Volkswagen Repair: Timing Belt, state attorney general, better business bureau

Question
Hopefully I am not getting fleeced.  My timing belt on my 98 passat recently went.  I took it to my mechanic who told me it did an extensive amount of damage.  The estimate he gave me was between 2500 hundred and 3500 hundred!  One part in particular peaked my interest.  He ssaid that he had to take the cylinder head to a machine shop to be refurbished.  That part alone on the he originally estimated between 400 and 1000.  He called me when he got it back and said that it was actually 1800 for that part alone.  After doing some checking with my local VW dealer, and some online research.  I came to find that a brand new cylinder head parts labor and all is around 1050!  When I asked my mechanic about it he told me that the places I researched weren't including the valves, and that is why the cost for that part was so high.  I am not really sure what is going on, in fact the only thing I am clear on from him is that my estimate has now ballooned to 3700 hundred.  The enigine in my car is a 4cylinder 1.8 liter 20 valve.  Does that sound normal?
thanks
Rob S. Kniss

Answer
Rob, thank you for your question.  I personally have seen a timing belt cause 1500 in damage.  While it is true that when the belt goes damage to the valves, head and possibly pistons will occur. But the cost is where I have serious problems. The price really should be no higher than 1600 to at worst 1800.  I just checked with Automotive Machine in Fort Worth Texas and that is the price that Steve gave me for it (that includes every single valve and the gaskets)  In addition I would be curious as to the labor charge.  It should not be more than 10 to 15 hours of remove and replace time.  It really sounds like the shop doing the work, is not being completely honest, which does happen.  You could contact the dealer and ask what they would charge, usually they are MUCH higher!  You can always contact the consumer relations department in your state or the state attorney general or the Better Business Bureau.  Do not expect real fast action out of any of these groups.  Their investigations to take time.
Hope that Helps