Full Service due - need advice

adamtaylad

Basically, I bought a new VW Polo January 2014 which came with a 3 year service plan or 30,000 miles, my last service was beginning of April last year and for past years ive been told I just had to get it serviced before 10,000 miles and now this year I've been told the 3 year service plan expired the day I purchased the car so now I would have to pay for a service even though I already paid for 3 when I first bought the car.

Theyre asking for £164 for a full annual service and I'm definitely not looking to pay that if I have too so where is the best place to go? also if I go to other places maybe small time garages does it effect the sell price of my car if I was to sell it? (my dad told me this could be the case but not sure if true).

worried_jim

What are we servicing a 2cv or a Lamborghini?

adamtaylad

worried_jim wrote: »

What are we servicing a 2cv or a Lamborghini?

Sorry didn't realise if it mattered so much or not, VW Polo, edited OP aswell.

forgotmyname

Define a full service?

Short or basic service: An oil and filter change and find anything worn to bump the price up?

Mid service: An oil and filter change and if needed an air filter? Look for faults to increase the price?

Full service: An oil and filter change and replace the air filter anyway? And again looking for faults to bump the price up.

Define a full service? Because the cheap places have a different ideal to a full service compared to mine.

adamtaylad

forgotmyname wrote: »

Define a full service?

Short or basic service: An oil and filter change and find anything worn to bump the price up?

Mid service: An oil and filter change and if needed an air filter? Look for faults to increase the price?

Full service: An oil and filter change and replace the air filter anyway? And again looking for faults to bump the price up.

Define a full service? Because the cheap places have a different ideal to a full service compared to mine.

I'm not really a car guy so honestly I have no idea, All I've done was paid for a 3 year service plan when I purchased the car and its been 12 months since my last service and this would of been my 3rd and final service on the plan, had it not expired. But over the phone they priced £164 which on their website is under a Minor Service.

daveyjp

What you actually paid for was the number of services required over the first three years of ownership, not three services.

If the car is purchased on 1 Jan 2017 the first service is due 1 Jan 2018, the second 1 Jan 2019. The three years expires on 31st December 2019. 1st Jan 2020 next service is due which is outside the three year period.

Its slightly compicated with VW as they have variable service regime which can mean longer periods between services.

£164 doesn't seem too high for a full VW dealer service, although at 3 years I suspect it will be an interim. Your handbook will tell you what is required.

flashg67

Don't understand how you bought a plan with the car but it expired straight away? Did you get a letter explaining what you'd paid for (I did with my Kia) - show this to the dealer?

Is it a VW service scheme, or a dealer based one - contact the customer service team of whichever one it is.

Nothing wrong with using a good independent garage, but it can affect the value of the car if you're looking to sell in the near future, but won't matter if you keep the car for a few more years.

You will lose any 'goodwill' from VW with a non-dealer service if you need any work doing once the warranty has expired

adamtaylad

daveyjp wrote: »

What you actually paid for was the number of services required over the first three years of ownership, not three services.

If the car is purchased on 1 Jan 2017 the first service is due 1 Jan 2018, the second 1 Jan 2019. The three years expires on 31st December 2019. 1st Jan 2020 next service is due which is outside the three year period.

Its slightly compicated with VW as they have variable service regime which can mean longer periods between services.

I understand that now, but I was also told 10,000 miles. My first service was January 2015, I had my 2nd service April 2016
I've already spoke on phone to them and given up on getting the service but I'd rather not give them anymore of my money so wheres best to look for a service and what service type?

WobblyDog

£164 for a service at a main dealer sounds quite reasonable to me. Unless you know of other trustworthy garages, I'd be tempted to take it to the same garage it was bought at.

I tend to keep on using the same garage for servicing, usually the one I bought the car from, unless they start charging silly amounts of money.

adamtaylad

flashg67 wrote: »

Don't understand how you bought a plan with the car but it expired straight away? Did you get a letter explaining what you'd paid for (I did with my Kia) - show this to the dealer?

Is it a VW service scheme, or a dealer based one - contact the customer service team of whichever one it is.

Nothing wrong with using a good independent garage, but it can affect the value of the car if you're looking to sell in the near future, but won't matter if you keep the car for a few more years.

You will lose any 'goodwill' from VW with a non-dealer service if you need any work doing once the warranty has expired

I purchased the car January 2014, 3 year service plan expired January 2017 but I was under the impression it would be 10,000 miles or 12 months after my last service.

I'm not looking to sell in the near future (still 10 months left on my original finance contract) but I potentially will be handing the car back to them at the end.

adamtaylad

WobblyDog wrote: »

£164 for a service at a main dealer sounds quite reasonable to me. Unless you know of other trustworthy garages, I'd be tempted to take it to the same garage it was bought at.

I tend to keep on using the same garage for servicing, usually the one I bought the car from, unless they start charging silly amounts of money.

My Dad also gave me the same advice and looking online, halfords/kwikfit £155 for an annual service. Just hard for me to want to hand over even more money to them.