Is it normal practice for bodyshop Staff to use a customers car to commute to and from work?

My vehicle is currently in for a respray due to rust on the tailgate. The work has been contracted out by Skoda as a warranty issue.

At approximately 2005 tonight I received an alert from the tracker fitted to my vehicle stating it had been driven from the bodyshop to a residential address a few miles away.

No, it's NOT normal practice!

 

 

 

 

If there was a mechanical fault that was proving difficult to diagnose, and needed driving round for a few miles or an early morning cold start, I've let my local tame independent garage do that, but only with prior approval and confidence in the person driving. But definitely not for a bodywork repair.

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by FlyingGecko

If they think that it's possible to get away with it, they will!

If you know where it is, go take a photo, note the address, wait 'til you've got it back (if it's not too long a wait), then ask for a bloody good explanation.

 

Or go and move it back to somewhere near you and wait to hear from them!

 

Gaz

It's all logged by the tracker. And I've taken screen shots.

The car is approximately 30 miles away at the moment!

There might be a very good explanation though:-

 

Yes with locate you can see all journeys ! I would be wanting my next service free , or get them to do it while there completely unacceptable

There might be a very good explanation though:-

You're a cheery bu663r! B-D

Local bodyshop did this to me with my Bora, except I saw it out for a drie on the evening. I went home and got the spare key, and took the car back home. Then I waited for them to ring me.

Next day the manager called with a **** and bull story, so I told him where the car was and how it got there. It took some explaining that I really wasn't best pleased at my car being used without my consent, but he seemed to think it was in their charge so it was okay.

Local bodyshop did this to me with my Bora, except I saw it out for a drie on the evening. I went home and got the spare key, and took the car back home. Then I waited for them to ring me.

Next day the manager called with a **** and bull story, so I told him where the car was and how it got there. It took some explaining that I really wasn't best pleased at my car being used without my consent, but he seemed to think it was in their charge so it was okay.

 

 

WTF! Okay my @rse!

If you have a spare key and know where it is I'd be very tempted to go and pick it up.

Having a dashcam fitted to it would be useful in this situation too!

Sent from my ONE E1003 using Tapatalk

Technically I don't think their insurance would cover them for commuting. I know I had to have an amendment made to cover me to take a customers car home, and even then it had to be with written permission from the owner.

Is this, taken without consent? This is why I don't like leaving my car at the garage longer then a day. What tracker are you using?

Is this, taken without consent? This is why I don't like leaving my car at the garage longer then a day. What tracker are you using?

https://www.carlock.co/features-app/

Whoever has access to the car has just driven it back to the bodyshop.

I have front and rear dashcams hardwired into the car. I removed the rear one as that is where the respray is being carried out. The front dashcam is currently installed in my Fabia courtesy car.

I also took photographs of my dash readout before dropping the car off so it'll be interesting to see what the mileage is when I get it back!

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by Guest

https://www.carlock.co/features-app/

Whoever has access to the car has just driven it back to the bodyshop.

Someone is a member on here, I suspect.

Someone is a member on here, I suspect.

For some unknown reason as soon as I saw that that's what I thought!

Someone is a member on here, I suspect.

Well it wasn't me....

But this approach could take a while.......

Local garage/fishing tackle shop used my car to transport bulk maggots whilst it was supposed to be in for repair.

Bloody thing stank, they denied everything, until the sun came out and the car was full of newly hatched flies!

Then I got a full valet out of them and never used them again.

Our other car had already been broken into whilst at theirs for a service too!

Pretty sure , if my tracker alerted me that my car was on the move I would be over there in a shot and taking photographic evidence.

If your tracker is easily removed/mobile they could say some co..ck and bull.

My car tracker has moved a few feet but that is due to the GPS signal but never anything like you say.

Someone is a member on here, I suspect.

If they are a member on here, then they'll know how to disconnect it due to the link I posted earlier B( However, when the device is disconnected, that triggers an alarm.

And sends an alert when it is reconnected.

Pretty sure , if my tracker alerted me that my car was on the move I would be over there in a shot and taking photographic evidence.

If your tracker is easily removed/mobile they could say some co..ck and bull.

My car tracker has moved a few feet but that is due to the GPS signal but never anything like you say.

Unfortunately I had a few beers with my evening meal just before getting the alerts. 

 

The tracker system I use has been totally consistent and in the 2 or 3 years I have had it installed it has never given a false location reading.

 

it will be interesting to see what stance the dealership/Skoda take!

Unfortunately I had a few beers with my evening meal just before getting the alerts. 

 

The tracker system I use has been totally consistent and in the 2 or 3 years I have had it installed it has never given a false location reading.

 

it will be interesting to see what stance the dealership/Skoda take!

Too late now, but you could have grassed them for TWOCing it.

When you go to pick it up, take a print out of where your car's been and a bill for the mileage.

It would appear this bodyshop operates 24/7! The engine was switched on just before midnight, 0450, 0624 and 0825. All at the location of the bodyshop.

According to Google there are two bodyshops in that area. One with a 2.5* review and one with a 4.5*.

I wonder which one Skoda used??!!

I would approach Skoda directly with this... 1) you aren't likely to get much truck with the garage 2) if Skoda are sending other vehicles there they would probably want to know this sort of stuff...