The auto-industry in Nigeria is replete with a whole lot of mechanics, including professionals and fakes with little or no experience and training. Most of the fakes are driving by excessive profit motives and do everything to extort money from customers.
Listed below are four common ways in which Nigerian car owners are usually fleeced of their hard earned money.
1. Trial and error
A lot of mechanics have little knowledge and experience about the health of cars. Modern vehicles demand high level talent and training. A trial and error method leads usually leads to more problems.
2. Charging for unnecessary repairs
A mechanic diagnoses a problem, repairs it and alas, the problem is still there. They then re-diagnose it as a different problem and repair that. Eventually, the mechanic repairs the original defect but charges the customer for all the repairs. In some other instances, the mechanic is fully aware of other faults in your vehicle but will keep mute so as to get you to come back and pay more.
3. Misdiagnosing something that is not faulty
As an avenue to get more money, many mechanics will inform a customer that parts need to be replaced even though they are non-defective. Sometimes, for parts that can be repaired, a replacement is suggested.
4. Purchase of inferior parts
Mechanics in Nigeria are in this habit. The car owner pays for authentic parts for repairs, they will not only double the price of parts, they go as far as getting inferior parts which will eventually cause more damage.