Evans Halshaw what a con

rotti1967

My wife bought a Vauxhall Mariva in january from Evans Halshaw.She took out a 2 years warranty on the car as its only a 53 plate.We have just took it in because it is using oil at an alarming rate and i noticed a noise coming from the back which sounded like a helicopter.

When we took it in the lad at the desk said are you aware that you have to pay £49 for a dianostic test if your not covered,When my wife phoned them up to book the car in nothing was said about the £49 fee so i went off it with him saying we paid just under £300 for a warranty.

I do understand that it doesnt cover tyres/brakes/brake pads/exhaust but i was not told of this dianostic test fee when they were selling us the warranty

We have just had a woman on the phone saying the oil light switch is faulty (not sure what that has to do with the amount of oil the car is using mind) and have 3 tyres that are on the limit and the middle part of the exhaust is needing replaced.

What is bothering us is she also said the anti-role bar needs replacing-fixed under the car, im not really sure what this means.

Surely as we have only had the car since january this should not have been sold to us if it wasnt safe.

This isnt a service or an M.O.T. so we will be taking it elsewhere to get these things fixed.

Can anyone give us any advice on what we can do about our problem please.

pinkshoes

When we took it in the lad at the desk said are you aware that you have to pay £49 for a dianostic test if your not covered

But surely if she paid the £300 for the 2 year guarantee, she IS covered, therefore would not have to pay?!?!

What does this 2 year guarantee actually cover then??? Given that they found a fault, then that shows the diagnostics test was required and they should refund the cost!

PopeSock

Sounds to me like what they're saying is that the £49 fees *if* the fault turns out not to be something the warranty covers. Which, admittedly, seems like a bit of a bast, if it turns out it's not a warranty issue.

A computer company I worked for years ago did the same thing, which was to stop people returning computers for things that were software issues. Mind you, this was the same company that did also refused to return a computer unless you'd done a system restore using the disc that would cost you sixty quid if you didn't buy an extended warranty.

On a car, though, I can't see why the hell that would be done.

custardy

the ARB they refer to will most likely be the drop links at the end of the ARB.
not an expensive part and unfortunalty all too common nowadats as pot holes and speed bumps take their toll on them

deanos

rotti1967 wrote: »

Surely as we have only had the car since january this should not have been sold to us if it wasnt safe.
.

Things wear or break on cars all the time, you have had it 9 months

JasonLVC

I've come across this ith my household white goods insurance.

You can call them out to fix your fridge/washer but if there is no fault or found to be operator error (ie, it's umplugged), the insurer will charge me £50 for a callout.

I'm sure Curry's/Dixons do the same if you call them out - and that's even if you've just spent £5k on a plasma. If you call them out and no fault is found you pay.

They perhaps should of mentioned this at the time of sale, but then the warranty shouldn't be garage specific - so you could always go to another dealer/garage that doesn't charge an inspection fee. I'm assuming the £49 is payable only AFTER the inspection and only IF there is no problem found....Hmmm, the more unscrupulous dealer could set out to not find anything I suppose even if the car was knackered but then I don't trust car salesmen at all!.

thecremeegg

Evans Halshaw are notorious for this kind of thing, not heard one good word about them. I know this doesnt help the OP but might serve as a warning to others not to buy from them.

SPANIEL36

custardy is right, anti-roll bars do need replacing more often than they used to due to the condition of our roads so you can probably put this down to wear and tear as are the tyres. the helicopter sound your on about will be your exhaust.. shop around for the best deal on the part you want. alot of little back street garages will put it up on the ramp for you and tell you exactly which bit you need and how much. Regarding the oil, this could be one of many problems from a leaky sump to something wrong with the filter. Do you have any mechanically minded friends or friends of friends which could have a quick look for you?

spuds_2

I am looking for another car and was thinking of going to Evans Halshaw, but reading this led me to do a web search - I will give them a miss, now. Thanks for posting.

golddustmedia

I wonder if the Meriva is prone to more wear than expected. I had a 54 reg one about 18 months ago and at just over 1 year old it needed work on the ABS system.

I would say it's unusual for anti roll bars to need replacing, surely it's only the rubber bushes that need replacing, after all what can "wear out" on a solid metal bar????

Iamthesmartestmanalive

golddustmedia wrote: »

I wonder if the Meriva is prone to more wear than expected. I had a 54 reg one about 18 months ago and at just over 1 year old it needed work on the ABS system.

I would say it's unusual for anti roll bars to need replacing, surely it's only the rubber bushes that need replacing, after all what can "wear out" on a solid metal bar????

I doubt its the anti roll bars that need replacing, more likely the linkage

I had that done and its a fairly common complaint due to speed bumps and that

Not too major or expensive