One afternoon after finishing a class at uni, I jumped into my car to find that it just wouldn't start.
I was in my early 20s with no real knowledge about the inner workings of automobiles. I was in a new city without my family to help.
So, I made the obvious move: I called my dad for advice.
It sounded to him like my starter motor was shot and needed replacing.
He suggested I call mechanics in my area to get quotes. Because I was a young female with no car knowledge, he was worried a mechanic might try to take me for a ride.
I called a mechanic just down my street and was quoted about $650.
According to Dad, that price sounded a bit steep (keeping in mind this was a few years ago) so he decided to call himself.
He was quoted $200 less than I was — and I was incensed.
A familiar experience for young women
When I shared my experience on social media recently, dozens of people got in touch with similar stories.
"I wanted to get a service done on my car and they wanted to charge me around $450 for it," explained 22-year-old South Coast woman Jessica Craft.
"I have a lot of knowledge on cars and mechanics … and, back then, I knew that was quite expensive for a general service.
"My partner at the time rang them up and he got a quote for $120 less than I had been quoted."
Sydney woman Rose Pennington, 24, also got in touch.
She dropped her car off for a service and got a call saying she needed several new parts, including a new radiator, which was going to cost her $3,000.
"I was instantly panicking," she says.
"I asked if they could explain what was needed to my boyfriend who was luckily very mechanical.
"Suddenly, when he was on the phone, I no longer needed all this work done."
Should you worry if your bill is more than expected?
Geoff Gwilym is chief executive of the Motor Trades Association of Australia.
He says there's no reason different people should be treated differently by a mechanic.
"Our message is very clear: Treat every single customer with dignity and respect," he says.
"Don't treat anybody like an idiot, [and] explain in detail why a repair needs to be carried out."
Mr Gwilym says consumers often baulk at unexpected expenses, even if the work is necessary.
"Often mechanics will just fix small things on cars and not even charge consumers for that," he says.
"But where things get out of control is when a mechanic does work on a car and doesn't talk to the consumer about that before they do the work.
"While it's often done in good faith … consumers get a bill they weren't expecting. That's normally where people start to get annoyed about pricing."
Ask why your car needs work and agree on how much it'll cost
Melissa Hardwicke is a qualified mechanic and runs her own business in Sydney's inner west.
She says while most mechanics do the right thing, there's a small handful that do wrong by their customers.
"Unfortunately all they tend to see is dollar signs," she says.
"They're the ones that give us a bad industry reputation."
Her advice is to get a clear understanding of the work your car needs — and exactly how much you'll need to pay.
"The customer often gets a phone call and is told they need all this work without the mechanic explaining why they need the work," she says.
"This can confuse people or make people think 'this is more expensive than expected'.
"If you don't think it sounds right, don't hesitate to get a second opinion."
To find a good mechanic, ask around
Mr Gwilym says one of the best ways to find a reliable mechanic is by asking around and checking reviews.
"Word of mouth in the automotive industry is a fantastic thing," he says.
"If somebody local had a really good experience at a dealership or a panel beater or a mechanic, that's always a great starting point."
If you feel like you've been overcharged, Mr Gwilym suggests trying to resolve the issue with the mechanic first.
If that doesn't work, you may be able to lodge a complaint with the fair trading body in your state.
For example, New South Wales Fair Trading can investigate complaints about the fair cost of mechanical repairs.
Finally, if you find a good mechanic, it can save you a lot of headaches.
I ended up asking a few friends and colleagues if they had someone they'd recommend. Through their tips, I found a great local mechanic.
He'll often find time to fit me in, and he's really affordable.
Most importantly, he's a lovely guy who's never made me feel stupid for not understanding what's wrong with my car.
He always takes the time to explain what work is needed and why, which I've found really helpful.
Keely Johnson is a reporter for ABC Newcastle.
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