Why is there so much shadiness in Car Mechanics?

I’ve moved city in the last 2 years so I no longer am able to use the local familiar repair centre I’m used to. + I’ve had numerous car problems in the last year and a half, so had to bite the bullet and pay a visit to a few different ones Im not used to.

And surprise surprise I’ve come away with feeling mugged off pretty much each time. Or at least the next time I take it in (to a different place) they tell me the previous work is shit and I should think about getting it sorted??? It’s madness and I honestly can’t understand how there’s not more laws in place with the mechanics/repair trade.

A few things that have happened are below;

Charged £100 for labour to change brake discs on rear wheels + charged £80 labour to change brake pads on rear wheels. - I get business is business but this sounds like a massive pisstake to me. ( this was a Halfords auto centre, so they do live up to the shit reputation, I can confirm).

The handbrake cable snapped so took it to a local garage, got it fixed for a caliper under the handbrake needed fixing too apparently?? No problem £280 though but they fixed it, or so I thought. -> MOT later that year asked me what the fuck has happened to my handbrake as it looks majorly tempered with? Of course failed the MOT because of it. Luckily, the MOT garage managed to sort the problem ( can’t remember how much for).

Got an oil change. About 2 weeks later had a problem with coolant leaking. Had an RAC dude come check it out as part of my insurance and he diagnosed the problem as the thermostat housing was leaking/broken. Fair enough, I thought.

Took it in to a NEW place ( Never used before as pissed off with everywhere I’ve been so far). I thought I’d be helpful and give a copy of the report from RAC dude to this new place so they know what’s happening. Then as you can imagine, shenanigans comes my way.

Bloke from garage calls me up to say, we took a look at your oil and think you need an oil change??? I remained polite and just said no thanks. So either the original place I got the oil changed 2 weeks prior were fucking with me, or this new place was. ( in hindsight, why’s he checking the oil out for a coolant leak).

He then goes £395 to replace the thermostat housing. Okay must have been a big job then for them, I’m thinking.

Then I go to pick my car up, and look at the quote. Got charged around £95 for an investigation fee???? £95 for a problem I told them on the RAC report?? I get they need to have a look themselves but £95?? Really? Just to see that when you put some coolant in, it pisses everywhere. They then charged me £95 labour x 2.

… It genuinely feels like every time I go to one of these places i just come away feeling like I’m getting fucked with. They just try and sting you with as much charges as they can/feel like.All the garages I’ve used, all seem fully booked pretty much all the time so they can’t be struggling financially wise. It seems so u ethical, but I’ve looked at the google reviews and they all appear pretty good.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Or advice for using repair centres? Or any other similar stories?

Cheers,