Car Garage Advice - No Service History

Honest_Hood

I purchased a 4 year old used car from Evans Halshaw around 3 weeks ago.

When I became interested in the car I asked the salesman if the car had full service history and he confirmed that it did.

On the day that I bought car the dealership serviced the car and when I asked them for the book to see the service stamp the salesman stated that the garage must have forgotten to put it back in the glovebox however he'd have it sent in the post to save me coming back out for it.

After a week I contacted the salesman and asked him if he had sent out the book to which he replied that there wasn't a book and that the servicing department would have another one sent out. I asked how they would be able to account for the previous services and he stated that they would sort it out.

I have since emailed the dealership to question how they can say the vehicle has full service history...funnily enough I have had no reply for over a week now. At this stage I don't know whether they ever had a book or whether it has been lost however I tend to think it has never had one given the reaction of the salesman.

1. Can anyone advice me as to how much less a car is worth without a service history? I paid £6000 for the car.

2. Also, am I in a postion to get some kind of refund for the difference and would this take into consideration the additional interest of my finance deal.

3. Any other advice as to who or how I should progress this would also be greatly appreciated as I predict Evans Halshaw are either going to ignore me or play this down.

bris

There is a definate price difference in a car with and without a service history but what that is would be down to make, model, year etc. A bit of research on your car could find a guide. I would be inclined to seek the difference back, either by mutual agreement or you could also get your credit finance company involved here as you have been mis sold. Evans Halshaw are more likely to take a complaint more seriously when the finance company get involved.

mo786uk

get some money back - sounds like a common ploy used by salesman TBH.

pompeyfaith

The service history can be verified just go to a main-dealer and ask for a print out of its service history this will give you everything they hold which is fine provided it has had a main-dealer service though out the cars life.

However, It will not show any servicing done by a non-franchised dealer/garage though.

Honest_Hood

pompeyfaith wrote: »

The service history can be verified just go to a main-dealer and ask for a print out of its service history this will give you everything they hold which is fine provided it has had a main-dealer service though out the cars life.

However, It will not show any servicing done by a non-franchised dealer/garage though.

Thanks for that. I'll be sure to use this and see what response I get.

I can't help thinking that a Renault dealership would maybe have done this prior to selling the car to avoid a complaint like mine however maybe they hoped that someone wouldn't notice or wouldn't pipe up.

If they cannot verify the history as the previous owner has not used a main dealership what's your thoughts on some cash coming my way?

deanos

pompeyfaith wrote: »

The service history can be verified just go to a main-dealer and ask for a print out of its service history this will give you everything they hold which is fine provided it has had a main-dealer service though out the cars life.

However, It will not show any servicing done by a non-franchised dealer/garage though.

It may have been an ex fleet or hire car, in that case they never stamp the books but do hold records but you need to know where it came from

pompeyfaith

All the dealer needs is the reg number they can trace the car history right back with that.

As for not stamping the books for hire or fleet cars that is not always the case, we certainly did at the dealerships I worked at.

deanos

pompeyfaith wrote: »

All the dealer needs is the reg number they can trace the car history right back with that.

As for not stamping the books for hire or fleet cars that is not always the case, we certainly did at the dealerships I worked at.

Depends where the work is done i guess , all our work cars and vans are not stamped but all the work is logged on the database so a printout is produced of any work whatsoever has been done.

jinger_2

We bought the car we have now from a local Evans Halshaw dealership and had the same problem. In my experience you have to lean on them pretty hard to get what you want and don't take no for an answer.


We had gone to the local dealership as we wanted a certain make/model and they had managed to source one for us in the price range we requested but it was in Edinburgh (we live in Lincolnshire). It was the top spec for that particular year and had FSH (apparently) so we said yes after having it transported down and looking at it/taking for test drive. The car was transported down in late December 2008 but there was no log book/service history in writing with it. The sales rep said he'd contact the branch in Edinburgh and get back to us. Left it 2 weeks, contacted the local branch and they said that the other branch were going to send it in the post so I should get it within a few days.


January 2009 came and went, still no log/service history book. Contacted local branch again and the sales rep told me he was being given the run around from the other branch and gave me their direct contact number and the name of the rep who was dealing with it. So I got on the phone to Edinburgh and spoke to the rep concerned. He told me it had been posted out and that he'd got proof I'd signed for it. Asked him to send me the proof of me signing for it as I definitely hadn't received it and he ended up making some remarks about the fact I'm female and I didn't know what I was talking about when it comes to cars! I did offer to go head to head with him to see who could strip a car engine the fastest and he strangely declined - don't know why ;-)


Anyway, several weeks passed and he ended up getting weekly phone calls from me as I still hadn't got what I wanted. February, March, April 2009 went by. In the May I had finally lost my rag over it and rang the rep again and basically told him that I was actually coming to Edinburgh the next month for a holiday (which was true) and that if I hadn't got the service history book by the time I got up there I was going to camp outside his office and let all prospective customers know what a sham his branch was! Must've worked as I received what I wanted through the post 2 days later :-)


I have no faith in Evans Halshaw any longer. Especially as the local branch had managed to damage the front bumper whilst it was left for an MOT and they denied doing it and nearly 30 miles had been put on the clock and they denied taking it out for a run. I keep an eye on the mileage whenever I leave my car with a garage - not that I'm paranoid or anything but it caught them out! At a later date when going to pick up some parts for it, one of the mechanics let it slip that he thought our car goes like muck off a shovel and was a lovely ride. Hmmm, how would they know if they hadn't taken it out?? Plus, to get your foot down properly in it and to feel its power you have to drive it out of town, and usually after an MOT they would only drive cars around the block! Subsequently, they've never MOT'd our car since and I've taken it elsewhere!