Warranty work OK to be carried out at non franchise dealers?

Mikex

Just heard on the radio that something to the effect ... due to an EU ruling car manufacturers are going to have to relinquish their requirement for warranty work to be carried out at franchised dealerships. (as has been the case ref servicing for a number of years).

This news is timely as I have had my Land Rover to main dealers twice for the same warranty issue (leaking oil) and it is still not fixed. I wrote to Land Rover to ask if I could take my vehicle in to a more reliable independant garage to have the work carried out correctly but they refused.

Maybe now they will not be able to refuse?

Please has anyone heard the same news/does anyone know any more detail?

Thanks

Mike

Hammyman

This is not new news, its around 3 years old or more. Providing the work is done to the correct standard using genuine parts, the manufacturer cannot welch on a warranty claim.

Hintza

Mikex wrote: »

relinquish their requirement for warranty work to be carried out at franchised dealerships. (as has been the case ref servicing for a number of years).

Are you sure that is what they are saying? I understood that it was an extension that you could have servicing carried out elswhere and the manufacturer had to provide technical knowledge.

I'm not sure if it covers warranty work as well.

I haven't phrased it very well but I hope it gets my point across,

Mikex

Funny how threads can become confused so quickly.

HAMMYMAN - There is no dispute regarding warranty work. I simply require my local competent & trustworthy garage to carry out my warranty work as well as my servicing. Land Rover main dealers have had 2 opportunities to solve my oil leak and have failed.



HINTZA - Yes I am sure the news item refers to warranty work.

However I thought a post on here would have discovered more people who heard the news and one two able to pontificate further.

Thanks

Mike

Hintza

Jeannie is the person who knows most about this but she hasn't be on for awhile.

Weirdlittleman

I very much doubt this is the case.
Warranties are contractual rather than statutory requirements and I doubt they could be forced to be provided outwith dealers repairs. The servicing was a bit different.

oldagetraveller

I heard something about this on the radio yesterday but didn't pay much attention!
From what I did take in there's a new EU dictat (or something) which compels manufacturers to divulge any necessary service/technical information, software updates etc. to independents, breakdown companies etc. There was also something mentioned about keys (as in ignition) whereby independent locksmiths and similar could also obtain information about those.
As mentioned, didn't really take it in so the above could be total garbage! I didn't catch anything referring to warranty work though. Who would pay for that anyway and how would it be claimed from the manufacturer if an independent carried out said warranty work?
Whatever the new rule they did comment that the manufacturers will find a loophole somewhere to avoid compliance.

Mikex

I have to agree it did seem odd to me and must concede I did not hear it personally. Posted on here to get to the bottom of it.

A search on google revealed there is a new EU rule introduced on 1st June 2010 which addresses the subject of servicing & repairs. Seems like an update to the law requiring manufacturers to allow non franchise dealers to carry out this work. However I now understand that manufacturers can still require all warranty work to be carried out in their own franchised dealerships. DRAT!!!

Sorry to cause any confusion.

Mike

TiTheRev

Why on earth would you want FREE warranty work to be done at a garage that knows half as much about the car in question as a main dealer, and probably be using inferior products or techniques to a lower standard?! Block exemption has been in effect for around 6/7 years, and you can get your servicing done at any fred-in-a-shed as long as they stick to the service regime, using genuine filters/fluids etc, and this does not invalidate the warranty, but the nature of warranty work is for the manufacturer to see why products fail and investigate them. Why would it be beneficial for these processes to be lost?

Mikex

TITHEREV.

The answer to your question is simple.

I have experienced the service on offer from Land Rover main dealers once TOO OFTEN!

The damage incured includes:

Broken windscreen while carrying out a routine service.

Security wheel nuts ruined.

Wheel trim broken.

Gearbox smashed. They turned the key whilst in gear.

Witnessed dealership staff playing football in the dealership car park among brand new and customers cars including my own.

Gearbox left engaged in DIFF LOCK to be collected after service.


You may also note from my previous posts in this thread the main Land Rover dealers have had 2 failed attempts at stemming the flow of oil from my vehicle without success. My nearest Land Rover dealer is 100 mile round trip which is about 4 gallons of fuel & a whole day lost.

Unlike you I am not brainwashed into believing because they are the officially approved Land Rover dealers they are competent. My personal experience of owning 9 new Land Rovers firmly indicates this is not the case.

My most recent experience is on 1st April I booked my vehicle in for the warranty work (oil leak). The booking was for 1000 29th April. On 28th April I phoned the dealer to check whether they had remembered the appointment and whether they had the necessary parts. The answer was yes then no. The parts would not be in until 1400 on the 29th April at the earliest. Possibly would not be delivered until next day. They had only had 4 weeks to remember to order the parts!

Like many others I do not take kindly to being !!!!ed about.

I am also firmly of the opinion I have been lied to by main dealer sales staff with regard to the construction & rustproofing of the vehicles.

Thanks for your reply.

Mike

Weirdlittleman

Mikex wrote: »

TITHEREV.

The answer to your question is simple.

I have experienced the service on offer from Land Rover main dealers once TOO OFTEN!

The damage incured includes:

Broken windscreen while carrying out a routine service.

Security wheel nuts ruined.

Wheel trim broken.

Gearbox smashed. They turned the key whilst in gear.

Witnessed dealership staff playing football in the dealership car park among brand new and customers cars including my own.

Gearbox left engaged in DIFF LOCK to be collected after service.


You may also note from my previous posts in this thread the main Land Rover dealers have had 2 failed attempts at stemming the flow of oil from my vehicle without success. My nearest Land Rover dealer is 100 mile round trip which is about 4 gallons of fuel & a whole day lost.

Unlike you I am not brainwashed into believing because they are the officially approved Land Rover dealers they are competent. My personal experience of owning 9 new Land Rovers firmly indicates this is not the case.

My most recent experience is on 1st April I booked my vehicle in for the warranty work (oil leak). The booking was for 1000 29th April. On 28th April I phoned the dealer to check whether they had remembered the appointment and whether they had the necessary parts. The answer was yes then no. The parts would not be in until 1400 on the 29th April at the earliest. Possibly would not be delivered until next day. They had only had 4 weeks to remember to order the parts!

Like many others I do not take kindly to being !!!!ed about.

I am also firmly of the opinion I have been lied to by main dealer sales staff with regard to the construction & rustproofing of the vehicles.

Thanks for your reply.

Mike

Lots of crap normal mechanics too.
For the record post number 7 is what I think you caught. Existing legislation has been extended to stop manufacturers keeping essential info secret hence forcing people into dealerships.