Does this count as ‘full service history’?

sham63

I made a distance purchase of a 23 reg Honda motorcycle last week from a large dealer and the bike has just been delivered.
It was advertised as having a ‘full service history’. The bike was first registered in July 23 and the service book shows it had its first 600 mile service  in September 23. 

The next service should have been done in September 24. 

However, the dealer who sold it to me ran it through its own workshop last week after I bought it and stamped the book, mileage now at 4000. They’re not a Honda dealer, so the Honda extended warranty won’t count. 

So when I bought the bike it didn’t have a “full service history” as far as I can tell? 

I assume that “full service history” in an advert means it’s been serviced by a Honda dealer according to the Honda service schedule.
Was the bike therefore mis-described? 

Thanks! 

Car_54

sham63 said:

I assume that “full service history” in an advert means it’s been serviced by a Honda dealer according to the Honda service schedule.

You assume wrongly: it does not have to be done by a Honda dealer.

However, Honda dealers do not routinely stamp service books these days, the service history is on computer*. Your local dealer should be able to confirm whether the "missing" service was actually done.

* = at least for cars. I can't see why bikes would be different.

Mark_d

The advert did not say "full DEALER service history" so maybe it's ok.  You need to check if the Sept 2024 service was done.
Does the service need to be done by a Honda dealer to preserve the warranty.  Surely that's anti-competitive.

sham63

Honda have a thing now where the warranty is extended for 6 years as long as it’s serviced by an authorised Honda dealer. 

I’ve checked the online record and the only service was the 600 mile one. 

paul_c123

sham63 said:

 it had its first 600 mile service  in September 23. 

The next service should have been done in September 24. 

What was the published service schedule at the time (ie around Sept 24)? I am assuming 1 year, but its bad to assume, and it would need to be confirmed by you.

daveyjp

When was it traded in?  It could have been around dealerships for a few months and only serviced prior to the latest sale, which is quite usual.

sham63

daveyjp said:

When was it traded in?  It could have been around dealerships for a few months and only serviced prior to the latest sale, which is quite usual.

I don’t know, but you could be right. If they’d taken it in prior to October last year it would technically have a full service history . It didn’t at the point where I put a deposit on it though. 

Mildly_Miffed

"Full service history" is a weaselly set of words that can mean almost anything. You NEED to check to see the vendor means the same as you think they should.

Does it mean it's a full history of all the service work it's had?
Does it mean all the services were to time and mileage and manufacturer joblist?
Does it mean they were all done to time/mileage by a franchise dealer?

Could be any of those...

One thing's for sure, only the first of those is accurate in this instance. It's had all the services it should have by mileage, but one was late by time - May instead of September, with (presumably) very little use inbetween.
Does that actually MATTER? Almost certainly not, warranty apart.
A quick look at Honda's website shows the manufacturer warranty is 2yr, so would have lasted to September 2025 - but that's now void.
Dealer servicing adds a year - but presumably that's dependent on continuous cover to that date.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/owners/honda-warranty.html

If that warranty is important to you, and if you would have kept it up by having it dealer serviced, then you bought the wrong bike.

Is this something you can return a distance purchase over? Mmm. Perhaps. But it would have been a LOT easier to clarify pre-purchase, even at a distance.

paul_c123

Mildly_Miffed said:

"Full service history" is a weaselly set of words that can mean almost anything. You NEED to check to see the vendor means the same as you think they should.

Does it mean it's a full history of all the service work it's had?
Does it mean all the services were to time and mileage and manufacturer joblist?
Does it mean they were all done to time/mileage by a franchise dealer?

Could be any of those...

One thing's for sure, only the first of those is accurate in this instance. It's had all the services it should have by mileage, but one was late by time - May instead of September, with (presumably) very little use inbetween.
Does that actually MATTER? Almost certainly not, warranty apart.
A quick look at Honda's website shows the manufacturer warranty is 2yr, so would have lasted to September 2025 - but that's now void.
Dealer servicing adds a year - but presumably that's dependent on continuous cover to that date.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/owners/honda-warranty.html

If that warranty is important to you, and if you would have kept it up by having it dealer serviced, then you bought the wrong bike.

Is this something you can return a distance purchase over? Mmm. Perhaps. But it would have been a LOT easier to clarify pre-purchase, even at a distance.

I disagree, I think "full service history" clearly means, all the job items done on time/mileage. Your #2. It doesn't need to be main dealer, if it is it often gets an additional mention (eg FMBSH - "full Mercedes Benz service history" or whatever).

It also matters to value of vehicle, both now and in the future, although its effect weakens over time.

Clearly its been misdescribed, thus is eligible for short term rejection (within 30 days) under CRA2015. Of course, if it qualifies as a distance sale too, it can be returned without reason within 14 days of arrival (although the buyer would bear the return costs in that instance).

Mildly_Miffed

paul_c123 said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

"Full service history" is a weaselly set of words that can mean almost anything. You NEED to check to see the vendor means the same as you think they should.

Does it mean it's a full history of all the service work it's had?
Does it mean all the services were to time and mileage and manufacturer joblist?
Does it mean they were all done to time/mileage by a franchise dealer?

Could be any of those...

One thing's for sure, only the first of those is accurate in this instance. It's had all the services it should have by mileage, but one was late by time - May instead of September, with (presumably) very little use inbetween.
Does that actually MATTER? Almost certainly not, warranty apart.
A quick look at Honda's website shows the manufacturer warranty is 2yr, so would have lasted to September 2025 - but that's now void.
Dealer servicing adds a year - but presumably that's dependent on continuous cover to that date.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/owners/honda-warranty.html

If that warranty is important to you, and if you would have kept it up by having it dealer serviced, then you bought the wrong bike.

Is this something you can return a distance purchase over? Mmm. Perhaps. But it would have been a LOT easier to clarify pre-purchase, even at a distance.

I disagree, I think "full service history" clearly means, all the job items done on time/mileage.

That's how I'd use it, too.

But the three words do not explicitly state that. They could just as easily state a full history of servicing, and that's the sense the dealer has used it.

It HAS had every service it's due. Just one is a few months late - but within mileage. This is not an uncommon situation. TBH, for a vehicle that doesn't get used through the winter, I'd rather service come spring so that the fluids are fresh for the summer.

I repeat, though, if the warranty is important - this was the wrong bike. And this would have been TRIVIALLY easy to sort pre-purchase, not relying on whether you can return it under DSR or not.

If the dealer say not, you'll need to transport it back to them at your expense, then take them to court for your money and costs.

Stubod

Clearly not a "full service history" in my book, as I am sure the manual would state "mileage or annually", so it should have had a documented service in 2024?

However, in reallity does that really matter as it has not done that many miles?....and only you can be the judge of that.