Car Servicing Rip Off - Arnold Clark - What can I do?

foolsgold99

Hi I am looking for some advice,
I recently had my car (Vauxhall astra) serviced at Arnold Clark in Glasgow. The cost of the service was £175 but they stated that the all of the checks contained within he Vauxhall servicing schedule would be carried out. When I went to pick up my car I noticed that the service indicator light was still illuminated (which didn't inspire me with confidence). I had to say to the reception staff and then they had the mechanic reset it. When I got my car home I realised that some of the items specified on the servicing schedule had not been carried out e.g. there was excessive play in the handbrake and it had not been tightened, the door hinges were dusty and had clearly not bee regreased. These are just some of things that are visible but as you can imagine there are many other things that are harder to check to see if they have been addressed in the service.
It was quite clear that they charged me for full labour cost (£138 +VAT) but not carried out the full service as they specified.
I have written a letter to them detailing this but I don't think that they will do anything. I was just wondering if anyone knew what to do next in the event that they don't reply. They ahve charged me for services that have not been carried out. Is there any steps to take in order to reclaim some of the labour cost that I incurred?

I would really apprecaite any advice and hopefully it will be useful to other car owners.

Thanks very much for any help

P.S. I paid with my Egg Money card and I tried to stop the payment. They said that they couldn't do this and it has already been processed.

poppy_f1

sorry to hear but they are notoriously bad for this, google for arnold sucks and theres a website full of complaints like this

pantsmachine

Go back to the service reception and ask to see the service manager. If you have no joy with him ask to see the site manager. If still no joy contact trading standards. You should get a result with the service manager. After further thinking i would take photos with a digital camera, dip the oil and make sure it is light clear brown and not black, if you get no joy with the site contact vauxhall and go radge about 'one of their retailers blah blah blah' and see how you get on.

mpython

You might also consider a small claims court for to get back some of the £175. You've paid for something that you can show (if you get some digital photos, or an independent assessment) you haven't received so have the basis of a claim. You will need to decide, based on what you know or what they say, how much of the service you have received, (10%, 20%, 30%, 50% etc) and can claim the rest back plus any costs you incure taking them to small claims court.

Also, next time you go in, make a note of any awards they have on display, & once you've got some sort of financial resolution, write to each of the awarding bodies asking them to withdraw their awards on the basis of shoddy workmanship/ customer service/ etc etc.

taxiphil

If you don't know much about cars, I'd try to find a knowlegeable friend/colleague or a decent local mechanic to have a quick look at the air filter, oil filter and spark plugs to see if they've actually put new ones in, as it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they haven't.

Definitely worth reporting it to Vauxhall and Trading Standards, and in future keep clear of Arnold Clark because their reputation is terrible.

foolsgold99

Does anuone think that I will have any joy with trading standards as I am not hopeful that I will even get a reply in response to my letter of complaint?

Wig

Check your air filter is clean, oil filter looks new (hopefully you know what make /colour the one on there before it went in was), plugs are new (by taking one out), and dip your oil to make sure it's not dark.

If I were the sort who took cars for a service I'd check before booking it in what exactly they intended to do.

raa_thistle

Can you not dispute this with Egg as a product or service not received with the whole joint liability under the CCA? Under their own T's & C's from the Egg money website

2) If you received unsatisfactory goods or services paid for under this agreement, apart from any bought with a cash loan, you may have a right to sue the supplier, us or both.

I think this would qualify if you get it verified.

raa_thistle

Can you not dispute this with Egg as a product or service not received with the whole joint liability under the CCA? Under their own T's & C's from the Egg money website

2) If you received unsatisfactory goods or services paid for under this agreement, apart from any bought with a cash loan, you may have a right to sue the supplier, us or both.

I think this would qualify if you get it verified.

foolsgold99

Thanks raa_thistle, that sonds quite promising. I looked at the trading standards website they sound like they would be as useful as a chocolate teapot. I think I will give egg a call and see if i can get any joy that way.
I am very appreciative of all of the comments. I think that the MSE website is the jewel of the web. I'm just so angry that they ripped me off.

taxiphil

Be warned that Egg may and try to fob you off and say it's between you and Arnold Clark. Don't accept this. You need to keep quoting Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which makes Egg jointly and severally liable (i.e. just as liable as Arnold Clark) for breach of contract.

Credit card companies are famous for trying to wriggle out of their liabilities under Section 75 of the CCA, and they rely on most consumers not being clued up about this wonderful bit of free legal protection.

This article might be useful to you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/guides_to/credit_liability.shtml