Being overcharged to fix car from main dealers???

Bings99

I took my car to be serviced before going away. I was told be a 80 points check on car. Was told would cost 90 pounds approx. When picked up car i paid 170 as it obviously didnt include bits to be replaced which was not specified. I said nothing and thought ohwell needs doing.


Then whilst we were away someone told us there was an issue with our tyre near a supermarket and i saw suddenly we did have a bald side on the inside side suddenly. Apparently its a tyre balancing issue. Obviously was quite annoyed as i was told everything was ok. Due to this tyre being bad i thought we had better stop somewhere and get this tyre sorted to drive home. I was told one couldnt do one tyre and not the other so this now cost about 160. Whilst he was doing this he said the inside brakes were looking bad and the discs too and this would add another 160. I thought id get home slowly and go and see the car dealer whom id already paid for the 80 points check up. I asked how did they miss the brake issue too. He apologised.

He said he would sort out a deal for me as i showed him the quote. He took car and he said be hard to do a deal and were original car parts. Well to me that means nothing really. I paid 225 so 70 above rate. 

Now there is a light showing and it needs chevking. I reluctant to keep paying them . I think this should be part of their customer service for what ive gone through. Any thoughts?advice?

eskbanker

Do you have the schedule of exactly which 80 points were included in the service check?

Bings99

No i asked them and they never responded too

Ebe_Scrooge

Bings99 said:

I took my car to be serviced before going away. I was told be a 80 points check on car. Was told would cost 90 pounds approx. When picked up car i paid 170 as it obviously didnt include bits to be replaced which was not specified.

Hang on.  A "Service" is a defined list of items to be checked and replaced.  For instance, oil, oil filter, air filter, etc.  A main dealer knows the precise cost of doing a "service".

A good mechanic should also pick up any other work that needs doing, and this will be chargeable separately from the service if you want it doing.  But a "service" as such is just a prescribed list of things to be replaced.

Bings99 said:

Then whilst we were away someone told us there was an issue with our tyre near a supermarket and i saw suddenly we did have a bald side on the inside side suddenly. Apparently its a tyre balancing issue. Obviously was quite annoyed as i was told everything was ok.

A tyre replacement is not part of a service - although, as intimated previously, a decent mechanic should have brought it to your attention.  A tyre being bald on the inside is caused by incorrect tracking, not balancing - tracking can easily be knocked out of line by hitting a kerb or a pothole, and is not something that's checked in a routine service.  Even if it was, it can be knocked out of line the moment you drive away from the garage.

£90 for a main dealer service sounds exceptionally cheap - are you sure it was a service, not just a check-over?  Even if was just a check, missing the worn brakes (if, indeed, they were in need of replacement) would lead me to suspect that they're not very good at their job.

Bings99 said:

Now there is a light showing and it needs chevking. I reluctant to keep paying them . I think this should be part of their customer service for what ive gone through. Any thoughts?advice?

To be fair, warning lights can come on at any time with modern cars with all the various sensors they have.  That could very well be a totally separate fault that's only just occurred.

My advice?  Find yourself a decent independent mechanic who knows what he's doing and who values his reputation far more than making a quick buck by fleecing people.

Lorian

Was the place you stopped to have it looked at Kwick Fit?

Goudy

There are some concerns with whoever did your 80 point check.
Without knowing what was included in the check, it's reasonable to think that they should at least check the wearable/serviceable parts like tyres and brakes. It looks like they have been sloppy.

As already mentioned, tracking (wheel alignment) is usually to blame when a tyre wears like this on one edge.
It could have happened after the check, but if it hasn't been checked since the new tyres were fitted, it needs doing otherwise you'll wear the new ones out faster.

When one wheel is out of alignment you tend to drag the other wheel on the same axle across the road surface at an odd angle as you try and steer the car in a straight line. So it's not uncommon for the other side's tyre to be not far behind the other when alignment is out.
One wheel might be toeing out to the left but the other is scrubing the road trying to hold the line in check as you steer it straight.

The brakes are another concern, the original checker has obviously missed checking the inner pads, but one side wearing much faster then the other is often a sign the calipers are starting to get a little sticky and not floating on the discs evenly.

Rather than just replacing the pads and discs, they could do with a proper check of the pistons for rust plus a clean and lube of the caliper pins with brake grease.

Clive_Woody

Lorian said:

Was the place you stopped to have it looked at Kwick Fit?

Exactly what I was going to ask 😂

Bigwheels1111

Why on earth would you go into a main dealer and pay for them to find lots of things wrong with your car that they can charge you for.
Last year my car was 5 years old and the main dealer said I might need front and rear brakes and disc’s next year.
This year at 6 years old the new main dealer I’ve used said in the report.
Front pads 10% worn and discs perfect.
Rear pads 5% worn and discs perfect.
Never trust main dealer.
I mark all the parts they should change and check as soon as I get the car back.

Ok going on holiday, 

Check the oil level.
Fill Washer fluid.
Tyre pressure and condition. Check spare if you have one.
Lights all round.
Full of fuel.
Breakdown cover.
Mot valid.
Car insurance valid.
Off you go.
Keep £80 for beer money.

If £80 was for service, that would only be oil and filter. No free 80 point check please.
Buy OBD2 reader for £15 ish, scan car read fault, Google code.
Erase code if does not return forget it ever came on in the first place.

Grumpy_chap

Bigwheels1111 said:

Last year my car was 5 years old and the main dealer said I might need front and rear brakes and disc’s next year.

I'm always intrigued by what service desks actually say here, what is heard by the customer and what else could be said any way?

I mean "you might need new brakes next year" is an evidently obvious comment for any car at any age and the actual outcome will depend on a massive number of variables.
What I would hear is "god to go, nothing to worry about, see you next year" and that would be accompanied by a great big