Morning all - I have just had  bit of a barny with our local Skoda dealer as I think I may have been ripped off with their Service Package.

When I bought my Octavia in May '16 I also bought the Service package for £528 - my logic was that it's a car for business use, I'm putting 20k+ miles per year on it and I'd rather know it was taken care of for the foreseeable future.  I was told at the time it would include a major service (20k miles) and two minor services (10k/30k).  I dropped it off this morning for the final 30k service and was told everything was in order, but 10 minutes after leaving the dealership I received a call saying that actually, only two services were included in the package and the service today would be an additional £159.

 

The price for each minor service is £159 and the major is £279 - a total of £597 so I saved £69 by opting for this package but as I said, it was more about convenience than cost saving.  As it stands, I have paid £528 for £438 worth of servicing and have to shell out another £159 for today's service.

Have I misunderstood the offer?  Or are Skoda trying their luck?  Has anyone else encountered this problem and what was the resolution?  My feeling is that if I have to pay for today's service, I will be lodging a claim for the delta from the Service Package.

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by gigadave

What does the paperwork state?

Well you’ll understand why dealerships are not looking forward to the BEV.

4 minutes ago, S00perb said:

What does the paperwork state?

 

Well this is the annoying bit.  I've just dug it all out and the invoice states "3-Service Plan" but the welcome pack says only two services are included.  So basically I should have raised this when I first received it but if I'm honest, I just chucked it in a filing cabinet without reading it.

I guess I'm stuck paying for this one, but it's definitely soured my opinion of this particular dealer.  They made sure I was informed this was the most cost effective way of doing things, whereas it's actually nowhere near.

6 minutes ago, gigadave said:

 

Well this is the annoying bit.  I've just dug it all out and the invoice states "3-Service Plan" but the welcome pack says only two services are included.  So basically I should have raised this when I first received it but if I'm honest, I just chucked it in a filing cabinet without reading it.

I guess I'm stuck paying for this one, but it's definitely soured my opinion of this particular dealer.  They made sure I was informed this was the most cost effective way of doing things, whereas it's actually nowhere near.

I may seem the most annoying person in the world, but I will not sign or pay for anything till I have read ALL the paperwork. Unless you want to just cross your fingers, its the only way.

Technically you had a verbal contract - but proving that is near impossible.

Had the service costs gone up they could have claimed it was the most cost effective to pay upfront  I suppose.

The most cost effective is always to service yourself IMHO. Only you know it has been done if you do It yourself. Initial outlay is usually less than one service

Gave up on having my motorbikes serviced when I found they were putting rusty bolts back in

Gave up on car services when one numpty cross threaded a fuel filter cover

@gigadave The invoice says "you have been charged for 3 services when buying the vehicle"; that trumps a "welcome pack" unless that's actually a statement of the Ts&Cs  with the service plan.

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

@gigadave The invoice says "you have been charged for 3 services when buying the vehicle"; that trumps a "welcome pack" unless that's actually a statement of the Ts&Cs  with the service plan.

If that is what the invoice says - use it as evidence for a small claims court. Warn the dealership you are about to put the claim in - see if they pay you then

6 minutes ago, S00perb said:

I may seem the most annoying person in the world, but I will not sign or pay for anything till I have read ALL the paperwork. Unless you want to just cross your fingers, its the only way.

Technically you had a verbal contract - but proving that is near impossible.

Had the service costs gone up they could have claimed it was the most cost effective to pay upfront  I suppose.

The most cost effective is always to service yourself IMHO. Only you know it has been done if you do It yourself. Initial outlay is usually less than one service

Gave up on having my motorbikes serviced when I found they were putting rusty bolts back in

Gave up on car services when one numpty cross threaded a fuel filter cover

 

Fortunately, they've always done a great job in the Service dept - it's the sales side that's let them down.  It's nigh-on impossible to prove that they told me it was for three services, they are claiming the three refers to a three year limit (as in 30k or 3 years - whichever comes first) and it was only ever a two service plan.  My response is based around the fact it's worked out £90 more expensive to do it this way!

 

5 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

@gigadave The invoice says "you have been charged for 3 services when buying the vehicle"; that trumps a "welcome pack" unless that's actually a statement of the Ts&Cs  with the service plan.

 

Yep - sadly this has all the Ts&Cs.  My bad for not reading it at the time I guess!

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by gigadave

8 minutes ago, S00perb said:

 

The most cost effective is always to service yourself IMHO. Only you know it has been done if you do It yourself. Initial outlay is usually less than one service

Gave up on having my motorbikes serviced when I found they were putting rusty bolts back in

Gave up on car services when one numpty cross threaded a fuel filter cover

The problem is that the modern vehicle within the warranty period makes it a gamble.    My Citroen will be out of warranty in 2024 but it’s a two-edged sword, meaning around $7k plus based on twice yearly services (15,000 kms each 6 months).

7 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

The problem is that the modern vehicle within the warranty period makes it a gamble.    My Citroen will be out of warranty in 2024 but it’s a two-edged sword, meaning around $7k plus based on twice yearly services (15,000 kms each 6 months).

How so?

VAT receipt, fill in a record book

No come back

Quote

The EC has directed that a manufacturer warranty cannot be affected by a car being serviced outside the franchised dealer chain but it must be serviced to the manufacturer stipulated schedule, using the specified fluids and parts.

 

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by S00perb

3 minutes ago, S00perb said:

How so?

VAT receipt, fill in a record book

No come back

Not in Australia unless it’s done and stamped by a certified/licensed mechanic.  You could try taking them to court of course.

2 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

Not in Australia unless it’s done and stamped by a certified/licensed mechanic.  You could try taking them to court of course.

Good grief! What a con. How much education does it take to change oil and filters? I could teach someone that in no time at all

Cam belt takes a little longer, but you would soon know if you had messed that up!

Just now, S00perb said:

Good grief! What a con. How much education does it take to change oil and filters? I could teach someone that in no time at all

Cam belt takes a little longer, but you would soon know if you had messed that up!

It’s been confirmed by the government authorities that you have the option of using a non franchise outfit but diy is really iffy.

For me the big unknown is in the area of updates to servicing regimes that you don’t have access to, but which will certainly be used against you.

Back in 2007 I bought a VRS with 3yr of free servicing.

Dealer should have set the car to annual servicing but forgot. So in the end they would only do the one variable service in the 3yr period and not the 3x annuals.

 

Cockups like this seem to be eternal.

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by Aspman

5 hours ago, Aspman said:

Back in 2007 I bought a VRS with 3yr of free servicing.

Dealer should have set the car to annual servicing but forgot. So in the end they would only do the one variable service in the 3yr period and not the 3x annuals.

 

Cockups like this seem to be eternal.

Not the only brand, I suspect.

The PDI should include nailing down exactly what schedule you can expect, surely.

Does seem odd, considering that any package should cost less than buying it when needed.

 

On the Car Configurator you can add the first 2 services for £279 for the TDI VRS DSG

 

 

 

 

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by Eddie-NL

11 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Not the only brand, I suspect.

The PDI should include nailing down exactly what schedule you can expect, surely.

 

They also forgot to check they'd put all the wheel bolts in properly. i.e no locking bolt in one wheel (not a normal bolt in it's place just 4 on the wheel with a hole).

 

3 minutes ago, Aspman said:

 

They also forgot to check they'd put all the wheel bolts in properly. i.e no locking bolt in one wheel (not a normal bolt in it's place just 4 on the wheel with a hole).

 

Oh dear!

3 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

Oh dear!

 

Only spotted it three weeks later (car was in airport carpark for two) then the receptionist accused me of pulling  fast one to get a free replacement locking bolt (just after spending £17k on the car).

Not a good day.

Edited 19 October, 20178 yr by Aspman

Dumping on Australian dealerships -

http://premium.goauto.com.au/dirty-tricks-warning/

Edited 19 October, 20178 yr by Ryeman

1 hour ago, Aspman said:

 

They also forgot to check they'd put all the wheel bolts in properly. i.e no locking bolt in one wheel (not a normal bolt in it's place just 4 on the wheel with a hole).

 

 

WTF!! That could have killed you!!

Well, the only time I ever took delivery of a new car (not VAG) the PDI managed to miss that the brake lights were stuck on!

 

A couple of years later I had to take it back to that dealership (actually most convenient for geographical reasons) for a safety recall, and when it came back the brake lights were stuck on again! I won't name and shame since this was ~20 years ago.

5 hours ago, S00perb said:

 

WTF!! That could have killed you!!

 

Could have been worse. They could have the been the bike mechanic that didn't put a jubilee clip on the petrol tank of my bike so it dripped fuel onto the exhaust.

Glad the journey home was a short one 

Main dealers- there's two types. Car before Furby was an ASTRA. One teething problem- indicator sticking on- spares manager( at one dealer) told me about the known problem and how to cure it( relay sticking on )and advised if it became a regular problem then it might be an idea to change it, otherwise live with it. Next problem- the dreaded small bore spark plug foul up, where it gave out an engine management light. Vauxhall dealer wanted £65 to diagnose - AA DID IT FOR FREE.

NEXT , a Skoda fuel pipe return pipe - Skoda price- £160 for parts + same again for labour. I replaced flexible pipe for 50p , and called into TPS for advice and proper parts. Advice" replace flexible pipe with "pipe fuel flexible, cut to length". Now I know why dealers are better known as "STEALERS".

New car stories- approx 45 years ago , I got fed up with bangers and decided to buy a new Minivan. It was fitted out with Ammeter and oil pressure gauge , sitting in a wood formica dash, with a radio and electric washers. Then one night , I had problems on a corner. The bottom steering rack clamp came adrift and I hit a wall. Car was only 18 months old, serviced to date and this failed. Main dealer told me that this was a common problem.

So it's all sorted.  

Apparently, Skoda used to offer a 3 year/3 service plan for £528 but discontinued it at the end of 2015 and replaced it with a cheaper, 2 service variant.  I had already placed the order for my car (with the included plan) in October 2015 before it was discontinued and so was charged at the higher rate.  When the car was registered in May 2016, the service plan was activated as the new, 2 service version.

 

Skoda apologised as they should have picked this up and refunded me the delta/given me a 3 service version but they did not catch it.  They are now refunding me the cost of the service I paid for last week and so I am all square with them now.

 

If anyone else paid for the 3 year version in 2015 ad only took delivery of their car in 2016, I would advise checking your Ts and Cs to see if you also only have the 2 service option.  If you do, contact Skoda customer care and they will sort it out for you.