I got the invoice in the mail yesterday ... after posting!
They R/R'd the belt, tensioner, roller, couple nuts/studs, water pump & coolant. $975.74
That's a little bit more than $800 ... & I don't see anything unusual ... after reading here about timing belt change ... they certainly didn't call me with "additional work needed."
I guess I just don't understand the problem in 2010 being unwilling to contact a customer with information when the timeline/total work changes from the estimate. it's not like you have to send a smoke signal or pony express. Home phone, mobile phone, text, email ... good grief. As a service writer, isn't your primary responsibility commo w/ the customer??? I've had more time being seen by a doctor in this HMO cost overridden (now govt overridden) healthcare system than I had w/ this service writer ... despite my engaging with additional information.
If you're a owned/operated guy ... is it unreasonable to expect such contact at the end of the day ... maybe during lunch?
I can tolerate a LOT with an honest appraisal ... machines break ... but no commo isn't in that list of "tolerations."
Al