A routine oil change turned into a hefty bill for one woman after a visit to a quick-service auto shop. She believed the situation quickly spiraled into what she says was a pressured and unauthorized repair. 

A TikToker (@madfye) explains how a stop she expected to take less than half an hour ended with a $1,300 charge, and a call to corporate for the first time in her life. “Yesterday I went to get my oil changed, and I left feeling as though I got scammed out of about $1,300,” says the customer.

In a TikTok video that’s now amassed over 240,00 views as of this writing,

Why Did the Customer Feel Scammed?

The woman says she chose an unfamiliar shop simply because it was convenient. With childcare already arranged, she expected to be in and out quickly. After the oil change began, she casually asked the staff to take a look at her brakes, which had been squeaking. She made it clear she just wanted an assessment, but not necessarily repairs. 

“I just want to know if something’s wrong with them,” she says.

After about 20 minutes, an employee brought her into the shop area to show her the brakes. The employee explained what needed replaced, but the woman didn’t fully understand the explanation. When she asked for an estimate, she was quoted roughly $1,250 before tax for front and rear brake work. However, she explained that she didn’t have the time that day.

According to the woman, the staff pushed to do at least part of the job immediately. She says she explicitly agreed only to rear brake work, stressing multiple times that she could not stay longer than 30 minutes. “We’re not doing the front today,” she says she told them. “I don’t have enough time.”

After delays stretched past the promised timeline, she noticed mechanics working on the front brakes anyway. When she objected, she says she was told it was a miscommunication and that the work had already started. “That’s not what I asked for… but obviously it doesn’t even look like I have a choice anymore,” she says.

How Much Did They Charge The Woman?

When the bill finally came, it totaled around $1,300 with tax. Discounts she thought were already included weren’t reflected the way she expected, and add-ons she didn’t request were framed as compensation. 

“They coerced me without my consent into having to get these front brakes today,” she tells viewers. 

Frustrated, the woman decided to call the corporate office. She has never previously felt the need to do so in similar situations. She says representatives were apologetic, and a regional manager later called, upset by how the shop handled the visit. 

The resolution, however, fell flat. 

“They only offered me like $100 off my next purchase,” she says. 

Do Mechanics Have a Legal Right to Charge Customers For Unauthorized Repairs?

In the U.S., it generally isn’t legal for an auto repair shop to perform and charge for unauthorized repairs. Most state laws and consumer protection rules require shops to obtain a customer’s consent before starting any repair or exceeding the original estimate. If a shop does additional work without that consent, customers typically aren’t legally obligated to pay for those unauthorized services because there was no contract for them in the first place. 

For example, New Jersey regulations state that repair work can’t begin without a signed written authorization outlining the requested service. They also prohibit charging you more than the estimate without the customer’s consent. Specifics on these laws vary from state to state. 

However, mechanics’ liens can give shops leverage to hold a vehicle until the customer pays, even if the charges are disputed. This means a customer might have to pay under protest and pursue a refund later through their state’s consumer protection agency or small claims court. 

What Are The Best Practices To Dispute Unauthorized Charges?

If a customer believes they were charged for unauthorized auto repairs, consumer advocates recommend disputing the bill immediately and in writing. Customers should start by requesting a detailed, itemized invoice and any written or recorded authorization the shop claims it received. 

If consent can’t be proven, the customer needs to document everything, including timestamps, names, and photos. Once documentation is gathered, they should file a complaint with their state’s consumer protection or attorney general’s office, which often regulates repair shops directly. If they paid by credit card, you can also initiate a chargeback for services not authorized or misrepresented. If the shop refuses a refund, small claims court is a common next step, especially when documentation supports your claim.

MotorBiscuit reached out to @madfye for comment via TikTok direct message.

@madfye Am I wrong for feeling completely scammed and pissed????? #terriblecustomerservice #badcustomerservice ♬ original sound – Madfye⚡️| Toddler mom