Question about service on a VW Golf

[Navy ECMO]

The girl I am seeing in Vancouver Canada drives a newer VW Golf (prob. an '02 or so). She just recently took it in for a regular service and they quoted her $160 CAD. She read to me what they did and it sounds like it was a regular oil change and tire rotation plus the standard BS stuff like checking (not necessarily servicing) the fluids, tire pressure, brake pads, etc. She told them repeatedly that if if there is going to be anything that will make it more expensive, to call her first.

She got the car back and first they told her it would be $360 CAD. She naturally throws the BS flag and they come back 10 minutes later and tell her "Sorry, there was a mistake." but now the bill is nearly $200 with no explanationas to why it was wrong. $20 of that was a new tail light bulb that she's not convinced was even broken in the first place. She can't confirm it because they didn't give her the defective part they replaced. Plus they just took it upon themselves to replace it without consulting/notifying her first (against her explicit instructions) and demonstrating to her that it was in fact broken.

To me the original quote of $160 seems extremely high for the service they did (I drive a brand new Infiniti and it doesn't cost that much). It is a diesel, so I don't know if that makes a difference but it doesn't seem like it should. Plus, should she be responsible for paying for the tail light that they "fixed" without authorization? Your advice will be much appreciated.

[GZire]

Here's how I see it.

She was quoted $160CAD (which may or may not be high, don't really know what's involved in the service). She authorized (at least verbally and probably in writing on the pre-servicing formwork) the work up to $160CAD and clearly made it known that anything beyond this required her authorization prior to it being performed (again standard practice).

Invoice comes in over the cost quoted and authorized. She is not responsible for the additional costs.

[NWG35]

What GZ said - in the US, you only have to pay what they quote you for, if they think or know they will surpass this, they MUST call you or get in touch with you to get the OK for upping the cost.

[Navy ECMO]

Thanks for the help guys!