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Our auto insurance renewed recently and for the 6th time in a row (3 times with another carrier) my Yaris has been granted a discount due to having ABS. There's just one problem - it doesn't have it. ABS wasn't even an option on the NA 2007 builds. There is no ABS indicator light, no "box" interrupting the brake lines, no pedal pulsations under heavy braking.

The insurance companies think it has ABS because of some flag in the VIN registry. Even though I tell them that the car doesn't have it they all insist that it does, and they apply the discount.

I know they're wrong but trying to argue against a centralized database like a VIN registry is a futile effort, and even if it is possible to correct the registry I know it would be time consuming and likely costly.

For these reasons I just let it lie, and tell myself to be satisfied that I told them of the error.

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We are about to get hardwood flooring installed in our home as the builder-installed nylon carpet is worn out. While we've gone to the trouble of making sure the wood comes from a sustainable source and isn't chemically treated, as well as getting it sealed with a natural no-VOC option, we've run into a snag with the installation company.

My wife has handled the setup of this effort and has had to bail on another company that simply did not seem honest or much interested in our project, so when dealing with the second company she made it clear up front that she wanted an all-in estimate that would be set to no more than 5% from the actual final cost. The owner was happy to provide this for her and went the extra mile in giving her an absolute dollar amount and flamboyantly promising that we would never be asked for as much as single dollar more.

We were excited about this until a few days later when we realized he had not included the wood delivery fee nor the carpet removal fee (together these are worth around $800). Bless his heart, although he was not happy at all with himself for these oversights he is adamant about sticking to his promise. Though we offered to pay him the difference he will not accept it.

While we admire him for sticking to his promise we also know that margins can be small on these projects, and in today's economy every dollar counts - especially for the self employed. We can afford his error more than he can right now, but what price can you put on someone's sense of honor?

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An old friend of mine would say that these are the times when his karma ran over his dogma. :o

I guess you could give the floor guy a really big tip.

Having been on both sides of similar situations, I'd either of recommend the following:

1) Telling the guy that you appreciate the honesty and he did a good job, so you'd like to split the diff. This may be easier for him to swallow his pride.

2) Tell him you appreciate it & you'd like a couple cards to give to friends (if any are in the market). The repeat/referral business & goodwill will usually make up for his loss.

You did the right thing by being truthful. It is up to the individual (or company rep) to correct it.

For these reasons I just let it lie, and tell myself to be satisfied that I told them of the error.
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While we admire him for sticking to his promise we also know that margins can be small on these projects, and in today's economy every dollar counts - especially for the self employed. We can afford his error more than he can right now, but what price can you put on someone's sense of honor?


Point 1: You did your job. The only thing you can do is bring it up to them, and maybe make sure that your concerns go a couple of levels up. Talk to the supervisor, then their supervisor.

Point 2: I also applaud his stance that he will keep to his word. What I would suggest in your case is give him a tip of an amount you feel is appropriate. If that amount is really close to that $800 and/or the 5% variance you originally asked for you can explain it that way. Or just give it to him as thanks for his honorable stance, which is all too rare in these days.

We are just starting out in a similar business, and we have taken a couple of (thankfully) smaller lumps on estimates. It's part of our learning process with it, but we stand by the estimates.

2) Tell him you appreciate it & you'd like a couple cards to give to friends (if any are in the market). The repeat/referral business & goodwill will usually make up for his loss.

Very good answer, and I missed this when I first read through the thread.

I had a couple different contracting business's before and never had to advertise. Word of mouth is the best form to use. In both, I stayed months behind in booking. If a customer had an issue, I would deal with it promptly to their satisfaction.

The biggest one that comes to mind is a 4500 square foot house that I just got the floor framing down and the husband and wife dropped by. She sees a box of nails marked "made in China"and promptly states, "I want everything used in my house made in the USA!"

Her husband and I had a "little talk" he agreed to the labels being removed on items that we could not find made in the USA.

My concern regarding the Yaris is that the insurance company might use it as an excuse to drop you or not cover you after an accident. It would be nice to have a paper trail of some sort, even an application that shows that you did not indicate ABS. A little paranoid but...

Keith