Service Reminders

RichGillett

Morning all

Just a quick post, I’m having a healthy debate with my car dealership about vehicle service reminders and the fact that their reminder was after the 12months I needed to get my car serviced which voided my warranty.

Now whilst I understand I have to get my car serviced, due to me driving around the country for my job, the 12months soon went.

My argument is, should a car dealership have a duty of car to remind its customers in good time about services thus minimising the issues of voided warranties?

I’ve spoken to a number of dealers who send out reminder letters a month in advance coupled with follow up calls, however my dealer thinks it’s acceptable to ring once, two months later than the 12months service date.

Thoughts would be appreciated

Ebe_Scrooge

In a word, no. The onus is on you to remember when a service is due, exactly the same as it's your responsibility to remember when tax and MOT are due.

Many dealers DO send out reminders - that's more for their own benefit than anything, they're hoping to get some more money from you. But there's absolutely no requirement for them to do so.

Incidentally, you don't have to use a main dealer in order to maintain the warranty conditions - as long as you use a proper VAT-registered mechanic, and he uses genuine manufacturer's parts, you can get it serviced anywhere. There is an argument to say that if you use a main dealer they'll be more inclined to make "goodwill" repairs that are outside of the strict terms of the warranty - but legally, a warranty cannot be voided just because you didn't use the main dealer (given the caveats already mentioned).

AdrianC

The reminder is just that - a courtesy reminder. It's YOUR responsibility. Nobody else's.

RichGillett

Thanks for the speedy replies, it’s most appreciated.

Aylesbury_Duck

RichGillett wrote: »

Now whilst I understand I have to get my car serviced, due to me driving around the country for my job, the 12months soon went.

Is this a relativistic thing? Does time pass more slowly for those you leave behind?

Perhaps that's why the dealer's reminders appeared to be late.

MEM62

RichGillett wrote: »

My argument is, should a car dealership have a duty of car to remind its customers in good time about services thus minimising the issues of voided warranties?

That is an argument you would loose. Your car, your responsibility. Plus, there is no guarantee that a customer will go back to a particular dealer or even stay in the dealer network so they are not going to keep diary for you.

RichGillett wrote: »

I’ve spoken to a number of dealers who send out reminder letters a month in advance coupled with follow up calls

They are offering a courtesy, not fulfilling an obligation.

RichGillett wrote: »

however my dealer thinks it’s acceptable to ring once, two months later than the 12months service date.

So do I.

Tokk

Your car, your responsibility.

The dealer is being dumb though - people do forget and once you've forgotten once and invalidated your warranty, the dealer's odds of you paying them for servicing will have dropped significantly.
This is why most dealers send reminders early - they want your business and you want your warranty in tact. Lots of people fall for the idea that you must use main dealer servicing to keep it intact (not strictly true, but still commonly held as such) - so reminders keep everyone happy.


In future though, don't rely on anyone else to tell you when things are due - with smartphone calendars it's easier than ever to program in reminders a month before service/MOT/tax are due (though servicing on mileage rather than date maybe more relevant if you're doing silly miles - it is for me)