Poor Service from garage

Rosa49

This is my first ever post and unfortunately it's a moan!
I've had my Peugeot for nearly five years and always take it back to the main dealer for servicing. A couple of days ago I saw a flyer from a new garage. It made me wonder when the timing belt would need changing. I checked the service invoices and there was no mention of it having been changed. I rang the garage to ask when it needed doing, wondering if, as the car is a diesel, maybe it doesn't need to be changed as often. They told me at should be changed at the 72K service (my car has done 90K). I asked why they hadn't done it. They said, "We don't do it routinely, you have to ask for it to be changed" I said, "But how do I know when it has to be done?" They said, "It's in your handbook" (I had checked this before and no, it isn't.) "How much does it cost?" "The part is £269. Shall we book it in for you?"
Now,I know I don't know much about cars, and some may say it's my fault for not finding out what needs to be done, but I think the garage has been negligent in not advising me of work which needs to be done.

maninthestreet

Changing timing belts is normally part of the service schedule at a certain mileage for just about every modern car with OHC engine and rubber timing belts. What is the model Peugeot you have, and what size/type of engine does it have?

chilli_dog

agreed, my Renault had its timing belt done at a service. Infact they told me it was due when i booked it in!!

Careful_with_that_Axe

Now you know, get it done. Not worth scrimping on. I once had to pay nearly a grand for an engine re-build when this went.

Rosa49

It's a Peugeot 307 HDI 1.4

Rosa49

I'm getting it done next week-£160
Only using the car for going to work until then, but I regularly travel from NW to Devon-scary to think of it going on the motorway.

jeannieblue

We always recommend cam belt to be done - and we are not a dealership, but we know when they should be done and advise customers accordingly.

I don't want to be a pain - but all service books do state when cam belt should be done. They sometimes call them a timing belt. But they will always be in the service book stating when they are due. Although we advise our customers, doesn't mean that all garages will do the same, it is hard if you are not 'car minded' to know about these things. But if the cam belt goes, it can be very expensive.:o

Brooker_Dave

Rosa49 wrote: »

Now,I know I don't know much about cars, and some may say it's my fault for not finding out what needs to be done, but I think the garage has been negligent in not advising me of work which needs to be done.

Demand compensation from the garage who were not able to predict what you wanted done when you didn't know you wanted it done!!

Rosa49

Oh for a psychic garage! My point is that as they said it's done at the 72k service (but only if the customer asks for it) then they should advise this when they take the booking eg. "The cambelt should be changed at this service and the cost is...." At previous services they have flagged up things like the discs will need replacing at the next service, so why not such an important item as this? This is not good customer service and needless to say I never going back there.

Iamthesmartestmanalive

Rosa49 wrote: »

Oh for a psychic garage! My point is that as they said it's done at the 72k service (but only if the customer asks for it) then they should advise this when they take the booking eg. "The cambelt should be changed at this service and the cost is...." At previous services they have flagged up things like the discs will need replacing at the next service, so why not such an important item as this? This is not good customer service and needless to say I never going back there.

Tbh I bet they did and you either misunderstood or dismissed the suggestion

Rosa49

No, they certainly didn't, and had they, I would not have misunderstood or dismissed the suggestion, but paid up, as I trusted the garage.