Having bought some touchup paint from Bickertons in Sheffield recently, I am now on their mailing list. Last week I got a `flier` from them which included a piece about servicing by Skoda agency garages like themselves. It stated that if you use none agency garages for servicing, you may not get important computer inputs to your car, which control fuel economy, performance and brakes etc. Quite apart from the difference in price, I`m not 100% impressed by agents( judging by how Hayseldens told me that main beams could not be adjusted, yet GOMAZ on the forum showed me how I could - and did - in 15 minutes). I intend to get my first 20,000 mile service done by a non-agency Skoda specialist in Chesterfield sometime in the future. Will I miss out on these computer inputs by doing so, or are Bickertons scare-mongering? Can anyone advise please. Faz726

If its a safety issue you will get a formal recall. You can even check yourself at http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp?tx=VOSA

Occasionally Skoda release ECU software updates and if they are no-urgent and non-safety related they can be uploaded during a routine service.

Some dealers have been sending out letters inviting customers to go in and get these updates done - even if they are non urgent - as a free service.

The consensus on here seems to be that they are either trying to get you in and will find other (paid) work that needs doing while you are there, or they are hoping you will hang around while the work is done, providing a target for their sales staff.

Flyers suggesting you will miss out on computer upgrades to the braking system are scaremongering IMHO

Edited 18 June, 200917 yr by andy2407
Added VOSA link

Thanks andy2407, it was my guess that Bickertons were fishing for my servicing custom by offering the free upgrades. You may be right about the sales staff hovering too. They seem to think folks can afford a new car every year. You have put my mind at rest and I`ll stick to my plan of using specialist rather than agency. Thanks again for your interest and reply.