Interesting responses all.

 

Local dealer has suggested I visit to have the service light turned off (without a serice) - then pop back there when the car gets to 18k which should be in April'ish time for a full service  At that time they will change it to Variable.

 

I also got the 2 free services when I purchased the car - I didn't realise they had to be done within 2 years.

 

Thinking now I may let them do the Oil service now - and set it to variable.. meaning the next full service will be about this time next year.

 

M.

 

 

 

 

If they do a major service at 18,000 miles and another at another 18,000 that will be amazing.  The 2 free services you got was on it being on fixed Servicing,  but as long as you have the name of the person that made that latest offer get that confirmed in writing.      I would be pushing for 2 free serviced annually if you were not given the T&C s of the 2 free services when buying the car.

 

 

Edited 2 November, 20187 yr by Offski

1 hour ago, mantrahalos said:

I also got the 2 free services when I purchased the car - I didn't realise they had to be done within 2 years.

 

 

Where does it say that? (In your paperwork)

 

My car is set to variable. It had been switched to fixed at PDI without permission, I did state clearly at time of order I wanted it on variable, and I told them to switch it back before delivery.

 

I got a letter from Skoda finance later confirming my 2 services I purchased with my new car will be carried out ”according to my car's servicing schedule". The car tells me when a service is due, not the dealer.

 

Its just one oil service and one minor service too, which again I wasn't informed of, and is a rip off at £279. No cheaper than standard prices.

 

I was expecting a minor and a major, but then again, that doesn't mean much with the way the Skoda servicing system decides what does or doesn't need doing.

 

 

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by xman

9 hours ago, xman said:

Where does it say that? (In your paperwork)

 

A cause of confusion Skoda have failed to tackle in all the years I've owned their cars. Their servicing schedules and polices are (in my opinion) deliberately confusing, in an effort to allow their franchised dealer network to influence how often they want to service your car, not the other way around.

 

My letter says the same as yours with regards to when the services are to be carried out...  ”according to my car's servicing schedule".

 

The letter also goes on to show that we're entitled to:

 

1x Minor Service

1x Major Service

 

The letter also recommends checking out their website for further detail, which takes you to here...

 

 

A shame they still can't align their terminology, but the "minor" service on their letter is the "Interim" service on their website above.

 

As you can see, the minor service is due at 12 months, the major service is due at 24 months. If your car is set to variable then you'll miss out on the 1st / minor service.

 

If the dealer changes it to fixed during the PDI (pre-delivery inspection), they're guaranteeing they'll get you back for both services within the two years. They should explain this though. Most don't, and a lot do it even if the car doesn't have a fixed price service plan, this could be seen as deceitful as it's a deliberate ploy to get the car back in for servicing more often than perhaps it needs to be, or the owner wants it to be.

 

What isn't clear is if you can use the minor service after the major service i.e. have the major (variable) service done sometime in the second year, when the car calls for a service, and then have the car set to the fixed interval and have the minor service done after a further 12 months or 10,000 miles.

 

What you can't do is keep the car set to variable and enjoy both services. Variable (or long life servicing) is classed as a major, the service plan only includes 1x major service.

 

This is why I was advising the OP to be cautious in blaming the dealer, they may have had his best interests in mind when changing the car from variable to fixed, knowing he had a fixed price service plan. This is what my dealer did too.

 

Again, Skoda's terminology is designed to confuse, their "Fixed Price Service Plan" might suggest to most that the prices are 'fixed'. But Skoda UK still regularly use the term 'fixed' to represent their 'fixed service interval' which is the 12 month / 10,000 mile minor / interim interval as opposed to 'variable intervals' which is their 24 month / 20,000 mile major / long life interval.

 

Clear as mud then!

 

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by silver1011

No mention of any website on my letter or handover paperwork. No mention of regime requirement.

 

At point of order 3 months before delivery, I told the salesman to write down on the order, variable servicing required.

 

On my new car and its mileage (currently less than 2k miles per year with no short journeys) all the services will effectively be just oil/ filter changes, the rest is just BS. Changing the oil at 2k/1yr is a ridiculous waste.

 

Our Octavia was on variable and a major service was not carried out until the 3rd service at 56k miles, the dealer said that's what was required for that vehicle.

 

An oil service plus a minor service currently costs £267. So how come I paid £279 for a cost saving package for first two services, which Skoda, weeks after delivery, tell me is just an oil service and a minor service?

 

I'm prepared to fight Skoda on this if they play silly buggers, which hopefully they won't.

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by xman

That website has the T&C,  Fixed Service & vehicles 3-10 year old.

 

Now a £99 Oil & Filter Service & Inspection & Report, which is all an Interim Service is anyway at 1 year old / 9,400 or less .

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

 

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by Offski

So website is for 3+ year old cars. No minor service. Words are important in a court of law.

 

Stamp in service book, which doesnt exist anymore.

 

Quite frankly regret buying this "deal"

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by xman

There is lots of mis-advertising & mis-selling going on it seems.

& with the Fixed Pricing deal a very odd thing with VAT.

Parts not supplied or fitted and various time labour but the price is the same so is the VAT taken from Customers to pay to HMRC?

 

If you buy a Meal Deal,  Crisps, Sandwich & Drink,  it is your choice if you take all 3, same with KFC or McDonalds etc, or say leave out part of the offer.

With Skoda Main Dealers it appears you pays all the money and they decide if you get the parts or them even looked at.

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by Offski

The 'Fixed Price Servicing' deal offered with new car sales is via Skoda Finance, as part of their incentives to finance the car on a PCP with them.

 

The information I quoted was on the letter sent to me from Skoda Finance a few weeks after collecting the car...

 

 

 

Edited 14 November, 20187 yr by silver1011
Correctly rotate the orientation of the images.

A few years back Skoda UK referred to 'Minor Services' / 'Inspection Services',  & 'Major Services',  then started using the term 'Interim Service' & Major Service'.

 

The Interim service appearing to be half way between a Major Service or what is a 18,000-20,000 thousand / 24 month Service.

So much gets lost in translation with the VW Group.

 

Manufacturers Service Guidelines seem to be very variable and flexible when it comes to them explaining what is a Guideline and what is a schedule.

 

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

 

 

My car was supplied with the variable servicing set. I didn’t tell the dealer either way which one I want, but I prefer the long regime so it suits me. 

 

The  car currently tells me 3000 miles to go to oil service and 4200 miles to inspection service. No mention of minor or major, interim etc. I expect dealer to do both oil and inspection service for free, as per the deal of two free services. I think they’ll struggle to justify why they shouldn’t. 

Always be sure the 'Full Body Inspection & Report' is carried out for the Paint & Corrosion Warranty,  because Skoda did away with 'Service Books' and the page with the Body Inspection to be filled out.

 

Skoda UK have been telling owners making Warranty Claims on Corrosion / Rust or Paint issues that the Dealership Employees never did a Body Inspection.

Well they know many do not, and they know now which Dealerships are guilty of that,  'Simply clever' would be tell them to do the job customers pay for 

when getting 'Full Main Dealer Servicing', & not some lottery type Servicing and Reports.

It seems I got fortunate with the local dealer here. I have never been able to fault them or catch them out skipping an item. My only complaint might be that they always manage to leave an oily smudge somewhere. Then again, that tells me the guy doing the work actually touches and check the oily bits when inspecting them...

 

We still have the service books here and the body report has been filled out on each and every service, signed and stamped.

 

On the last service (the major one) I was also sent a video of the car getting inspected, both on and off the lift.  That was new to me. Never got that in my BMW days - they  tried to give me a reach around once - but I think they were just making sure I remembered to Bring My Wallet...

Lol. Day 1 lesson 1 at some back street autos,  tyre and exhaust centres and some big dealership group or service centres. Wipe filter clean,  look for markings or unusual filter,  then an oily mark applied,  not your figure print though...

6 hours ago, silver1011 said:

 

Again, Skoda's terminology is designed to confuse, their "Fixed Price Service Plan" might suggest to most that the prices are 'fixed'. But Skoda UK still regularly use the term 'fixed' to represent their 'fixed service interval' which is the 12 month / 10,000 mile minor / interim interval as opposed to 'variable intervals' which is their 24 month / 20,000 mile major / long life interval.

 

Clear as mud then!

 

 

Note the hyphen in the letter you got, "Fixed-Price service plan"

 

I think that's clear

3 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

they always manage to leave an oily smudge somewhere.

 

2 hours ago, Offski said:

look for markings or unusual filter,  then an oily mark applied,  not your figure print though...

 

Should have said - the oily smudge/fingerprints I didn't like were the ones I found  inside the car - usually on the door handles! 

 

I'm perfectly happy for them to professionally fondle my other oily bits, provided they are not just doing it as a tease. They must get off what must be gotten off. They should always wipe themselves off with a rag afterwards though. Not doing so is just rude.  

3 hours ago, xman said:

 

Note the hyphen in the letter you got, "Fixed-Price service plan"

 

I think that's clear

 

The price might be fixed, although it was part of the deal. What isn't clear is what you're actually getting.

 

1 hour ago, silver1011 said:

 

The price might be fixed, although it was part of the deal. What isn't clear is what you're actually getting.

 

Basically two oil changes and a chance at upselling. Warranty compliance. Nothing more in my case, no filters, plugs etc they're not needed anyway.

 

Unless you count a plain water wash as something worth counting.

 

 

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by xman

 

 

So my "oil change service plus minor service" is indeed just two oil/filter changes.

 

Something I can do myself for £25 each - £50 total, but I got a bargain at £279 and people here hassling me to get them done twice as quickly as is required by the factory recommendation.

 

It's a con.

 

 

4 hours ago, xman said:

So my "oil change service plus minor service" is indeed just two oil/filter changes.

 

Something I can do myself for £25 each - £50 total, but I got a bargain at £279 and people here hassling me to get them done twice as quickly as is required by the factory recommendation.

 

It's a con.

 

 

 

Can you let me know where you get 5l of decent fully synthetic oil that meets Skoda's warranty requirements for £25? I can make a fortune reselling it on eBay.

^^^ If you want VW504 / 507 so 5w 30 FS LL then ASDA, Local Motor Factors, Amazon, EBAY etc etc.

 

If to VW 508/509 so the latest 0w 20 DS LL it was on Ebay from an Audi Dealership @ £7 a litre with a near Use By Date,  maybe £17 at a Skoda Dealership by the litres.

7 hours ago, xman said:

Something I can do myself for £25 each - £50 total, but I got a bargain at £279 and people here hassling me to get them done twice as quickly as is required by the factory recommendation.

 

Hardly hassling!

 

If indeed you're able to extend the service package beyond two years then no harm done. The advice from me was to be wary, with a recommendation to check with Skoda Finance - just to be sure. Skoda's service plans used to be for two years only. Given the current terminology used then either that's changed (for the better), or Skoda are up to their old tricks with confusing policies.

 

You'd be even more annoyed had you come to claim your second free service in year four to be told it'd expired.

 

A quick email / phone call should clear things up.

8 hours ago, MrTrilby said:

 

Can you let me know where you get 5l of decent fully synthetic oil that meets Skoda's warranty requirements for £25? I can make a fortune reselling it on eBay.

 

I only need 4 litres for my engine. 502.00 meets warranty requirements, but having never had a warranty claim with the past 8 VAG engines, I'm not particularly worried about warranty on  my engine.

 

I get genuine top quality fully synthetic long life oil that meets VW, Mercedes, BMW and GM specs for £72/20litres from a trade supplier less than a mile away. That's £3.60 a litre or £14.40 for 4 litres and a OE Mann branded filter for under £5. I will probably reuse the sump plug if its like on the other 3 Skoda's in the fleet. So actually £19.40 for an oil/filter change.

 

Quantum longlife iii is readily available at £25 for 5 litres on ebay so feel free to buy a pile and make your fortune MrTrilby!

 

 

 

Edited 4 November, 20187 yr by xman

9 hours ago, MrTrilby said:

 

Can you let me know where you get 5l of decent fully synthetic oil that meets Skoda's warranty requirements for £25? I can make a fortune reselling it on eBay.

 

You won't be making much because its only selling for £26 and that's delivered 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-Longlife-5W-30-Fully-Synthetic-Engine-Oil-5-Litre-Bottle/263923077582?epid=1705379933&hash=item3d730a91ce:g:MKoAAOSw3JRbm3mp:rk:10:pf:0