Citroen warranty that isn't - consumer rights?

ilesmark

Hi all

Just come across this in last week's Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/feb/05/citroen-warranty-worthless

It was a Citroen, but it could have been about any make of car.

My question - why doesn't Mr Luty simply a) rely on the 2 year EU consumer rights directive, b) use the Sale Of Goods Act as he could with a TV, washing machine or any other consumer good that had failed too soon (both avenues that have been talked about at length in this forum before), c) sue the garage for negligence in not changing his oil or d) all 3?

Look forward to hearing the thoughts of anyone with experience on this.

Mark

maninthestreet

ilesmark wrote: »

Hi all

Just come across this in last week's Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/feb/05/citroen-warranty-worthless

It was a Citroen, but it could have been about any make of car.

My question - why doesn't Mr Luty simply a) rely on the 2 year EU consumer rights directive, b) use the Sale Of Goods Act as he could with a TV, washing machine or any other consumer good that had failed too soon (both avenues that have been talked about at length in this forum before), c) sue the garage for negligence in not changing his oil or d) all 3?

.
Look forward to hearing the thoughts of anyone with experience on this.

Mark

The car is over 4 years old now, and was over 2 years old when the clutch burnt out for second time, so the 2 year EU consumer rights directive does not apply.

vaio

ilesmark wrote: »

.......My question - why doesn't Mr Luty simply a) rely on the 2 year EU consumer rights directive, b) use the Sale Of Goods Act as he could with a TV, washing machine or any other consumer good that had failed too soon (both avenues that have been talked about at length in this forum before), c) sue the garage for negligence in not changing his oil or d) all 3?.......

Because he’s an older man who believes what the garage told him and naively assumes that because he’s bought 8 cars & associated servicing off them over his life time then he’ll be regarded as a valued customer and looked after.

A lot of people make that mistake particularly with car dealer & insurance companies only to discover later that it’s a load of nonsense and the traders involved are only concerned with putting their hands in your pockets & helping themselves to your money and only get “helpful” when the courts or newspapers get involved.

What he should do is find a lawyer with the temperament of a rottweiler and set him on them

pendulum

That is a poor show for Citroen, they have done themselves a lot of PR damage there. I am really surprised they did not cough up after being approached by journalists and so on. Bad form. Hopefully the "independent" (I hope it is independent...) arbitrator finds in the guys favour.

HiTo

Never and I mean never miss a oil change service in a Peugoet/Citroen DV6 engine and always and I mean always use the oil specification as stated in the owners handbook.

MrRedundant

Of course if Mr Luty is so confident he has been wronged he can use the SOGA and demand a settlement.

Also when was the last time you heard of a dealer refusing a service to do an inspection instead?

ilesmark

All - thanks. It wasn't my fight, but one day a similar issue might be and I just wanted to double-check I was thinking along the right lines re the legal position.

Strider590

Having read the article..... He's done what a lot of people do and relied solely on the dealership to look after HIS car.

This is the attitude many people have:
Slight noise from engine? Nevermind, it's due a service in 6 months time....
Headlights not working? Nevermind, it's not due it's MOT until next year....

Flyboy152

pendulum wrote: »

That is a poor show for Citroen, they have done themselves a lot of PR damage there. I am really surprised they did not cough up after being approached by journalists and so on. Bad form. Hopefully the "independent" (I hope it is independent...) arbitrator finds in the guys favour.

I mostly agree, but the liabiltiy is clouded. Is it selling dealer's (now no longer in existannce) fault, is it the existing dealer's fault, is it Citroen's fault or the owner's fault?

Flyboy152

HiTo wrote: »

Never and I mean never miss a oil change service in a Peugoet/Citroen DV6 engine and always and I mean always use the oil specification as stated in the owners handbook.

Sage advice for most cars, unless it is a Ford. From what I understand, Ford have just changed their recommended oil supplier and if you have the previous make of oil in your engine, it may invalidate your warranty.