EU Law Block Exemption for vehicles

Little_Mo_70

Does anyone know anything about the existence of 'Block Exemption' introduced by EU which says that you can take your vehicle to a non-franchised garage for services without invalidating the guarantee and, in effect, get the same service for a lower price. I have found a local garage who have good reputation, use proper parts etc but are not 'franchised'.

I've surfed the web and found lots about it inc.on OFT site but I wanted to e-mail a recognised body to get something in writing if it were possible. OFT doesn't advise and the Gov.site they re-direct you to doesn't seem to cover it? Perhaps I should contact EU direct?

Has anyone had experience of using the Block Exemption please?

Trebor16

It has been in place for a number of years now and this link gives a full explanation. Take a look at the section headed "Servicing a New car".

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/general-advice/right-to-repair-campaign.html

The garage should use OEM parts when carrying out the service and should adhere to the service schedule laid down by the manufacturer.

One thing that is also worth doing is to ring around a few different garages that have a franchise for your make of car as the rates can often vary.

Hintza

The problem you could encounter is that the car company could still reject any warranty claim. If you can not prove OEM parts, serviced to schedule or missed any bodywork checks or safety/mechanical/software modifications etc.

You pays your money and takes your chance. How much will it cost you to pursue the manufacturer when they tell you to get lost?

neilmcl

Also, don't forget when it comes to selling the car on a lot of people like to see a full manufacturer service history during the initial warranty period.

Strider590

neilmcl wrote: »

Also, don't forget when it comes to selling the car on a lot of people like to see a full manufacturer service history during the initial warranty period.

But it won't add value to the car (it juts means you won't sell it to an idiot) and even if it did, the extra you'd forked out for dealership servicing would never be recovered.

Trebor16

Hintza wrote: »

The problem you could encounter is that the car company could still reject any warranty claim. If you can not prove OEM parts, serviced to schedule or missed any bodywork checks or safety/mechanical/software modifications etc.

You pays your money and takes your chance. How much will it cost you to pursue the manufacturer when they tell you to get lost?

It's simple enough to retain receipts for parts purchased and the services that have been carried out.

As for rejecting a warranty claim, a manufacturer could only try and reject a claim if the fault has been caused as a result of the work carried out by the independent garage. They wouldn't be able to turn down a claim for a faulty alternator just because the car was serviced outside of the dealer network.

Strider590

Trebor16 wrote: »

It's simple enough to retain receipts for parts purchased and the services that have been carried out.

As for rejecting a warranty claim, a manufacturer could only try and reject a claim if the fault has been caused as a result of the work carried out by the independent garage. They wouldn't be able to turn down a claim for a faulty alternator just because the car was serviced outside of the dealer network.

They could (I guess) potentially claim that the fault would have been noticed and rectified before it failed IF they'd serviced the car themselves.

Let's be honest. we all know that's utter BS and a pretty lame excuse, but when it's they who control your warranty, your pretty much at their mercy unless you have the technical knowledge to put them in their place

GolfBravo

Strider590 wrote: »

But it won't add value to the car (it juts means you won't sell it to an idiot) and even if it did, the extra you'd forked out for dealership servicing would never be recovered.

Totally agree.

A £800 manufacturer branded service doesn't add £800 to the car's resale value - it simply indicates that your wallet is unnecessarily £400 lighter.

You also get the "genuine parts only" argument. Well, most OEM parts are not "genuine" - car manufacturers don't make brake pads, discs, clutches, batteries, filters, alternators, transmissions, etc. Majority of components (and probably all serviceable parts) are made by companies like Pagid, Sachs, Excide, Bosch, Valeo, etc. So if you take your car to a good mechanic/car electrician, who actually knows how to fix cars and not just replace expensive components, your car and warranty will be fine.

Road_Hog

GolfBravo wrote: »

So if you take your car to a good mechanic/car electrician, who actually knows how to fix cars and not just replace expensive components, your car and warranty will be fine.

No it won't be.

The manufacturer is quite within its rights to reject any warranty and there is a good chance that they may do so. This is a risk you balance against the reward of a cheaper service.

Yes, the OP can pursue the manufacturer through the courts. But this takes time, it can be stressful, not everyone likes confrontation or mettle to go through the process. Not everyone knows how to put a valid and coherent case (not emotional) together and how to present it.

There are a number of things that the OP, must do in advance. She needs to confirm with the garage that they are going to fit quality parts that are OEM (regardless of whether the manufacturer makes them) or at least as equivalent quality or better.

The OP will also have to rely on the garage following those instructions. The OP will also have to get the parts itemised on the invoice, showing make, not just something like brake pads.


To the OP

How old is the car, is it under 3 years old/still in warranty?

What is the difference (cost) between the main dealer service and the independent?

colino

Has anyone any real experience of landing a claim against a manufacturer after using an indie during the warranty period? How easy must it be for a manufacturer to reject a claim as OEM parts provenance can not be proved. As an example, I have in front of me a part just delivered from a Jag dealer (S Type expansion tank, a very regular fail and totally under-engineered for the job) in their nice expensive, glossy printed box. Inside one part has a sticker saying manufactured to Jaguar specification in India and the top is stamped Ford!
Wouldn't take a Philidelphia lawyer to say the service pack fitted from the nice factor down the road wasn't OEM.

Hintza

The other thing being that you will have zero goodwill if something major gives 2 weeks past the end of the warranty period.

At the en of the a you pays your money and takes your chance, but anything however slight that allows the manufacturer to reject the claim could be used against the claimant.