TOP THIS IF YOU CAN

leosayer39

Hi all,

Gail,

Forty quid for a front bulb supplied and fitted? Yes, they saw you coming. Unless, that is, it was something really special.

Normal halogen bulbs are about a fiver, and a piece of cake to fit. (if you have small hands).

Regarding the legislation that states that your bulb has to be working before you drive away. Ask them which legislation that they are talking about. I would have thought that even if you had been stopped, by the police, for having a headlight out, then they would not have taken your car off the the road.

They could however make you have your bulb replaced, and then they can make you take the vehicle to an mot station in order for them to stamp the form that they might have given to you. Once stamped by an mot garage the form is then usually taken to your police station together with your documents (mot certificate and certificate of insurance). All this is normally done within seven days.

What does the receipt say? It should detail the cost of the item and the cost of the labour to fit it.

[move]Leo [/move]

esuhl

Having had a fire in my fusebox at 1am at the top of Box Hill, I called the AA (wasn't a member at the time). They came, changed a fuse and advised my to buy a new headlamp from a nearby petrol station.

The thoroughly unpleasant (v. rude & dirty) man said an invoice for £250 would be on its way.

Because I broke down after midnight, I was able to go to an AA shop for 9am that morning and added myself to my fathers cover for about £10. I never did get the £250 bill. ;D

gransblj

I have been using a Ford main dealer for the past year (under warrenty I have to otherwise its void)

My battery was playing up so I took the car in. A nice man said they could test it & if fault a new one (5 year guarantee would be about £50)

Ok I said.

When the bill came they had charged me £40 for a drop test to check the battery. :-[ :-[ if I'd known how much I'd have just gone for the battery straight off!

I have stopping going there now - I always got the feeling I was being taken for a ride (and I don't mean their courtesy car) :'(

flossie_2

Gail, not sure if my story tops yours, but I guess it's along the lines of a female being expected to know nothing about cars. I took my car to the main dealer in my area as the central locking had failed. After 3 trips to the garage which were necessary because they (a) didn't have time to look at it even though it was booked in, (b) hadn't got the part in stock, (c) the man who does locks isn't here (not necessarily in that order), it was fixed and I was charged £137. Less than two months later it failed again. Told them I wanted it fixed under warranty. They agreed, but only if it was found to be the same part which had failed again. The car was in all day, and when I phoned at 5.30 to see when it would be ready (if ever), I was told the fault had been identified (different fault to last time, they said) and it would cost £137 (surprise) to fix, and they'd need to order the part so it couldn't be fixed today. My husband took over the phone call at that point and told them he wanted the car brought back immediately and that he was going to have an independent expert look at it. Two hours later the car was delivered to my house and the keys handed over by the garage odd-job man. No discussion about repair or non-repair took place. To my surprise, the locking system (which you'll recall needed this part to be ordered) had mysteriously been fixed in the intervening two hours. I never received a bill or anything else from them. Call me a cynic, but I think they saw me coming!

deanos

I have been using a Ford main dealer for the past year (under warrenty I have to otherwise its void)

Isnt that illegal ?

My Vectra has only had one VX stamp but they main dealer did a few repairs under warranty and they knew it didnt have FVSH

COS

Can anyone top this?

I was charged £62:00  from a well known car dealers for 2 window wipers to be  supplied and fitted.

Can this rip off be beaten?

You could ay that you 've been rippd off by a windscreen Viper.

Sorry could'nt resist that one

Hugh_man

I ve just bought a small 3 year old Daewoo Matiz for my daughter, unfortunately the previous owner only had one key and my local Daewoo dealer has quoted me £30 for replacement key plus £60 to programme immobiliser plus VAT no doubt. Sounds rather excessive, any suggestions would be welcome.

Smartasss

Mrs S/A bought a KA from a Ford Main Dealer.

Not long after the indicator bulb blew.

I followed the handbook, but just couldn't see how to get at the bulb connector.

Went back to FMD for advice - told me they'd have to remove battery + other components, have to leave it with them.

Would cost 1 hours labour, but they would use the spare bulb I'd already bought, so no charge for parts!!

Another customer waiting to be served overheard the conversation and showed me how to get at the connector (the handbook instructions were misleading) -took less than 10 seconds!!

Michael_Howley

;D
Hi, like everyone else here I love being ripped off in this country, especially by garages.

Not long after I bought my brand new Mazda 626; I asked a main dealer for a price for a mobile phone holder.

The holder, which only held the phone and was not a hands free kit was quoted at some £275 including fitting but exclusive of VAT.

When shown the part, it did appear that it would have to be stuck to the dashboard by a Neanderthall, otherwise how could it cost that much?

When I declined they were very miffed and told me that I HAD to buy it as they had bought it in specially.

To this day my heart bleeds for them and for the owner of the garage chain who I frequently see moping about in one his many Aston Martins or the occasional Rolls.

As a matter of interest the Mazda 626 has been one of the best things that I have ever bought, 4.5 yrs and 166,000 miles and the car has not had one repair and has only visited garages for servicing and brakes.

Best of all I didn't buy it from the offending garage.

TREVORCOLMAN

As we are on the subject of cars I wonder how much I should be paying for a 2 year service for a Nissan Almera. Was quoted £180 by local dealer. Is this reasonable or not and any advice on getting the service for less? Thanks in advance.

Trev