Reprogramming of spare key (VW) - who is responsible!?

Quentin

This car was immobilised due to the unprogrammed key!

Congratulations on selling 200 cars in 2012, (What was your target?)

Though what is the relevance? This isn't the apprentice.

motorguy

Quentin wrote: »

This car was immobilised due to the unprogrammed key!

Congratulations on selling 200 cars in 2012, (What was your target?)

Though what is the relevance? This isn't the apprentice.

The relevance is you said 'what was she to do? this was an emergency'

It was the spare key and the main key still worked. Granted, she didnt realise this, but I wouldnt be defining this as an 'emergency'.

House burning to the ground, or someone drowning, yes, but a car not starting whilst sitting in your own driveway?

Inconvenient, yes. Embarrassing relative to the prospective purchaser coming, yes. Emergency? Eh, no.

Target? I was self employed so my target was as many as i could sell.

Quentin

You seem to be looking at this issue as a motor trader, rather than a money saver!

The OP has a chance of getting her bill paid by the dealer who let her down by supplying the dud key of she presents the issue.

Though I gather had she been one of your victims she has no chance of a goodwill gesture?

George_Michael

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

the receipt should have the fob serial number that should correspond to the fob purchased.

i would tak it back there with the report to say it was never programmed to start the vehicle, and have them sort it out.

It's extremely unlikely that a receipt for a second hand car will list the serial numbers of the keys provided and if this is the case, actually proving that the unprogrammed key was one that was supplied with the car will be just about impossible.

custardy

jimmiepreston wrote: »

My gf sold her car privately through Autotrader, and just before it was due to be picked up by the buyer, she tried the spare key that she had been give by the VW dealer when she bought the car 2 years ago - the car wouldn't start.

Not realising that the key was responsible, she phoned her local garage (who had recently done the MOT) and they came and collected the car and looked into the problem.

The spare key had not been programmed for the car and caused the non-starting as presumably a safety precaution to prevent theft.

As the buyer was still interested, she paid the local garage £180 for the keys to be reprogrammed, collection of the car, diagnostics to identify problem etc.

Who is responsible for this spare key? I think she should go back to the VW dealer with the receipt form the local garage of the work and demand they cover the cost of the key reprogramming as they shouldn't have sold her the car with a key that was not programmed.

Does this sound reasonable to forumites here? Do you think they might/should cough up?

I would say demand will make it a short conversation.
Way I see it she should have given them an opportunity to rectify it
she was told it was a key issue and still didnt contact them.

Mankysteve

Quentin wrote: »

You seem to be looking at this issue as a motor trader, rather than a money saver!

The OP has a chance of getting her bill paid by the dealer who let her down by supplying the dud key of she presents the issue.

Though I gather had she been one of your victims she has no chance of a goodwill gesture?

He right though you need to give the supplier a chance to fix the problem themselves. As it would have been practically free for the original garage to fix it themselves.

Apples2

Why should a main dealer pay an invoice from a local garage?

I really can't see why the main dealer should pay for car collection (really? When the other key was working?) and their local diagnosis.

My keys are rechargeable. They charge when in the ignition, the battery cannot be changed. If I left my spare in a drawer for so long I expect that would be flat and not work. This could have required leaving it in position 2 for five minutes to fix

Who can now prove what was wrong with it?

motorguy

Quentin wrote: »

You seem to be looking at this issue as a motor trader, rather than a money saver!

The OP has a chance of getting her bill paid by the dealer who let her down by supplying the dud key of she presents the issue.

Though I gather had she been one of your victims she has no chance of a goodwill gesture?

As i've already said, i'd certainly be trying the main dealer, but i dont think i'd be going in 'demanding'. I'd ask for the service manager, explain the situation and what has happened and why, and ask what they can do about it. If that fails, i'd consider asking to speak to the dealer principle.

But i've already said that so i'm not sure why you're trying to imply i'm sort sort of shady motor trader when i'm trying to offer honest advice - which does seem in line with others on here?

I notice Custardy doesnt think 'demanding' will get the O/P very far either. Would you like to take time to find out what their trade is and then apply some stereotypes to that too?

And whats with the use of the word 'victims'? Is it necessary to start making personal attacks?

I questioned your use of the word 'emergency'. Under the circumstances the O/Ps g/f may well have felt she had no choice but to get the car trailered away, but it certainly wasnt an emergency.

motorguy

Mankysteve wrote: »

He right though you need to give the supplier a chance to fix the problem themselves. As it would have been practically free for the original garage to fix it themselves.

Thank you. Not sure why Quentin feels a need to attack me personally.

Quentin

Mankysteve wrote: »

He right though you need to give the supplier a chance to fix the problem themselves. As it would have been practically free for the original garage to fix it themselves.

You are right, but It's too late for that.

So the original dealer is the only option who may do a goodwill gesture. Failing that all is lost!