Hidden charges at a garage!

benblowers

Hi everyone,

I just bought a £6000 car 2 weeks ago and its already been in the garage once to have suspension sorted as its making a lot of noise (still making noise after it was "fixed" so is booked in again on thursday).

Anyway, the other day I broke down due to a flat battery (sat listening to radio for 20 minutes and battery went dead) so I called the garage for some advice.

The branch manager said he would send someone out to have a look at it for me. I was shocked at this generous offer and have been singing their praises since (they jump started my car and off I went).

I today went to the garage to book my car in for the suspension problem, and they handed me a bill for 60 quid for fixing my car the other day when the battery went flat!!!

Am I right in feeling a bit robbed? Seeing as he didnt even hint at the fact there would be a charge.

I refused to pay today and I told the guy to speak to his manager as I wasnt happy being handed a bill I was unprepared for.

If I would have known it was gonna cost me 60 quid, I would have just phoned my friend.

Anyone got any suggestions? Do I have any rights here?

Many thanks

Ben

Radsteral

well if i wasnt told it gonna cost me, then i wouldnt pay or even if it went to court, why 60? maybe 6 pound- thats the price tag you put on that service they way they put 60 quid price tag.

also, you may have had, rac/aa cover so his''generosity'' not that welcomed

colino

You phoned a garage, they came out and provided a service but now you want it for free? Get real.

Stigy

Although it was more than likely your own fault that the battery went flat (having the stereo on without the engine running ), I can understand why you feel a bit let down. At the end of the day you called the same garage that sold you the car in order to gain advise, they then (presumably) came out to you of their own accord and jump started the car. Now I would have thought some good will would have been in order given that you paid £6,000 for the car, but, had the manager stated it would cost you £60 you'd have made other arrangements and probably not thought any worse of the garage, is that right?

Given that you clearly have issues with the car that I'd imagine are being fixed free of charge, I would imagine it's the garage manager's way of getting at least a little more money out of you. I suggest you ask him nicely to waive the £60 due to the inconvenience you've been caused reagrding the suspension!

Stigy

colino wrote: »

You phoned a garage, they came out and provided a service but now you want it for free? Get real.

I assumed this is all through the garage that sold the OP the car...could be wrong I guess!

Ben, can you clarify please?

benblowers

Thanks for your replies guys,

Yes I phoned the same garage that I bought the car from, less than 2 weeks after!

And surely cars less than 4 years old should be able to handle more than 20 minutes of radio listening.

Thanks Stigy I might use the "inconvenience" plug

dizzybuff

They should provide a 3 month warentee as standard . All items should have been done on this in theory that is.

Stigy

benblowers wrote: »

Thanks for your replies guys,

Yes I phoned the same garage that I bought the car from, less than 2 weeks after!

And surely cars less than 4 years old should be able to handle more than 20 minutes of radio listening.

Thanks Stigy I might use the "inconvenience" plug

If it's got a good battery then chances are 20-minutes of radio listening wont matter, but it very much depends on the mileage the battery has under its belt. Some cars seem to drain battery power quicker than others, too.

Given that you spent £6,000 with them, I'd suggest certain "goodwill" gestures are excersised! :j

benblowers

Hey dizzy, when I bought the car I managed to haggle a 12 month warranty. However, this charge they are charging me is for a "call out fee". I just wish they'd said "oh itll cost 55 pounds" cause then I would have called my mechanic friend who probably would have done it for a beer!

Strider590

benblowers wrote: »

And surely cars less than 4 years old should be able to handle more than 20 minutes of radio listening.

The chances are they've had the car for some time and allowed the battery to run flat (very common with car dealers), this drastically reduces battery life as it "sulfates" causing permanent internal damage.
This reduces the ability of the battery to maintain full voltage under heavy load.

Car batteries are only guaranteed by the manufacturer for between 3 and 4 years. So when you run flat an old battery, your asking for trouble.

Unfortunately though, a battery is a wear and tear item.

cyclonebri1

You will find out if they are sewrious about the £60 when you next go to pick up your car:rotfl:as in you won't be untill you pay.


However they really should not be trying this on with a car they have only recently supplied. Just bare in mind you may still actually need a new battery very soon, winter coming and all that. Negotiate the £60 offset as compensation for supplying a car with a suspect battery and source your own.;)