Hate being ripped off

[Deleted User]

Took my 2014 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI to "DPF Doctor" today to see about a diagnostic on the DPF and a view to getting it sorted by them as they appear to be the pinnacle when it comes to DPF problems. Went back to collect the car 3 hours later to be told that the DPF is fine and the only reason why it's failing to regenerate is because it needs a new oxygen sensor as it's stuck on 40%. They didn't clean the DPF or anything. I was then told that they don't do general repairs and I'll have to take it away to repair myself or take it to my usual garage. This cost me £90 to be told this which included some Covid sanitation procedure with a disco fogging machine (nice money spinner on the side).

Whizzed round to my usual garage which is on the same trading estate to see about getting the oxygen sensor replaced by them, they are going to do it but they said they'll have to run their own diagnostic too as they won't go changing stuff based on a third party say so to save any aggro down the line regarding who's right if it's wrong etc. I'll see what the bill for this is tomorrow.

Basically I could have just gone to my usual garage in the first place and saved myself £90 as DPF Doctor didn't live up to the promise.

BOWFER

I don't see any problem here at all.
You put it in to a DPF specialist for a blocked DPF, they've said the DPF is fine but have told you what is broken and have charged you an hour's labour.
Should they fill their days with doing stuff for nothing?
Far from not living up to their promise, they have done precisely what they say they'll do.
They had a look at your DPF and said it's fine.....

Supersonos

Why didn't you just "whizz" it round to your local garage in the first place?

DPF Doctor did what you asked of them - to diagnose the DPF problem.  I don't see an issue here.

[Deleted User]

That's the point of the rant, I wish I did just whizz to my usual garage. DPF Doctor say they fix DPF problems, but obviously not, they just say what it is and tell you take it elsewhere.

BOWFER

As per the FAQs in their website:

Our industry leading DPF Assessment costs only £90 inc vat but what should you expect?

You will be dealing with a professional that has not only had extensive training but also a genuine person that is passionate about fixing your vehicle first time.

They will carry out a series of tests and measurements (not just a simple plug in code read) to find the reason for your DPF problem and then explain to you exactly what has went wrong and what needs done to fix it.

You are under no obligation for us to carry out the repair and we are happy to liaise with your regular garage.

[Deleted User]

No obligation, but I was told straight up that they don't do them.

oldagetraveller1

"what has went wrong"

Really?

BOWFER

Deleted_User said:

No obligation, but I was told straight up that they don't do them.

I still really don't get your problem here.
You paid £90 for a DPF assessment.
Their assessment is your DPF is fine, but an O2 sensor is broken.
For whatever reason they're saying they don't repair those, I can understand some annoyance at you having to take the car away and book it in with someone else in terms of time.
But in monetary terms, it strikes me you should be more annoyed with your preferred garage, who want to charge you for another assessment instead of just believing the DPF doctor diagnosis.

AdrianC

https://www.the-dpf-doctor.com/dpf-faqs/
"How much does The DPF Doctor charge for a DPF Assessment?

Accredited Members of The DPF Doctor charge £75+vat for a DPF assessment.
Prices may vary in and around the London area.

How much does The DPF Doctor charge for a DPF clean?

Accredited Members of The DPF Doctor charge £250+vat for a DPF clean.
Prices may vary in and around the London area.
Please note: Not all DPF problems require a DPF clean."

Some rip-off.

They've charged you exactly what they said they would, and not charged you the higher price for doing work they could easily have said it needed doing, but didn't really.

Grumpy_chap

I don't think the OP has been "ripped off".

DPF Dr did the diagnostic they were paid for.  They identified the fault is not the DPF but the O2 sensor and they advised the OP accordingly.  DPF Dr also advised that, because this is not a fault with the DPF, it was a repair they do not do and the OP should get the repair carried out elsewhere.

The OP then went to another garage, who offered to do diagnostics before repair.  The OP did not have to accept that, but could have simply booked the car in for a new O2 sensor to be fitted at the usual garage, or gone to another garage that would accept the request to simply renew the O2 sensor.

The OP would have been "ripped off" is DPF Dr came back after the diagnostic and then charged to "repair" the DPF even though it was fine and in addition advised the OP to get the O2 sensor renewed elsewhere.

The OP's Focus has been limping on with a EML (DPF) issue since October last year (when @sweetsand apparently identified it was just a faulty sensor ) then didn't get a carbon clean, didn't buy a Peugeot and didn't lease a car to just have something nice and be shot of the Focus.  

Here's hoping the OP now has the Focus sorted and can be happy with it for the next few years.  The DPF Clean and new O2 sensor probably cost only a month or so of lease on the new car, so very MSE solution.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6198028/2014-focus-1-6-tdci-engine-management-light/p1
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6258557/engine-carbon-clean#latest
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6264098/2017-peugeot-308-sw-high-miles-worth-it#latest
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6266024/24-month-lease-worth-it/p1

[Deleted User]

The Peugeot got snapped up before I had a chance to go round and have a proper look in the dry and put a deposit down. 

Still thinking about the lease but I don't really want to be committed to monthly payments. 

O'll probably get the carbon clean done after I've had this DPF problem sorted and if I keep the Focus.

Problem stalker?