Last July I bought a 2006 Roomster 1.9 Tdi 3. The car had a full service history and was in vgc.

 

I decided that I wanted to keep the service history going and saw on the Skoda site that they were offering a service package for older models. However it only covers > 8 years old and > 80,000 mls.

My car was was registered in Dec 06 and had just turned 80,000 mls, so I was out of luck.

 

A bit of research on the net and I came up with Halfords, they were offering an A/C service deal, which I needed and went to my local centre in Dundee.

They were helpful and friendly and told me about the Privilege Service Plan they offer, which turned out to be the same as the Skoda dea and the same price, £15.99 per month over 3 years. I signed up and got a discount on my A/C service as well.

When I got the car back they told me they had done a lights, brakes and tyre inspection and that I needed a tyre on the front O/S. The tread looked fine to me and it was only later I realised that one side was a winter tyre and the other was a summer tyre.

I decided to look around as the price Halfords were quoting were a little rich for my budget. I ended up going to National tyres and got 2 tyres, to keep things looking the same.

My car went for it's service and MOT on the 26th April, it failed on a broken front N/S spring and a torn CV joint gaiter. Again their prices were OTT. I told them I would get it done. On the service side of thing they picked up the front N/S tyre as only having the minimum legal tread. I questioned this and examined the tyre, it had the same amount as the other side and both tyres had only covered around 1000 mls mainly town. I am 59 and don't rally or wheel spin, I check the car over regularly and tyre pressures weekly.

 

When I got the bill for the service/MOT I was told the bill was £206.00 and that there was a shortfall of £78. I was startled by this but paid anyway. When I got home I dug out my service plan and noted that the bill should be no more than £191.88, or 12 x £15.99.

When I questioned the £206 I was told that this was because my car uses fully synthetic oil. I was never told this and there is nothing in the T&C's to say this. 

I contacted their customer service department, that's a joke, highlighting my case and asking for an explanation, cursory no-reply confirmation, but no response. That was over a week ago and I did send them another email stating I would cancel the service plan and that I would be writing a report for Briskoda, so that other people can make an informed decision.

 

They were quoting me for a new spring, £157, a new CV boot and a new tyre £49. I bought a new spring on Ebay for £13.58 post free and a CV joint and boot kit for £10.99 + 4.99 p&p. Both items are guaranteed. As my mechanic was on holiday I had to fit them myself. More savings!!

To top it all though, the mechanic who did the retest said the tyre in question WAS legal and had over 4mm of tread.

 

So now I am just going back to my old faithful mechanic. 

 

Paul

 

Lesson learned I hope.

 

Tyre places for tyres

Mechanic for mechanical things.

 

Halfords for Magic Tree air fresheners.

& a mile down the road to pick up brochures get a coffee and talk Skoda's with Michelle. 

Too right there Frustrated mad scientist. Lesson well learnt