£120 per year car security software updates

river_thames

I had a car security system installed. £1,500.

On collecting the car, they explained to me they will be in touch in 12 months for the next software update. This wasn't explained to me before purchase.

I neglected to ask if it voids warranty. I probably wouldn't have gone for this one if I knew it would cost a further £1,200 over the next ten years. 

What should my next steps be? 

Thank you.

powerful_Rogue

river_thames said:

I had a car security system installed. £1,500.

On collecting the car, they explained to me they will be in touch in 12 months for the next software update. This wasn't explained to me before purchase.

I neglected to ask if it voids warranty. I probably wouldn't have gone for this one if I knew it would cost a further £1,200 over the next ten years. 

What should my next steps be? 

Thank you.

Got a link to the item? Never heard of a car security system that requires yearly updates.

Aylesbury_Duck

river_thames said:

I had a car security system installed. £1,500.

On collecting the car, they explained to me they will be in touch in 12 months for the next software update. This wasn't explained to me before purchase.

I neglected to ask if it voids warranty. I probably wouldn't have gone for this one if I knew it would cost a further £1,200 over the next ten years. 

What should my next steps be? 

Thank you.

That depends on what outcome you're after.

river_thames

Of course, to be clear this is the supplier website. It was an approved installer that said they'd be in touch in 12 months for the update

www.pandoracaralarms.co.uk/smart-pro-v3-car-alarm

www.pandora-alarm.eu/pandora-smart-pro/

It looks like there are occasional firmware updates, but nothing for a little while:
www.pandorainfo.com/alarmstudio-firmware/

Perhaps I should get in touch with the installers and say "could you remind me what you said about annual updates, and give me more info" in order that they put something in writing. 

Grumpy_chap

If you don't have the updates,  will the system continue to work as originally sold?

TELLIT01

Slightly different but when I bought my latest car, brand new, no mention was made that updates to the satnav would cost over £100 per year.  Neither did they warn me that they would stop issuing updates at all a few years later.

doverswot

From a quick read it must have a mobile network connection to provide the updates to the app.  

Without the subscription I can’t see that the listed features will work. 

From car audio Kenya web site:-

Subscription is £70 for 6 months or £125 for a year. Add Pandora Key Guard for £200 extra.

river_thames

doverswot said:

From a quick read it must have a mobile network connection to provide the updates to the app.  

Without the subscription I can’t see that the listed features will work. 

From car audio Kenya web site:-

Subscription is £70 for 6 months or £125 for a year. Add Pandora Key Guard for £200 extra.

I wish it was that! The software updates mentioned were in addition to those mentioned in relation to the mobile tariff.

Hoenir

Presumably having this system fitted reduces your annual  insurance cost considerably. 

river_thames

Hoenir said:

Presumably having this system fitted reduces your annual  insurance cost considerably. 

Nope! A few insurers (Direct line and Admiral) have even shared with me on the phone that the reason they ask if there is a Thatcham approved immobiliser fitted is because they receive a discount from the insurers above them, but they don't share that discount with vehicle owners. 

There are some other insurers who do offer a discount if you have one fitted, however in my quote hunting, I found that those insurers were even more costly to begin with, and the discounted cost was higher than some major insurers.

There are some vehicles and scenarios that many companies require such a device fitted. Which would be relevant. 

The reason I've had one installed is because it's for a work van (despite saying car earlier). I have had two stolen in the last three years, which has worked out considerably more expensive than having this installed. 

Aylesbury_Duck

river_thames said:

Hoenir said:

Presumably having this system fitted reduces your annual  insurance cost considerably. 

Nope! A few insurers (Direct line and Admiral) have even shared with me on the phone that the reason they ask if there is a Thatcham approved immobiliser fitted is because they receive a discount from the insurers above them, but they don't share that discount with vehicle owners. 

There are some other insurers who do offer a discount if you have one fitted, however in my quote hunting, I found that those insurers were even more costly to begin with, and the discounted cost was higher than some major insurers.

There are some vehicles and scenarios that many companies require such a device fitted. Which would be relevant. 

The reason I've had one installed is because it's for a work van (despite saying car earlier). I have had two stolen in the last three years, which has worked out considerably more expensive than having this installed. 

In which case, you don't have consumer rights, so any action you might want to take would have to be done under the rights afforded to your business in the contract.  What does the contract say, if anything, about ongoing subscription costs?