My car was due to go back to the dealers (yet again, but that’s a whole different story) for some warranty work. It had been booked in for about 10 days, on the day I was due to drop the car off and collect the courtesy car, I got a phone call from Budget car rental, asking what time I would be at the dealership, as they needed a copy of my licence and my credit/debit card for the £150 fuel/damage supplement!

Needless to say I was less than impressed with this; I took up the issue with both the dealer and Skoda Customer Care (now there’s a joke!). I was told, the dealer only operates two courtesy cars, and if I want the work carrying out and be given a loan car, I would have to pay this supplement, and "if" they deem the car to be returned in the same condition/fuel level, I would get my money refunded.

I had previously had loan car`s through Budget, about 2 wks before, and mentioned this to Budget, the Dealer and Skoda CC, and was told that the procedure had changed and there was nothing they could do about it, and I was just a victim of circumstances.

So because the dealer cant supply/wont operates enough loan cars, I/we have to pay money out, and wait to hopefully get the money refunded. I mentioned this situation to the service manager at the Audi garage, where the work was being carried out, and he couldn’t believe it; he just sat there shaking his head in complete amazement/shock!

so just go to another dealership

If you want my honest opinion -

Scam? You're getting a free hire car, just leaving a deposit in case there's damage or you don't bring it back with the same fuel. Seems acceptable to me when the car doesn't belong to Skoda.

I think two courtesy cars is a fair number, especially when they arrange hire cars as a contingency.

Perhaps the Audi guy was perplexed because you moaned about having to pay a deposit on a rental car.

This seems to be across the board, not just with Skoda dealers. I bought my car from a dealer, same situation, was charged for the hire of the car, although it was classed as a "hire car" from the dealer. Granted not £150 deposit but i didnt get anything back as it was classed as a "rental"............confused, i was just a little annoyed as i had been told it was a COURTESY car not a HIRE/RENTAL car :(

Edited 19 May, 201016 yr by vRS Dovit

If you want my honest opinion -

Scam? You're getting a free hire car, just leaving a deposit in case there's damage or you don't bring it back with the same fuel. Seems acceptable to me when the car doesn't belong to Skoda.

I think two courtesy cars is a fair number, especially when they arrange hire cars as a contingency.

Perhaps the Audi guy was perplexed because you moaned about having to pay a deposit on a rental car.

Ok, perhaps scam is the wrong word. I was just so shocked that no body thought to tell me this until a matter of hours before I was due to drop my car off and collect the courtesy car. I was never told it would be a hire/loan car, I was only ever told it was a courtesy car. And how many of us have £150 of free cash in their bank account, that they can do without, until/if they refund it??

And the Audi service manager certainly wasnt perplexed that I had mentioned (not moaned to him), he couldnt believe that a dealership of their size only operated 2 cars, and didnt have the courtesy to inform me of these costs themselves, and not leave it to the rental company.

Edited 19 May, 201016 yr by Alex1980

that is poor whichever way you look at it. Hopefully its not across the board.

Audi certainly don't entertain that kind of idea, they go out of their way to get a car for you and if they can't get one to you then they hire an Audi for you.

My A3 had it's variable vanes on its turbo stick or fail. they collected the car from me at a clients site, they then organised the delivery of an A4 to me within the hour. It was a great service.

And how many of us have £150 of free cash in their bank account, that they can do without, until/if they refund it??

Stick it on your credit card. In my experience with most of things is that they make a charge to your card and it is instantly refunded when the car is returned and doesn't even appear on your statement.

Some Hotels do the same if you want a room tab, as an insurance policy in case you run off without paying your bill!

Not a big deal in my book. My local dealer has a bigger fleet of courtesy cars, but they do have a £750 excess, which even though you don't pay any deposit could work out a lot worse than £150 if you're unlucky!

Niall

Think yourself luck you even get the option - I have an auto only licence and when I ask about a car they just laughed

I can understand your frustration, but unfortunately this seems to be becoming a more regular thing.

I've spoken to BMW UK Customer Services on many occasions after having mine serviced/warranty work carried out, etc. and mentioned that I think the charge for a courtesy car (£15 + VAT) was not on, particularly as they also have a £500 excess (unless you use your own insurance).

I get the same response - "that's our policy, sir".

Well, I know for a fact that Audi give out VERY DECENT courtesy cars to their customers (friend of mine with an A3 gets a top of the range TT for the day; someone else I know with a TT has been given an RS6 for the day once!), FREE OF CHARGE (fuel aside).

I run a business and would see this as a perfect advertising opportunity for Skoda, BMW, or any other car manufacturer, to get the customer to think about upgrading. In fact, before BMW put charges on their courtesy cars, I was once given a 325i Sport whilst my car was being serviced. I loved it so much (first BMW was a diesel), that my next car was a 325i Sport.

Maybe it's just me, but personally, I think they're missing a trick.

Clearly, cost savings are more important to them.

Having used Horton Skoda in Lincoln a couple of times now for warranty work / checks etc.. I've found them to be quite good with respects courtesy cars. No charge for the hire, except for fuel, but you have the choice to return fully fueled or get them to do it based on the mileage you do. There is a sign off against excess with regards insurance but I guess most garages will do that. Be nice if they gave me a VRS to try for a day when mines in for it's next service though......

I don't think that this is Skoda or every dealer in on some kind of scam.

Just try another service centre if you aren't happy with the terms of the one you've been using.

My vrs has just been in to have the ABS unit replaced (the dreaded Teves Mk60 failure, covered by the Approved Used Warranty thankfully). Sinclair Swansea had a courtesy car waiting, only had to add the fuel. Also ended up having the car 3 days longer than planned but me keeping the courtesy car for that time was no problem.

My vrs has just been in to have the ABS unit replaced (the dreaded Teves Mk60 failure, covered by the Approved Used Warranty thankfully). Sinclair Swansea had a courtesy car waiting, only had to add the fuel. Also ended up having the car 3 days longer than planned but me keeping the courtesy car for that time was no problem.

I got my car from Sinclair and plan to use them for my servicing/repairs etc - would love to know what car you had as a courtesy.

When I had a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9TDI 130 I always got a 1.2 Ibiza as a courtesy car. They once had it for a whole MONTH while they waited for a new wheel bearing (warranty)

While having a 1.2 for a month was a total step down from the FR - 2,500 miles went onto the courtesy car and not my FR....

I got my car from Sinclair and plan to use them for my servicing/repairs etc - would love to know what car you had as a courtesy.

When I had a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9TDI 130 I always got a 1.2 Ibiza as a courtesy car. They once had it for a whole MONTH while they waited for a new wheel bearing (warranty)

While having a 1.2 for a month was a total step down from the FR - 2,500 miles went onto the courtesy car and not my FR....

It was a Roomster SE - 10 plate, 1500 miles on the clock but with a very poor diesel engine (1.9 PD I think). No substitute for the vrs but kept me mobile.

I dont think this is a scam, i think it is a sign of the times.

I beleive that the 'courtesy cars' were used before people used to buy pre reg's but I think they were loosing so much money doing it this way.

Also, I think that dealers were having issues as even if they had 10 courtesy cars, there would be one more person who wanted one, so by hiring them they save a lot of this hassle, especially if you are only being asked for an excess (whcih you can now get insurance against)

I would hoep that when (only 10 more weeks) I get my car, IF there are problems I would get a courtesy car, but I will have to wait and see.

Dealers will always get you one way or another.

It was a Roomster SE - 10 plate, 1500 miles on the clock but with a very poor diesel engine (1.9 PD I think). No substitute for the vrs but kept me mobile.

I thought the 1.9 was 105bhp - would have expected that to be decent.

Still having a Roomster to play with would be fun

cant comment on this case but my friends BMW was coming in for some warranty work at a local bmw garage, they knew my friend replaced his car every 2 years, and this was inevitably only a few weeks away, they gave him a top of the range 330d coupe, he'd always had a mid range 320d coupes, he was so impressed by the 330d he ordered one of them in top specification rather than another 320d which he'd had stuck with for the last 4 or 5 cars hes had! intelligently given courtesy car by the dealer!

"Still having a Roomster to play with would be fun "

Maybe that's the problem, right there? People ragging these courtesy cars, returning them with little dings and scuffed wheels. Someone has to pay - maybe dealers just can't subsidise it anymore?

Perhaps the £150 deposit on hire cars helps to focus the mind a little.

I would imagine doling out top spec courtesy cars would help sell a couple, but for 95% of people, it's an excuse to go bonkers in a lovely car knowing it's not your engine / tyres you're running on.

Edited 20 May, 201016 yr by Superbum

I thought the 1.9 was 105bhp - would have expected that to be decent.

Still having a Roomster to play with would be fun

That's what I thought. My last car was a VW Bora TDI so I am used to and enjoy a diesel car but this was noisy, unrefined and it barely moved no matter how much you revved it (though I didn't got mad). Perhaps I've been spoiled by the vrs though.

Theres a little clue here, and its in the word courtesy car. If you don't like the amount of courtesy they are extending then vote with your feet!