny fluid. Take truck to shop. They say it needs rebuilt. Have extended warranty. Shop tears down tranny. Warranty hires 3rd party inspector. Inspector says it doesn't need rebuilt, only overheated fluid and vented out. Need external cooler. NOT COVERED! Tranny shop should have known it didn't need rebuilt, but still tried to get it done. (trying to s***w me over). Shop tells me, take truck, unassembled, parts in a box, owe us nothing. OR, we put it back together, owe us $1000 for labor charges. (succeeding in s******g me over). Translation--same tranny, same parts, same problem, $1000 poorer. May not let me take truck unless I pay the bill. (new shoes, another $50) Advised to pay with credit card and dispute the charge. (attorney, online, $15). Can I dispute the charge if I agreed by signing the receipt? I have to get the truck back. (kids, work, feet hurt). Paying may be my only option to get it. Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

I've disputed with Citi before because i was forced to sign a CC statement to get a receipt from a company that never gave one. It was a one man "training ". I asked for receipt, and was told "Well back office may have it, but they charge $15 to reprint". I signed, a few days later called Citi, told them the situation, signed the dispute letter, and doen.

For your issue, what I wanted to point out though before aything, why were you not told about an external cooler before? What is the reason for the fluid overheating?

What paperwork did you sign before the tranny shop took it in? Did the paperwork say "Covered by warranty"? If so, I'd bring that up. If they still say "No, pay or nothing", I'd pay with a CC, wait for it to post, and dispute. What you could do also is in the signature part sign it or write "Under Protest" or "Dispute". SOme shops do not like tihs approach, but it may work.

The thing you have to worry about is a potential lien on your vehicle, but if you have paperwork in order that is  not an issue.

So yes, IF they make you pay (again, find out the reason you werent told about the external cooler and venting thing when tranny was INSTALLED, and on top of that WHY they told you its covered before taking it apart).

Other option, like they said, just take it to the other shop. It may however be missing parts as you already know how much you can trust this shop.

Answer 2

Frankly, I'd find another shop to put the transmission back together and just have a tow truck pick you your vehicle with the tranny parts in a box.

You're going to have to pay to have the transmission put back together and disputing the credit card won't really work.  Better to pay someone else, even if it costs more than the $1K.  Do you really trust this place to work on your vehicle?

Answer 3

You can always try to dispute the charge

The process usually is

1 -- a customer disputes the charges,

2 -- credit card company contacts merchant informing them of the dispute and gives merchant X number of days to show proof why the charge should not be reversed

3 -- merchant can opt to respond to the charge and show proof of the receipt with your signature

4 -- typically when credit card company sees the signed receipt, they don't award the chargeback

If this is an online transaction, it is way easier to dispute because the merchant cannot show any no physical signature. It's different for real-world transactions where there is the receipt

But as I said, you can always try. Who knows, maybe the merchant will not dispute the chargeback