Is this taking the mick

Coveredinbees!!!!

Is this taking the pee? I just had my car serviced and last time they did it I got charged for a bottle of screen wash that I never asked for so this time I brimmed the screen wash so there was no way they could top it up but on the invoice there is a £2.25 (plus VAT) for screen wash and a little bottle of screen wash has been left in the door pocket. Before anyone says it I know it's only £2.70 but it's the principle.

Horizon81

All part of a service unless you state 'Do not give me screenwash!'

Some garages drain out whatever the owner has put in and add their own screenwash, so it doesn't matter that you may have brimmed it in advance. They obviously like to do it because then it looks like they've actually done something for the hundred odd quid you've given them for ticking some checklist.

In short, yes it's taking the mick but there are much bigger injustices to worry about.

Iceweasel

Yes of course it's a rip off - they nearly all do it.

You do need to actually say "NO SCREEN-WASH" and make sure they write it on the work-sheet.

I had the same cr*p reply when I said the bottle was full and the mechanic couldn't have put any more in.

I was told it wasn't up to strength so they took some out and then put in a bottle of their dealer stuff.

I won't fall that that again.

I don't think you will either.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Vote with feet.

I bought a Merc some years ago with the mother of all FSH, all main dealer stuff, thick folder with every receipt for the life of the car.

Cheapest service was £500 and most were well into 4 figures, without fail the dealer charged for screen wash, sump plug washer @ 50p and every little screw etc that the thing needed.

If they get a mug daft enough to pay it, they'll charge it.

Yolina

Iceweasel wrote: »

You do need to actually say "NO SCREEN-WASH" and make sure they write it on the work-sheet.

Yep, that's what I always do, though this year my car went to the Toyota dealership for its service and they duly deducted £2 something from the servicing price but still topped up the screen wash FOC :rotfl:

jimmy_cricket

Funny enough, I've just taken my mini to the main stealer for mot. they never try this one on and when I booked it in, said thought battery was on way out as stop/start not kicking in. I know, I know, handed it to them on a plate. However, they said 'nothing to worry about and at least the annoying stop/start is not kicking in, so no need to replace'. So, even though some have a bad rep. not all are bad....

bigjl

Might just be me but empty screenwash is still an offence isn't it?

If a garage let a car go out the door with empty screenwash and somebody got in trouble for it, yes unlikely, would we than have another thread on how the dealer stiched them and and should have topped it up.

There is MSE and just being a pedant, no offence intended.

londonTiger

well they gave you a bottle of it, and didnt just bill you for it so what is the matter? you'll need it sooner or later

arcon5

Did they charge you this £2.25 EXTRA? Or was the total price the price of the service and the invoice was broken down? If the former i'd be telling them to shove it somewhere the sun doesn't shine!

System

bigjl wrote: »

Might just be me but empty screenwash is still an offence isn't it?

When was it ever an offence?

I know that you can have an MOT fail for empty washer bottle (been there done that) because it fails due to inoperative washers.

keith1950

As above.....the point is that if they are charging and invoicing for everything separately then you have a point BUT if they quote you say ....£150 all in for a service then they are not going to knock off £2.25 for non use of the screenwash.

The £150 is a special all in price......you could ask them to to bill you everything separately but would find that you were paying a lot more than £150 for the work done.

With an all in price itwill be on their invoice purely for the purposes of stock control.