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Vauxhall charging under warranty?
Comments
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FrustrationFull wrote: »Hi all,
I just took my vauxhall Adam into the dealership because about a month ago I turned the car on, the entertainment system was just completely dead (no display or reaction at all). Nothing would get it back, but on the return journey the display and radio were working but the Bluetooth hasn't worked since.
So I rang them up and asked about the problem, they said to bring it in to be looked at. I've just dropped it off and the guy has said that I'll have to pay £69 for it to be diagnosed. Surely if my car is still under warranty then I shouldn't be charged for them to know what's wrong with it? Or am I missing something?
Did you restart the handset, re-connect the bluetooth connection?0 -
OK - I see how it reads that way.I read it that the infotainment system had been faulty, had been fixed and the bluetooth hadnt subsequently worked.
Its not about "pocketing" money for no fault found work, its about covering mechanics time, admin and time in a bay only for there to be no problem able to found at that time.
In this case, the repair was done under warranty, and that repair in itself is warrantied.
If Bluetooth doesn't work, then that should be readily identifiable, without needing a service bay or significant time.
One of the issues with "no problem able to be found" is that they are weasel words; I've been in the situation multiple times with cars over the years, and have had to go through a charade of demonstrating the precise problem to a member of garage staff, and then return the car multiple times in order to have it resolved.0 -
OK - I see how it reads that way.
In this case, the repair was done under warranty, and that repair in itself is warrantied.
Correct. And thats what seems to have happened.
If Bluetooth doesn't work, then that should be readily identifiable, without needing a service bay or significant time.
Why?
Book car in - service reception
Document fault - service reception
Assign mechanic - service reception
Move car to bay in garage - mechanic
Check paperwork for details of fault - mechanic
Connect equipment - mechanic
Read codes - mechanic
Check for s/w updates - mechanic
Check for known faults of this type - mechanic
Diagnose fault - mechanic
Document fault on paperwork - mechanic
Return car to service reception - mechanic
Deal with customer - service reception
Are you really really saying that isnt going to take at least 30 mins to one hour, plus use of ££,£££ of diagnostic equipment, plus probably 30 mins in a bay?
One of the issues with "no problem able to be found" is that they are weasel words; I've been in the situation multiple times with cars over the years, and have had to go through a charade of demonstrating the precise problem to a member of garage staff, and then return the car multiple times in order to have it resolved.
Who mentioned problem not found?? Has the dealership said that?
Also, those "problems not found" cost the dealership time and money, so its in their interest to find the problem - so that they can bill the customer for a repair.
How many times will a dealer see "sometimes at 70mph the car pinks for 2 seconds but drives ok the rest of the time" - diagnostics report no fault, test drive doesnt pick up a fault? What do they do?
Also, what you experience of the fault, described to the service admin, who then summarises it to one line on a job card may end up mean diddly to the mechanic who has to interpret it.0 -
I agree OP. I had a similar problem with my Mazda and they sorted it without any money changing hands. You could always try taking it to a different dealer.0
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The purpose of the charge is to mitigate against the possibility that there is not a problem, eg. if the customer hasn't pressed the right button or whatever.Book car in - service reception
Document fault - service reception
Assign mechanic - service reception
Move car to bay in garage - mechanic
Check paperwork for details of fault - mechanic
Connect equipment - mechanic
Read codes - mechanic
Check for s/w updates - mechanic
Check for known faults of this type - mechanic
Diagnose fault - mechanic
Document fault on paperwork - mechanic
Return car to service reception - mechanic
Deal with customer - service reception
Are you really really saying that isnt going to take at least 30 mins to one hour, plus use of ££,£££ of diagnostic equipment, plus probably 30 mins in a bay?
To confirm that it isn't working would take a few minutes for someone, eg. the Service Manager, to walk out to the car park and ask the OP to show them.
To then go on and diagnose the fault and so-on, of course it would take time and effort. But the existence of the problem would then have been demonstrated, and so it would be covered under the warranty.
(My guess would be that perhaps a cable wasn't plugged in after the last work done.)
You did.Who mentioned problem not found?? Has the dealership said that?... its about covering mechanics time, admin and time in a bay only for there to be no problem able to found at that time.0 -
The purpose of the charge is to mitigate against the possibility that there is not a problem, eg. if the customer hasn't pressed the right button or whatever.
No - the purpose of the charge is to cover the diagnostic time - ie, to determine where the problem lies, NOT to determine IF there is a problem.
To confirm that it isn't working would take a few minutes for someone, eg. the Service Manager, to walk out to the car park and ask the OP to show them.
"hello, my bluetooth doesnt seem to be working"
"ok, can you bring the car over and we'll take a look?"
(customer brings car over)
"yes, you're right, its not working"
How is that diagnostics?
To then go on and diagnose the fault and so-on, of course it would take time and effort.
Yay! Diagnostic time costs money! :T
But the existence of the problem would then have been demonstrated, and so it would be covered under the warranty.
NOT NECESSARILY. The problem - and as was my point up front - it could be a problem with the O/Ps phone, or the phone might need re-paired - hence why the prospective charge IF it turns out not to be a warranty issue.
This really doesnt seem to be that complicated to me? Not sure why you're struggling with it.0 -
Playing devils advocate I wonder how many times dealers have owners saying there is an issue with the car only for it to actually be their phone that is the issue or user error?
Doesn't seem a huge stretch for dealers to introduce a refundable diagnostic fee.
After all what is the chance of getting the money back for the diagnostic if it does turn out to be user error or the car owners Phone being the problem?0 -
Playing devils advocate I wonder how many times dealers have owners saying there is an issue with the car only for it to actually be their phone that is the issue or user error?
Doesn't seem a huge stretch for dealers to introduce a refundable diagnostic fee.
After all what is the chance of getting the money back for the diagnostic if it does turn out to be user error or the car owners Phone being the problem?
+1
Totally my view0 -
Playing devils advocate I wonder how many times dealers have owners saying there is an issue with the car only for it to actually be their phone that is the issue or user error?
Doesn't seem a huge stretch for dealers to introduce a refundable diagnostic fee.
After all what is the chance of getting the money back for the diagnostic if it does turn out to be user error or the car owners Phone being the problem?
Well, it's like computers/IT, most problems are user error and could be easily resolved by simple RTFM.
These cases are why dealerships charge to carry out diagnostics work.
In the same way that most ISPs will charge upward of £100 if they come out to your property and find the fault is your own.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
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