Errant Auto Workshops 'Fixing' Customers
By Malai Hassan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Crooked mechanics are fixing Brunei motorists to keep their shaky workshops afloat, reports here said.

The current slow economic situation in the country coupled by the drastic drop in price of new cars have apparently compelled several errant auto workshops here to 'fix' their gullible customers as a means to supplement their declining revenue.

It was learned that with the current slow economic situation many car owners have opted to get the much cheaper service of auto workshops across the border, such as in Limbang and Miri, for the repair and maintenance work of their vehicles.

Also the marked drop of new car prices following the government's move to reduce car import duty from 200 percent to as low as 20 percent has also impacted the income of local auto workshops as many now can afford to buy new cars, hence lesser need for workshop visits.

But apparently several errant auto workshops were determined not to lose out in these adverse situations even if it meant at the expense of gullible customers.

"If during the good time in the past this unhealthy practice did exist, now it is getting worse as some errant auto workshops are now no longer driven by greed but as a matter of survival"" said several disgruntled car owners.

"It was very obvious that some of these errant workshops are actually dying and would do anything in order to survive", they alleged.

They were especially targeting customers who were innocent enough to believe their so-called expert advice.

According to some victims the mechanics at these suspected workshops, as if instructed by their managers, would ensure to make a big hit once an easy victim drove in for minor repairs.

"They would start telling these unwary customers that there were some big problems with their cars and repair and replacement of spare parts need to be done urgently", claimed some car owners.

"For example a friend of mine brought his car to a workshop in Kuala Belait with only a minor complaint about the brake system".

"When he returned to pick up his car, the workshop told him there was a crack at the mounting of the steering and repairs work need to be done immediately. But he refused to believe the mechanic and took the car to another workshop", said one concerned car owner.

And when he took the car to another workshop, the mechanic there told him there was nothing wrong with the mounting. He was told that the only problem was that there was not enough transmission oil in the steering system. Another car owner told the Weekend that he was also almost cheated by a workshop in Gandong the other day when he brought his car there with a minor complaint about the front absorbers.

He claimed that while the workshop told him that he needed to change the absorbers, he said he was also told that he need to change the alternator, as it was no longer working.

"I was told that I would have problem with my battery later on if I did not change the alternator. But I was surprised as before taking the car to the workshop, there was nothing wrong with the alternator".

"To change the alternator would cost me more than $400. I told the mechanic that I did not have that kind of money right now. I told him to just forget about it and told him that I would take the chance".

"Until now my car is still fine. I have no problem with the battery or the alternator", said the man.

He said it was obvious that some dishonest mechanics were trying hard to keep their workshops afloat even to the extent of bluffing their customers. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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