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Dealership servicing costs


zuulan

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Hi All

 

I was just wondering how much people pay for servicing.

 

My Yeti is still under warranty so I've kept with the official dealerships but after being quoted £215 for the first Oil change from Simpsons, Preston I tried RRG Bolton. Their price was much different at £139 including collection & Drop-off and I found their service to be much better anyway. (Simpsons servicing rarely answer the phone). I even got a video of their checks http://video.citnow.com/vxvjXn6kFvR

 

Are independents much cheaper than this?

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

a pity that there are no replies yet so I'll add one. Before i do i would just like to say that I wish i had seen this thread before actually having my Fabia TSI90 serviced at Simpsons in the last week.

The car is just two weeks short of being two years old and has covered 5000 miles, not serviced before as the service indicator only came on in the last two weeks to advise Oil and Inspection service needed in 28 days etc.

When i rang to book the car in and request a courtesy car i was offered a Service Plan for three years; it would cost a total of £661 comprising an initial payment of £191.58 followed by 14 monthly payments of £33.53. The Service Plan also included two MOTs.  I declined the plan and when the service was carried out they advised(red) aircon anti-bacterial treatment at £75(declined), and an amber rating for a juddering rear wiper at about £10(declined. The former isn't needed as the aircon isn't used that much and the ductwork is fine, I run the aircon once a week to keep the system seals wet and to maintain cooling performance. The rear wiper 'problem' is probably down to the rear screen being very clean and the wiper has such little use anyway. The only extra i agreed to was a puncture repair at £25 which i thought was a bit steep but didn't want the hassle of going to a tyre bay seperately.  The video i got was only half the length of yours.

The actual cost for the service ended up at £331.

I feel like I've been had and would have been happy to use RRG Bolton had I known; there's always next time.

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zuulan,

what mileage is your first Oil and filter change at, is it on Fixed servicing and at 9,400 miles / 372 or sooner, 

or is it Flexible Servicing, and more than 9,400 miles / 12 months.

 

After 3 years this is the Cost, but it can be cheaper than this, like your £139 quote for your first service.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

A Major Service can be a rip off if no Air Filter, Plugs etc are replaced.

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having seen the link in Offski's post I think I'll crosslink this thread in the Fabia forum for the benefit of others in the Preston area. My final bill was £336 not £331 which, even after deducting the cost of the puncture £25 and courtesy car waiver of £10, still exceeds the £279 Major Service. No spark plug replacement was done and that would have been included in a Major Service. I'm left with a few doubts about my main dealer.

Anyone know how i can check if the service has been recorded on the Skoda database properly? I got a short video of my car on the ramp but will that guarantee that a record of the service exists?

Edited by Flopsy
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They pulled your pants down sadly, ask them why, what was done for the money.

Ask in writing.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

This link is cars 3-10 years old participating and taking the pith Major Service cost without parts supplied yet VAT charged dealers,.

The service manager at the dealership can email you the information, they should have printed it off anyway.

 

So just ask Skoda UK Customer Services for your cars service history.  Then you have it any know what is on there.

http://skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us 

 

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Offski

they did give me an invoice with details of work done/parts replaced; it was also headed CARRIED OUT 20,000 MILE SERVICE. They haven't covered all the items listed on Skoda's website but managed to charge me more than Skoda UK's rate.

Just by coincidence when i opened my emails today there was one from Skoda UK asking if i would complete a survey. I've done that and made sure that they know why i am a very unhappy bunny. I've also asked Customer Services to contact me; I'll see what's been recorded on Skoda's systems about the service.

In just over 12 months my car will be 3 years old and I will be looking round for a reliable outfit to service my car and give it its first MOT.

Thanks for your help Offski,  it's invaluable.

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Using a local mechanic for my service (car is 6 years old and 55k miles down). Have been quoted a very reasonable £65 for my interim service. Spoke to the chap on the phone and he seems a great guy. 

 

Not sure if I would take the 'risk' with a brand new car... However there are bargains to be had if you're willing to trust an independent company. 

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On 4/15/2018 at 17:15, Offski said:

zuulan,

what mileage is your first Oil and filter change at, is it on Fixed servicing and at 9,400 miles / 372 or sooner, 

or is it Flexible Servicing, and more than 9,400 miles / 12 months.

 

After 3 years this is the Cost, but it can be cheaper than this, like your £139 quote for your first service.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

A Major Service can be a rip off if no Air Filter, Plugs etc are replaced.

 

I'm not sure what the mileage rate is but it'll be every 12 months for me as I only do about 5,000 miles a year in it.  It is every 12 months even if I only did 100 miles in it. I wasn't aware of this but the service spanner light came on so I had to call a dealer to have that explained.

 

 

 

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On 4/16/2018 at 14:49, Flopsy said:

having seen the link in Offski's post I think I'll crosslink this thread in the Fabia forum for the benefit of others in the Preston area. My final bill was £336 not £331 which, even after deducting the cost of the puncture £25 and courtesy car waiver of £10, still exceeds the £279 Major Service. No spark plug replacement was done and that would have been included in a Major Service. I'm left with a few doubts about my main dealer.

Anyone know how i can check if the service has been recorded on the Skoda database properly? I got a short video of my car on the ramp but will that guarantee that a record of the service exists?

 

I was going to say they must've done the 2nd year major service for that price but as you state, it's even a high price for that.  Was it Simpsons Preston you went to?

 

My experience of them as been very bad.  The service receptionist never seems available but although I've had many promises that they will call me back they never have. I took the Yeti in for 4 faults and they talked around every single 1 of them. Apparently the door holding a gallon a water when it rains and then releasing all of it on your feet when you open the door is Normal! RRG Bolton however was able to fix 3 of the faults, they couldn't replicate the 4th one. They also have a new showroom opening in May.

 

RRG picked up my car for free but if they are too far for you then try Simpsons Blackburn.  I've not been there as their service price was also £215 but they called me back twice after I completed a contact us form on their website.

 

On as slightly different note I've just had a major service done on a Mazda MX-5, this included a brake fluid change and cost £225. Expensive for me as it's only done 3,000 miles since it's last service but again it is time based. However only 2/3 of your price for a major service from a main franchised dealer.

 

 

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On 4/18/2018 at 16:26, Awkward_Josh said:

Using a local mechanic for my service (car is 6 years old and 55k miles down). Have been quoted a very reasonable £65 for my interim service. Spoke to the chap on the phone and he seems a great guy. 

 

Not sure if I would take the 'risk' with a brand new car... However there are bargains to be had if you're willing to trust an independent company. 

 

Thanks, that's what I suspected. I'll definitely check out independents once out of the warranty period.

 

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11 hours ago, zuulan said:

 

I was going to say they must've done the 2nd year major service for that price but as you state, it's even a high price for that.  Was it Simpsons Preston you went to?

 

My experience of them as been very bad.  The service receptionist never seems available but although I've had many promises that they will call me back they never have. I took the Yeti in for 4 faults and they talked around every single 1 of them. Apparently the door holding a gallon a water when it rains and then releasing all of it on your feet when you open the door is Normal! RRG Bolton however was able to fix 3 of the faults, they couldn't replicate the 4th one. They also have a new showroom opening in May.

 

RRG picked up my car for free but if they are too far for you then try Simpsons Blackburn.  I've not been there as their service price was also £215 but they called me back twice after I completed a contact us form on their website.

 

On as slightly different note I've just had a major service done on a Mazda MX-5, this included a brake fluid change and cost £225. Expensive for me as it's only done 3,000 miles since it's last service but again it is time based. However only 2/3 of your price for a major service from a main franchised dealer.

 

 

Yes zuulan, it was Simpsons Preston; lesson learned.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Final Update:  Saturday 21st April - recieved email from Skoda Customer Services apologising and stating that they would speak to Simpsons Service Manager requesting that he contact me directly.

                         As of today 1st May - no contact from Simpsons.

As a final aside, when I left the car I did ask the young woman on the service desk to have a sqeak from the nearside rear brake after release of handbrake rectified: they didn't of course but they wouldn't would they when she didn't bother to make a note of it.

It's all about standards really...

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Ingrams Skoda of Ayr carried out our Inspection (major) service last weekend, mk2 Fabia vRS, 6 years old but this was the 8th service as we had a couple done out of sync due to wanting car right for winter and so on, still on 68,000 miles though.

 

Cost would have been £189 however spark plugs and pollen filter were not being done at that price, I wanted them done and specified vw502 00 5w 40fs for the oil change which they were happy to accommodate. So with spark plugs replacing and new pollen filter the bill would have been £320 (plugs themselves £14 each) but we were aided by a goodwill voucher from Skoda UK thus bringing our total bill down to £260.

 

I think they were taking £100 to supply and fit the new plugs, and £30 for the pollen filter. 

 

So although the price might have been a bit on the high side compared to an independent, we were still happy to pay it as the service received from Ingrams was very good. Nothing was too much trouble, courtesy car was offered straight away, the work to be done explained from the outset, booking times and so on was relayed to us on first contact, all as it should be really.

 

On the day, left car with them at 0830 on a Saturday morning, lass on service desk went through our requirements and said they would call if there was anything cropped up but otherwise would phone us when car was ready. Courtesy car was a 67 plate Skoda Rapid freshly washed and hoovered, nice car. We got the Citnow video sent to us with recommendations on things we need to maybe address down the line, no pressure at all put on us to do stuff early. Our car was ready for us at 11am so we had the rest of the day free in Ayr, on Scottish Grand National day.

 

All in all a positive experience and one that means we will return there.

 

Previously we had used Parks Skoda, but that won't be happening again. We had also used a local independent who is very easy to pay and whom we do trust to work on the car, however he is unable to provide any necessary software updates so we've opted to use the retailer network.

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It is worth ringing around different dealers, stay with Skoda service whilst within warranty (might reject any warranty claim otherwise)

then feel free to change to independent, there are some VW Group specialists around (the engines are same between the brands)

 

There are more official servicing locations than new car dealers (some garages stopped selling Skodas, but retain the official repairer status, often for at least a year)

 

As a guide I have just been quoted £206 for 2nd service on my Yeti, and first service covers less.

Edited by SurreyJohn
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  • 2 weeks later...

Just to add to this thread Simpsons Preston are my local and I no longer use them. My Octy VRS is over 3 years old and if I book online a minor service is £159. Over the phone, the rude lady there argued with me that it should be £240, as the VRS is excluded from the £159 offer (not the case). Put simply, they make stuff up, they are rude, and they charge the absolute maximum for anything they can get away with.

 

My car now makes a 60 mile round trip to Vantage Morecambe instead for it's dealer servicing. Far better experience and no arguing over pricing.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 5/12/2018 at 14:19, ahenners said:

Just to add to this thread Simpsons Preston are my local and I no longer use them. My Octy VRS is over 3 years old and if I book online a minor service is £159. Over the phone, the rude lady there argued with me that it should be £240, as the VRS is excluded from the £159 offer (not the case). Put simply, they make stuff up, they are rude, and they charge the absolute maximum for anything they can get away with.

 

My car now makes a 60 mile round trip to Vantage Morecambe instead for it's dealer servicing. Far better experience and no arguing over pricing.

 

I agree with you. One of the reasons why I chose a Skoda was because of the good reputation of Skoda dealers. Seems like Simpsons really let down the network.

 

I now head over to RRG in Bolton.

 

Edited by zuulan
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3 minutes ago, zuulan said:

 

I agree with you. One of the reasons why I chose a Skoda was because of the good reputation of Skoda dealers. Seems like Simpsons really let down the network.

 

I now head over to RRG in Bolton.

 

 

How are you finding RRG Bolton? I've been using Vantage Morecambe who have been pretty good and definitely better than Simpsons. Bolton is probably a similar distance from me.

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Just now, ahenners said:

 

How are you finding RRG Bolton? I've been using Vantage Morecambe who have been pretty good and definitely better than Simpsons. Bolton is probably a similar distance from me.

 

They have been really good. They answer the phone for starters which Simpsons don't. The cost of the first service I needed was less and they also picked up the car from Adlington.

 

I think I mentioned before, when I took the car in with 4 faults, Simpson's didn't fix a single one. Instead they claimed all were normal features of the car, including holding a litre of water in the door when it rained. Anyway RRG fixed 3 of the 4 and they always clean the car inside and out. 

 

Another point is that RRG Skoda were in the same premises as RRG Toyota. However they are opening a brand new store on the 1st June. So hopefully things will get even better then.

 

https://www.rrg-group.com/skoda/dealerships/bolton/

 

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15 minutes ago, zuulan said:

 

They have been really good. They answer the phone for starters which Simpsons don't. The cost of the first service I needed was less and they also picked up the car from Adlington.

 

I think I mentioned before, when I took the car in with 4 faults, Simpson's didn't fix a single one. Instead they claimed all were normal features of the car, including holding a litre of water in the door when it rained. Anyway RRG fixed 3 of the 4 and they always clean the car inside and out. 

 

Another point is that RRG Skoda were in the same premises as RRG Toyota. However they are opening a brand new store on the 1st June. So hopefully things will get even better then.

 

https://www.rrg-group.com/skoda/dealerships/bolton/

 

 

Sounds about right. Mine broke down whilst under warranty and was towed to Simpsons. They couldn't find any issue with it, and apparently it had no fault codes stored. Odd one that, as I clocked 4 faults relating to misfiring and o2 sensors before they had even got their hands on it. Made sure I didn't wipe any codes.

 

I had no luck with a few other niggles which they weren't particularly helpful with. Each time it was "no fault found" or "it's not covered under warranty". I suspect that with most of it they didn't even attempt to raise a claim under warranty, even if they could and it might have been accepted as a valid claim.

 

Sounds like RRG are decent and when you find a good one it's worth sticking with them! 

Edited by ahenners
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I eventually got a response from Skoda UK Customer Service and it follows:-

" Thank you for your email received on 13 May, regarding your recent customer satisfaction survey.

I do apologise that Simpsons ŠKODA have not been in touch as ŠKODA UK requested, this is disappointing and I understand your frustration.

Unfortunately ŠKODA UK does not take into consideration what is posted on an internet forum.

I am sorry to hear that you are considering leaving the brand and the disappointment this has caused you.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Kind regards


Donna Bown
"

 

She obviously didn't read what was on their survey or my follow-up emails. I clearly stated that I didn't want to hear from Simpsons ever again and she has conveniently forgotten about the complaint about overcharging and work not done/parts not supplied.

Nice to know that they don't care what's said on internet forums...  I had given her a link to this thread

 

Perhaps Skoda should revise their slogan to Skoda, simply Don't Care

Edited by Flopsy
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20 hours ago, Flopsy said:


Unfortunately ŠKODA UK does not take into consideration what is posted on an internet forum.

 

 

No offer to rectify outstanding issues? No assurance that this type of thing won't happen again? Not considering the valid experiences of their customer base?

 

What a disappointing reply

 

 

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Hello all you Lancashire-based fellow Skoda owners.

 

When I lived at Ramsbottom for a while (and also later at Mossley), I discovered and used an excellent small business in Ramsbottom called Smithie Garage, located in Spring St, just off Bolton Rd, behind the Major pub.  Proprietor Peter Bootland.

 

Websearch now showing he's developed his 4x4 interests (LandRovers and Haflingers) into a specialism on Haflingers, Pinzgauers, and the Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado.

Has teamed up with a fellow enthusiast.   Don't know if they'll do general servicing on other makes, but his workmanship on my Mk3 Golf TD, Fiesta Tdci, and Mk1 Fabia 1.4tdi over several years was faultless, always patient, polite, accommodating.  And sensible prices. So might be worth a call, 01706 823754.

 

HTH.

Richard

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