OK, the issue is resolved.  I dealt with a chap at Skoda UK called Nathan, who was a star.  He took the issue on, called me back when he said he would, and was polite and helpful throughout.  It seems that the dealer was mostly correct - for this particular model, a factory towbar was available, but the policy was to fit the towbar and wiring prep at the factory, but leave the final fitting of the electrics ton be done in the country of purchase.  As there is now standard wiring throughout the EU I can't see the sense in that, and neither could Nathan, but there you have it.  Their usual policy, therefore, is to get the whole job done locally, which is usually cheaper anyway.  If the local towbar fitter hadn't gone out of business, this is what we would have done.  On n the first visit, the wrong loom was fitted, which led to issues with the brake lights.  On the second visit, they fitted the correct loom and the rear wiper malfunction turned out to be a blown fuse.  So my first concern (that the wiring had been butchered to make it fit) is probably wrong.  I was also concerned that I had paid too much for the whole thing, but it seems it was about right.  The factory towbar and wiring prep would have been £550, and an additional £190 for the additional harness, and then labour for fitting would have been added on top.  So £765 for the whole thing was about right.  If I could have had it fitted locally, it would have been around £200 cheaper, but that option wasn't available.  Time to move on from this and just enjoy the car.

 

Sincere thanks to everyone who commented here.  As I am new to Skodas and not too familiar with new cars and their electronics, I felt a bit ignorant and unable to ask the right questions or spot if I was being misinformed.  The information here was very helpful when talking to Skoda UK and I feel I have had a satisfactory result.

 

My wife is now concerned that the car has an unacceptable level of dust on it, and is demanding a full wash and Autoglym treatment, so that's this afternoon sorted out.

 

We both are really pleased with the car.  Thanks all!

You say 550 for the factory fit towbar, but then another 190 for harness(whats that?) and fitting. I paid 550 for a factory fot, and that was all included and ready for use.

I was told that the towbar fit and wiring prep (wiring through the car to the rear) was £550, and the additional harness to fit the 13-pin socket was £190. Makes no sense to me, I'm afraid, but that is the official word from Skoda UK, so I have to accept it. £550 for the whole thing fitted sounds much more reasonable, I have to say.

Looks like someone at Skoda is telling porkies. The factory fit towbar is complete at 500/550 ready to use and NO dealer electric wiring and nice. 

"but the policy was to fit the towbar and wiring prep at the factory, but leave the final fitting of the electrics ton be done in the country of purchase." - Bol1cks

Towbar, removable and lockable with adaptor Not available on GreenLine PK1 - £458.33 £550.00 as per the new June 2016 Brochure.

A bit like the mud flap story for the VRS.

Edited 26 June, 20169 yr by the rooster

And my factory fitted even has an Audi-logo on the 13pin contact :p

Looks like I have been goosed, then! Do you think it is worth escalating this to someone senior at Skoda UK, or just forget about it and move on?

.... but the policy was to fit the towbar and wiring prep at the factory, but leave the final fitting of the electrics ton be done in the country of purchase. ....

 

....  So £765 for the whole thing was about right.  If I could have had it fitted locally, it would have been around £200 cheaper, but that option wasn't available.  Time to move on from this and just enjoy the car.

 

 

There is no logic in fitting a towbar and part electrics at the factory, during build, to then strip that car back down again to fit further electrics. £765 is not the right price - I've had an aftermarket one fitted AND bought a 4 bike carrier for the same price.

 

I think you need to go back to Skoda UK and get some better answers because the ones you have been given are a complete load of tosh. They have messed up and they know it.

Richard

Again my MY 2016 Scout with factory fitted towbar was £550 and no extra wiring or coding was required, all 12 pins were connected giving full 12S functionality for my Caravan ( Fridge works of 12v , charging caravan battery on the move and ATC).

Factory fit is factory fit - dealer doesn't have to do anything and no additional looms are needed.

 

Nathan is telling porkies.

 

Ring back and ask for your case to be escalated as the gatekeepers are lying to you and your dealer has lied to you as well on more than one occasion, as well as making a swift profit for a bodged job.