If anyone would like to join me in filing a complaint pls shoot me an email. I’ve had about 6 people say the same.
We are now facing a $900 bill to change the starter which we are being told took 4 hours and 2 mechanics…. Stupidly we have been reliant on these guys and been there so many times now it feels really unethical. On Nov 22, 2025, at 8:49 AM, E Lieblich <[email protected]> wrote: I just heard from another person that had a bad experience at this gas station. Maybe if enough people file consumer complaints with the Attorney General's office against this place, they'll at least be on the radar. The Attorney General's motor vehicle regulations, primarily 940 CMR 5.00 in Massachusetts, sets rules for advertising, sales, and repairs of motor vehicles in Massachusetts to prevent unfair or deceptive business practices. Consumers are guaranteed rights such as receiving a written estimate before repairs. In regards to them doing work on vehicles beyond the scope of what the car was initially brought in for I found this. "In Massachusetts, auto repair shops—including gas stations performing mechanical repairs that go beyond minor services—are legally required to provide a written estimate before starting any work. The customer does not need to explicitly ask for an estimate; the shop must provide it proactively. This requirement stems from the Attorney General’s Motor Vehicle Repair Regulations, codified at 940 CMR 5.05. * What the Law Requires * Written estimate must be provided and signed: Before beginning any work, a repair shop must give you a written estimate that lists the specific repairs to be made, including parts, labor, and cost. You must sign it. Mass.gov+1<https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-consumer-guide-mechanics-of-auto-repair?utm_source=chatgpt.com> What About Gas Stations? * Minor services exemption: Gasoline service stations that offer only minor repairs—like tire changes, fan belt or oil filter replacement, replacing light bulbs or batteries, or windshield wiper blades—are exempt from some of these requirements. Mass.gov<https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-consumer-guide-mechanics-of-auto-repair?utm_source=chatgpt.com> * If work is beyond minor repairs: If the gas station performs diagnostics or major mechanical repairs, it’s treated like a regular auto repair shop and must follow the estimate rules above. What Is Considered "Minor Services"? According to 940 CMR 5.02, minor services include: 1. Changing tires 1. Replacing fan belts 1. Changing oil filters 1. Replacing light bulbs 1. Installing batteries 1. Replacing windshield wiper blades 2. 3. Why This Matters - If a gas station or shop only performs these minor services, it is not required to provide a written estimate in advance. However, once a shop performs anything beyond these tasks, such as: * Engine diagnostics * Brake work * Suspension repairs * Transmission service * Electrical system troubleshooting * …it is no longer considered “minor service”, and the full consumer protection laws kick in, requiring: * A written estimate * Your signature * Authorization for any overages On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM Robrecht Thoonen <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hi Sophie, So far I have appreciated their service for the quick turnaround, most always getting a replacement car and not seeming to point out ‘new’ issues to my car that need immediate fixing. However, I have had a couple of head scratchers lately in situations where my initial quote for a repair went up by a lot because they had to replace another part in the same spot. This can evidently happen since they need to open up the can to see what’s in it, but what I didn’t like was that the call ahead of the repair was ‘a little more’, which then turned out ‘a lot’ in addition to the lack of a detailed invoice. If $300 turns in to $1300 it does not make me happy. However, whenever I get gas they seem genuinely concerned about the quality of their repairs and always check if my car has been good since their repair. I am sticking to them for now, but we’ll see if there will be more surprises in the future. The dealership is certainly much more expensive than they are and they always want to replace a bunch of things that do not need replacing . Best, Rob __ Robrecht Thoonen 8 Hawk Hill Rd Lincoln, MA, 01773 > On Nov 21, 2025, at 7:29 PM, sophie dixon > <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > Hi there, would love to hear people’s thoughts on the Weston Gas garage on > 117 good or bad with regards car repairs / replacement of parts. > > It’s hard to figure out if certain quotes they give are reasonable but we’ve > had a series of issues with our car and it’s starting to seem quite expensive > but hard to gauge. And we are often in a bind when we need the car and a > quick fix vs being in a position to shop around. > > Thanks! > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- Liz Lieblich
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
