FAQ
Honest Answers
No corporate speak. Straight answers to real questions.
Getting Started
How does FixBid work?
You post a repair request (car info + photos + description). Verified local shops see it and submit competitive quotes. You compare and accept the best one. No phone calls, no waiting on hold.
Is it free to use?
Yes — completely free for customers. No signup fee, no hidden markup, no subscription. You only pay the shop you choose, at the price they quoted.
Do I need to create an account?
Yes, a free account is required so shops can communicate with you and you can track your requests.
How long until I get quotes?
Most requests receive their first quote within a few hours. If you get no response in 24 hours, try re-posting or broadening your zip code.
Shops & Verification
How are shops verified?
We manually review each shop before they can bid. We check the BAR license, EIN, and basic business legitimacy. Verification does not mean we inspected the shop or guarantee their work quality — reviews from real customers are the best signal for that.
What does the "Verified" badge mean?
It means the shop passed our basic legitimacy check: real business, working contact, valid BAR license. It does not mean we endorse their work quality. Always check their star rating and reviews.
Can I see shop reviews before accepting a quote?
Yes. Every shop has a public profile with customer reviews and a star rating. We strongly recommend reading reviews before accepting.
What if a shop has no reviews yet?
New shops won't have reviews. You can still accept their quote — just be aware there's less track record. Ask questions via in-app messaging before committing.
Disputes & Safety
What if a shop ghosts me after I accept their quote?
If a shop doesn't respond within 24 hours of quote acceptance, you can re-open your request. Email timur@fixbid.app with the job ID and we'll investigate. Shops that ghost customers lose their verified status.
What if the final price is higher than the quote?
Quotes are estimates. Shops should flag price changes before starting work. If a shop significantly exceeds the quote without your approval, document it and contact timur@fixbid.app. You are not obligated to pay for unauthorized work.
Can I cancel after accepting a quote?
Before the shop starts work: contact them via in-app messaging to cancel. After work has started: negotiate directly with the shop. FixBid does not process payments, so refunds are between you and the shop.
What if I have a serious dispute?
Email timur@fixbid.app with your job ID, description, and any evidence. We respond within 48 hours. We can mediate, remove bad actors, and assist with escalation.
Does FixBid process payments?
No. You pay the shop directly. This means we cannot issue refunds — payment disputes are between you and the shop.
Pricing & Fees
How much does FixBid cost?
Free for customers. Always. Shops pay a flat monthly membership ($29, $69, or $149) — see the pricing page for full details.
Does FixBid add a markup to quotes?
No. The price a shop quotes is the price you pay the shop. FixBid takes nothing from the quote amount.
How does FixBid make money?
Shops pay one of three flat monthly memberships ($29 Starter, $69 Pro, $149 Premium) depending on how many neighborhoods they want to cover. That's the entire revenue model. No per-job commission, no markup on quotes, no fees charged to customers.
Privacy & Data
Who can see my repair request?
Verified shops in your service area can see your request details, photos, and zip code. Your personal contact info is NOT shared until you accept a quote.
Do you sell my data?
No. We do not sell user data to third parties.
Is my data secure?
Yes. Passwords are bcrypt-hashed. Sessions are HMAC-signed. Data is stored in Supabase with row-level security. All connections are HTTPS.
How do I delete my account?
Two ways: if you're logged in, go to Settings → Privacy & data → Request deletion. If you can't log in, use our public webform at /privacy/request — no account required. We respond within 45 days as required by California CCPA.
For repair shops
For Shops — Joining
How do I list my shop?
Go to /signup, pick "Apply as a shop", and submit your business name, BAR license, EIN, business address, and phone. We manually review every application and respond within 1–2 business days. You can browse open requests immediately, but you can't submit quotes until we activate your account.
What do I need to get verified?
A valid California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) license number, your federal EIN, a real business address, and a working phone. We check the BAR registry directly. If your license is valid and your business looks legitimate, you're approved.
How long does verification take?
Usually within 1–2 business days. If we need more info we'll email you. While pending, you'll see a banner on your dashboard and can browse the marketplace but not submit quotes.
Why do you need my EIN?
For 1099 reporting if we ever pay you (we don't today since we use a flat-membership model — but if we add referral payouts or escrow later, we already have what we need). Your EIN is stored encrypted and never shown publicly.
What if my application gets rejected?
You'll get an email with the reason and a link to update your profile. Most rejections are for invalid BAR numbers or missing info — fixable in a few minutes.
For Shops — Memberships & Quoting
Which membership tier should I pick?
Starter ($29/mo) covers one zip code and is great if you serve a single neighborhood. Pro ($69/mo) covers up to 5 zip codes and gets priority placement in customer search results — best for most active shops. Premium ($149/mo) covers all of LA County, gets top of search, and a Featured badge.
I just signed up — when do I start paying?
Founding LA County shops get the Premium plan free for 3 months. After that, you can pick any tier or cancel. Your card is only charged when the comp expires AND you choose to stay on a paid plan.
How do customers find me?
When a customer in your zip codes posts a repair request matching your services, you see it in your "Opportunities" feed. You quote, they compare, they pick. Higher-tier plans rank higher in customer results.
Is there a per-job fee or commission?
No. Your monthly membership is the only fee. Whatever you quote, you keep. We never take a cut of the repair price.
How do I get more reviews?
Reviews are bidirectional and only happen after a job is fully complete (both sides confirm). Treat customers well and they'll review you. We can't solicit fake reviews from anyone — every review is tied to a real completed job.
Can I dispute a bad review?
You can flag it for admin review (e.g. if it contains fake info or violates our guidelines). Three flags from different users auto-hides it pending review. We don't remove reviews just because they're negative — but we do remove ones that are abusive or factually wrong.
What if a customer ghosts after accepting my quote?
Email timur@fixbid.app with the job ID. We'll investigate and may suspend the customer. We're working on a deposit/no-show fee system to prevent this proactively.
Can I cancel any time?
Yes. Settings → Membership → Manage billing opens the Stripe portal where you can cancel or switch tiers. No contracts, no early-termination fees. You keep access until the end of the billing cycle.
How do I update my profile or business info?
Settings → Shop profile. You can edit business name, address, phone, services, and zip codes. Major changes (new BAR license number, new business name) trigger re-verification.