Hello,
In January this year I bought a 2019 Skoda Octavia from Motorpoint in Derby. In July I paid for a new key at my local main dealer, 2 weeks later I rang to see if it had come in and it had but they didn't have anyone who knew how to code it, and they said that they would be in touch. Last week I chased again and they said they could do it and I took it in. They said it would take about an hour and a half so I waited. After 2 hours they informed me that there was an issue. Here is what they have subsequently said and handed me a quote for Β£2,500 to fix it:
"Mr Dunnington has bought a vehicle into us to get a new spare key and coding, to where we have discovered that the original key that has been supplied and coded to the car isnβt a genuine key, and has been coded incorrectly, corrupting the immobiliser and ECU therefore to rectify this problem the vehicle needs a new immobiliser, ECU, key and coding, the estimate is attached please let me know how you want to proceed."
They also told me that until they try and duplicate the key there is no way of telling that it isn't genuine.
So, I have 2 questions:
1. Does anyone know if Skoda supplied key duplication software is programmed to detect a non-genuine key and then without giving the operative any options or warning just cause the Β£2.5K worth of damage? If you have any experience of this and believe this isn't true do you know how I might go about proving it?
2. If I want to try and get independent Skoda verification if this can happen how would I do it. Will the contact mechanism on the corporate website be able to help?
Any assistance you can give me would be much appreciated as gut feel tells me this isn't all true.
Thanks
Jon