Dodgy Main Dealer

Nodding_Donkey

Mr_Mink wrote: »

To be fair, the dealership does sound a bit dodgy but why would anyone be cross that someone fixed their car, for free,

I can see how someone would be a bit disgruntled if they found out their signature had been forged to enable the garage to fraudulently claim for warranty work that hadn't been carried out though.

motorguy

Horizon81 wrote: »

Doesn't make it right though, does it!

Seeing as we're on money saving expert website, I'm sure we all know Martin Lewis's thoughts on needless insurance like gap and buying things like cars on finance.

Nice to hear the OP blowing his/her whistle.

And what are martins views on GAP insurance and loans?

HeavyDuty

I think the OP is saying that they charge work on the waranty to the car but don't do the work. The waranty shows work that has never been done but paid for by the waranry company. The garage is fraudulently claiming for work never done on cars owned by people that know nothing about it. This is clearly ilegal and not good practice.
The OP should get out and find a better job with a more honest trade and report what he knows to Trading Standards when he leaves. If he can get coppies of fraudulent claims that would add weight to his story.
None of what he has said is good practice for any trade and no one on here would be happy if it was done to them.

victor2

motorguy wrote: »

The O/P is talking about manufacturers warranty, not selling the customer a warranty.

The hourly rates that can be charged back to the manufacturer so sometimes some "extra" work is slipped in to get a bit of extra cash out of it.

Saying "no" to gap insurance could cost your dearly.

Saying "no" to a servicing pack will generally end up costing you more.

Saying "no" to finance might mean you dont get the car as you cant otherwise afford it.

Saying "no" to PPI could mean you lose your car if you get made redundant and you cant afford the payments.

Would you buy a used car from this man? :rotfl:

Mr_Mink

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

I can see how someone would be a bit disgruntled if they found out their signature had been forged to enable the garage to fraudulently claim for warranty work that hadn't been carried out though.

Good point. (Note to self: Must try and remember the original post when replying)

Horizon81

motorguy wrote: »

And what are martins views on GAP insurance and loans?

If he's got any sense he'd say buying anything other than a house on finance is for mugs, and gap insurance is just another unnecessary insurance, much like paying Currys £100 'cover' for them to provide a brand new fridge if yours fails in 3 years or so, even though it only cost £300.

I've certainly heard Martin say on the TV that instead of taking all the needless insurance you're offered, put the same amount in a savings account and if the worst happens (which, after all, is most unlikely) then you've got a pot of cash to pay for the unforseen circumstances. Gap insurance for me at least, falls into this category. Why a customer would want to buy any extras that just line the cheap suit pocket of a sleazy salesman is beyond me - diamondbrite, scotchguard, gap insurance or whatever. I'll take my chances thanks.

Horizon81

motorguy wrote: »

Saying "no" to finance might mean you dont get the car as you cant otherwise afford it.

And this goes against the old fashioned money saving ethos (after all, we are on a money saving site!) of living within ones means. If you can't really afford it then don't buy it. Credit crunch? Housing bubble? Years of austerity?

goonarmy

No points being lost on me. Thats the nature of the beast.

captainawsome

I also work at a main dealer and can honestly say that NONE of the above happens there. If a technician makes a mistake and a wheel is left loose (for example), the car is repaired (often over repaired to be sure there are no more issues) and the customer compensated, very often to their liking if it's something so serious.

Warranty is very strict and auditors have the power, and use it, to recoup any money they have paid for repairs that where not required or not diagnosed in the "correct" way. If they find a fraudulent claim then they WILL take back all the money paid on them claims from the date of the last audit, that could be £100,000's potentially and has sent franchises bust in the past, forcing them to sell to competitors. The manufacturer is obviously very easy on warranty claims, and I would assume a low end manufacturer? Which allows the blatant fraud happening in your dealership to go on.

Not saying it doesn't happen, but not all main dealers are allowed to get away with defrauding warranty and ripping off retail customers. Good luck with a new job

madforitdiver

My first ever motorbike (ok, ok so it was a 50cc moped!) went in for a service, came out, 10 miles and 2 days later down the road the rear wheel fell out. Being a chain drive fortunately the wheel didn't actually roll down the road but slid all the way back until the chain snapped, bending the final drive shaft and cracking the crankcase.

The garage said that a friend must have "loosend the rear wheel nut as a joke".

After much wrangling they supplied a new chain (whoppee!). Was going to make a big fuss but the bike was nicked a few weeks later. Never saw it again (but was still paying for it 2 years later!)

Lessons learnt - try to avoid buying on finance, don't trust dealers, and of course the MSE mantra - live within your means! :money:

I was 16 and very very naiive