Windscreen wash 'forced' purchase at car service time
Discussion
I'd just like to ask the cognoscenti their opinion on whether this is reasonable or whether this is down right naughty:
Last year I took my car to the local main dealer for service - the screen wash reservoir was full.
On collection there was a bottle of screen wash on the invoice for about £3. I said nowt and paid up.
Part way home I checked the door pockets and no screen wash.
I stopped, checked the boot (nope) and called the dealer.
Moan moan, you charged me for screen wash where is it?
They said they'd post it but when it didn't arrive I emailed the service manager and got a refund.
This year and the car's been in again for a service - the screen wash reservoir was still full.
Again there's a bottle of screen wash on the invoice and again I paid up.
A little wiser this time, I checked for the bottle with the service chap (same one as last year) in tow. It wasn't in the car - again.
Screen wash supplied with apology and a coffee.
On neither occasion did I ask for screen wash, nor did the car require topping up with said fluid.
Is this a reasonable practice or are they being naughty boys and girls?
Last year I took my car to the local main dealer for service - the screen wash reservoir was full.
On collection there was a bottle of screen wash on the invoice for about £3. I said nowt and paid up.
Part way home I checked the door pockets and no screen wash.
I stopped, checked the boot (nope) and called the dealer.
Moan moan, you charged me for screen wash where is it?
They said they'd post it but when it didn't arrive I emailed the service manager and got a refund.
This year and the car's been in again for a service - the screen wash reservoir was still full.
Again there's a bottle of screen wash on the invoice and again I paid up.
A little wiser this time, I checked for the bottle with the service chap (same one as last year) in tow. It wasn't in the car - again.
Screen wash supplied with apology and a coffee.
On neither occasion did I ask for screen wash, nor did the car require topping up with said fluid.
Is this a reasonable practice or are they being naughty boys and girls?
They're booked out from stores as part of the required service items.
If your resevoir is full it should be put in the boot.
If not, one of the mechanics probably has a side-line in selling screenwash on ebay or your dealer is on a nice little earner (xxxx number of services with a few quid over-charge for items not supplied).
Dealers eh ...
If your resevoir is full it should be put in the boot.
If not, one of the mechanics probably has a side-line in selling screenwash on ebay or your dealer is on a nice little earner (xxxx number of services with a few quid over-charge for items not supplied).
Dealers eh ...
It depends what you have bought
I you have paid for say a £199 full service, which includes topping up the screen wash and in cases they don't top it up they include a bottle to top it up yourself, that's perfectly reasonable.
If on the other hand you've paid for a a £199 full service which includes an oil change, a tyre kicking, and a check of all the fluids they can sell you a top up on, and the £3 as one of these top ups was on top of the service price agreed, then you were mugged
I you have paid for say a £199 full service, which includes topping up the screen wash and in cases they don't top it up they include a bottle to top it up yourself, that's perfectly reasonable.
If on the other hand you've paid for a a £199 full service which includes an oil change, a tyre kicking, and a check of all the fluids they can sell you a top up on, and the £3 as one of these top ups was on top of the service price agreed, then you were mugged
kers ...
Mine was topped before it went in, same thing charge for bottle of screen wash.
I said it was full when it came, they said they had to test it as part of the service and remfilled it.
I refused to pay and didnt..
Volvo in Aberdeen now do a free health check and free fluids any time you like.
I said it was full when it came, they said they had to test it as part of the service and remfilled it.
I refused to pay and didnt..
Volvo in Aberdeen now do a free health check and free fluids any time you like.
Vipers said:
Mine was topped before it went in, same thing charge for bottle of screen wash.
I said it was full when it came, they said they had to test it as part of the service and remfilled it.
VW dealer told me they syphon it out and refill it.I said it was full when it came, they said they had to test it as part of the service and remfilled it.
That was 25yrs ago. These days I agree a price beforehand and as long as the total is the same or less (with 4 cars it's surprising how often it is less) I don't complain.
What does piss me off is when they quote a price for the service and then don't change things that the service calls for. Only once on any car have they changed the key battery without asking (and that was on my Merc and they itemised 2 batteries and "forgot" to give me the second one.
Our Mitsubishi calls for a pollen filter every service and the dealer never changes it. They didn't change the brake fluid when called for once, either (it's not a separate item, it's all wrapped up the service at that interval).
These days VW have sorted all this for cars on service contracts - they just refuse to give you any paperwork.
357RS said:
Is this a reasonable practice or are they being naughty boys and girls?
That's why they are called Mail Stealers!Fiat are cheaper though - charged me £2 to top up already filled bottle.
I have a laugh each year when they 'phone and say "your service is due" I say 'will it be serviced to the same standard as before'
"yes" the girl on the phone says...... To which I say 'well I'd like it done correctly, because last time they overfilled the engine by 1 Litre of oil, and charged me for washer fluid they didn't add! I prefer to have it done properly so I'll do it myself'
Recently I had the XJS in for a service at a main dealer.
Great service, literally! But when I got home and was taking a closer look at the invoice and the car itself, I realised that I had been charged for scrrenwasher fluid ( 2 bottles) and 2 wiper blades. Also the coolant had been changed (acording to the invoice).
I had topped up the screenwash resivoir prior to driving it to the dealer and fitted 2 new ( Bosch) wiper blades the weekend prior to the service and had changed the coolant to waterless a couple of months earlier.
When I contacted the dealer to ask about these anomalies the Service Manager asked for time to check into it. He got back to me within the hour to apoligise and said that certain service consumeables were automatically booked out to the service. He issued a refund back onto my card immediately and also sent me a voucher for a 25% discount off my next service.
I actually do accept it was an oversight but it also shows thjat you really do need to check and challenge just about any invoice you ever have to pay.
Great service, literally! But when I got home and was taking a closer look at the invoice and the car itself, I realised that I had been charged for scrrenwasher fluid ( 2 bottles) and 2 wiper blades. Also the coolant had been changed (acording to the invoice).
I had topped up the screenwash resivoir prior to driving it to the dealer and fitted 2 new ( Bosch) wiper blades the weekend prior to the service and had changed the coolant to waterless a couple of months earlier.
When I contacted the dealer to ask about these anomalies the Service Manager asked for time to check into it. He got back to me within the hour to apoligise and said that certain service consumeables were automatically booked out to the service. He issued a refund back onto my card immediately and also sent me a voucher for a 25% discount off my next service.
I actually do accept it was an oversight but it also shows thjat you really do need to check and challenge just about any invoice you ever have to pay.
I had an 'AC gas' included on my last OPC service, when I double checked the invoice by googling the name of the product it was a air freshner/disinfectant sprayed into my AC vents all for £35. Also had a bottle of fuel addative put in my petrol tank. That was charged at £20. Never again
Thinking back, Imwas charged for a new set of wipers during an MOT/service. Luckly it rained the following day, turned them on and wondered why they were somcrap at wiping the screen.
You guessed it, hadnt been changed, then there was the time they lost my wheel locking nut and forgot to tell me, and when they broke the locking nut gizmo previously, they told me they had put ordinary nuts on the wheels, wasnt until I said "I Assume you will replace them free of charge", they mumbled and said "Of course".
Then again, only three incidents amongst loads of good visits for MOT/service.
You guessed it, hadnt been changed, then there was the time they lost my wheel locking nut and forgot to tell me, and when they broke the locking nut gizmo previously, they told me they had put ordinary nuts on the wheels, wasnt until I said "I Assume you will replace them free of charge", they mumbled and said "Of course".
Then again, only three incidents amongst loads of good visits for MOT/service.
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