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It's annoying as if you have to go to SUK to complain about anything the first question they ask is does it have FSSH thus suggesting that in order to get anything positive from them that it does. Dare to stray from the dealer network and things get 'difficult'.

Therein lies the problem with servicing outside of the dealer network. If you end up with something that isnt straight forward, they can be as awkward as they want and you end up paying. On the other hand I had a Renault Modus that went wrong out of warranty but because it had always been dealer serviced Renualt agreed to pay the bill. Swings and roundabouts

Slightly different but similar in terms of goodwill. I've been told by Skoda UK (rightly or wrongly) that the only reason my car was being looked at and fixed outside of warranty was because of its full main dealer history.

Out of warranty + non main dealer history = no chance sir!

Should add the Benfield Ford in Wetherby, where I bought my Fiesta ST, have been excellent. Still take it there for annual service.

So what did they say about your black oil today?

So what did they say about your black oil today?

Got to take it in this pm for them to check the consistency.

So what did they say about your black oil today?

It seems as though there are different shades of black! Mine was compared with oil in another 13k petrol Octy they had on forecourt but which hadn't had a presale service. There was clearly a big difference - their one a lot 'blacker'. So sort of happy.....fact remains I've never seen oil so 'dark', shall we say, after a service before.

My next service interval display, when it comes to life, will be the clincher, I suspect. It's still showing "- - -" after about 80 miles since service. Apparently it takes a 'few miles' to work itself out. Anyone any idea how many?

Auric,i had my car up on the ramp tonight & i removed my undertray,it was held on with 11+ screws & clipped in at the front,im suprised yours fell off,all i can think of is they didnt put many if any screws back in,mine is a petrol though,dont know if diesels are different.

Auric,i had my car up on the ramp tonight & i removed my undertray,it was held on with 11+ screws & clipped in at the front,im suprised yours fell off,all i can think of is they didnt put many if any screws back in,mine is a petrol though,dont know if diesels are different.

They didn't put any screws in at all, I'm surprised it stopped on so long, 2 days

I always take the discount rather than trusting a garage to do the work.

Having seen a few not do it, or in one case the garage had obviously just sucked some oil out and then put a couple of litres of new oil in, without changing the filter. On minimum, the oil was very dirty, and when I took the filter out, it was falling apart and in a dreadful state. All after less than 100 miles after purchase, I changed it for the person and told them to send a rocket up the garages backside.

I had the oil sump plug fall out of my Peugeot 406 HDi 2 days after a service.

Warning lights etc, dumped all the oil in the road. I stopped straight away and got the AA to dump the Pug at the dealers.

(Also informed council about oil hazard on road)

I made the MD of the dealer write me a letter to admit liability and that they would pay for any and all repairs in the future related to loss of oil.

Car was fine and eventually sold on.

About 18 months ago my car went into Derek Slacks on Teesside for it's annual service picked it up that evening after paying £260 and that was that.Had a phone call two weeks later saying it was due a cam belt change and they had forgotten to do the job when it was in for the service.Again collected the car after paying another £450 for the work done.Some three months later I was driving to my monthly meeting with some old army mates in Ferryhill,lovely sunny day as I drove down the hill to the pub there was a loud bang which I thought was a gunshot.Then I noticed the warning light for the alternator was on,parked up and looked under the bonnet, the alloy tension tower for the alternator belt had snapped off and the belt was wrapped around the bottom pulley.The retaining bolt was laid on the tray below the engine and had obviously worked loose and fallen out.Called the RAC out next day and had him follow me to Slacks in case my battery ran flat, twenty mile journey went OK, left a note with the bits in the footwell and my sister picked me up and took me home.Next day they rang and asked if I wanted them to repair the damage...daaahhh! I said go ahead and ring me when its ready.Went to collect the car and the service manager asked if I had had the cambelt changed lately, yes said I, right said he we will give you an estimate and bill for the work and you can claim off them because the retaining bolt had not been secured by the mechanic so you should not pay.Thats good news I said cos you lot did the cambelt change.......oh! I dont think so , checked on the computer no we only did the service.Try two weeks later I said ..red faced he said your right, so its a FOC job then....eeerrrh better see my boss.Came back and said they would not charge for the labour but I would have to pay the £86 for the parts because they reckoned the bolt would have fallen out a lot sooner than three months.I served my time as a motor cycle mechanic so I do have some knowledge, I said the only time the bolt would move was every time I started the engine when it would move maybe a quarter turn, the rest of the time it was under tension and couldnt move.They would not alter their stance so I paid and said spend it wisely cos I will never be back..............crap attitude which really surprised me.

In Ireland now all or most vw / Audi dealers have Skoda after sales , parts and warranty. I had my injector recall done at a vw , Audi dealer

I am surprised any motorist EVER goes to a main franchise dealer to get a service or repair done. They never ever (in my experience) actually solve a problem, they just charge an absolute fortune for (not) doing what they say they are doing.....Friend of mine went into their local Skoda dealer with a gearbox bearing noise and was told £2500 please. The problem was referred to this forum, unit 19 visited and the problem was solved for £180.

I just fail to understand why dealers do this because they just lose customers hand over fist.

It is such a shame because I am so impressed with Skodas that I do actually feel as if I should have loyalty to the Skoda garages but sorry boys I am not that rich...........