Section 132.04. Repair price information.

 

(1)   Estimate alternatives or firm price quotation; shop's choice. Before a shop starts any repairs whose total price may exceed $50, a shop representative shall provide the customer with a written statement of estimate alternatives under sub. (2) or a firm price quotation under sub. (3) . This requirement does not apply if there has been no face-to-face contact between the customer and a shop representative.

(2)   Statement of estimate alternatives.

(a) A statement of estimate alternatives, if provided, shall be conspicuously printed in the following form, either on the repair order or on a separate document attached to the repair order:

"YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS YOU HAVE AUTHORIZED. THE REPAIR PRICE MAY BE LESS THAN THE ESTIMATE, BUT WILL NOT EXCEED THE ESTIMATE WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. YOUR SIGNATURE WILL INDICATE YOUR ESTIMATE SELECTION.

1. I request an estimate in writing before you begin repairs. _________________________________________________

2. Please proceed with repairs, but call me before continuing if the price will exceed $ _____.
__________________________________________________

3. I do not want an estimate.
_________________________________________________"

(b) If the statement of estimate alternatives under par. (a) is printed on a separate document, rather than on the repair order, the separate document shall include the repair order number or other information which uniquely identifies the authorization with the repair order. The shop shall keep a copy of the signed authorization with its records.

(3)   Firm price quotation.

(a) A firm price quotation, if provided, shall be written on the repair order and shall be accompanied by the following conspicuous statement on the repair order:

"THIS PRICE FOR THE AUTHORIZED REPAIRS WILL NOT BE EXCEEDED IF THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS DELIVERED TO THE SHOP WITHIN 5 DAYS."

(b) A shop may not exceed the firm price quoted under par. (a) for the specified repairs to the vehicle, component, part or accessory, if the customer delivers that motor vehicle, component, part or accessory to the shop within 5 days after the date on which the firm price is quoted.

(c) Notwithstanding sub. (4) , a shop is not required to give a customer an estimate for repairs if the shop gives the customer a firm price quotation under par. (a) for those repairs.

(4)   Estimate required. If any of the following has occurred, a shop representative shall give the customer an oral or written estimate, and shall write that estimate on the repair order before the shop starts any repairs whose total price may exceed $50:

(a) The customer has signed estimate alternative 1 under sub. (2) .

(b) There has been face-to-face contact between the customer and a shop representative, but the customer has not signed any of the estimate alternatives under sub. (2) .

(c) The shop has accepted any prepayment from the customer.

(d) The customer has requested an estimate before authorizing a repair under s. ATCP 132.02 .

History: Cr. Register, January, 1994, No. 457 , eff. 1-1-95.