Manufacturer Warranty corrosion claim issue
Discussion
Hey Guys,
After a tad of advice if I may - apologies that this is a ‘what if’, things may pan out ok but I’m just testing the waters in case this goes a bit pair shaped.
In March 2021 I bought a second hand car from a main dealer. The car was under 3 years old and had had it’s second service a few months before in Feb. I’m not naming and shaming, so have purposely not mentioned who they are, and of course, maybe things will work out.
The service record is ‘digital’ so little paperwork came with the car.
What isn’t stored on the service recorder the body check sheets, of which there should have been two, these were not supplied with the car, and if I’m honest, I didn’t notice at the time.
The warranty runs out in March this year.
In December, I spotted a tiny ‘dot’ of what looked like corrosion, it was not obvious, and to be honest you had to almost be looking to find it, it was right by the boot seal. I gently lifted the boot seal to find some ‘set in’ corrosion, not massive, but more than surface rust and needs fixing properly.
Disappointing, but not a major issue, it’s under warranty.
Took it to the dealer New Year’s Eve, they requested I sent an email with some pics, and they would get back to me first week of Jan, which they did.
They wanted some more pics, and as the car was coming up for it’s 3rd service so I just had that done early whilst it was there.
As part of the service, I received the body check sheet (so the 3rd for the car but the only one I have), it showed no corrosion on the body. The is perhaps understandable, as the ‘tiny dot’ of corrosion I had spotted was difficult to see.
It also suggests that the previous sheets would also be blank, I doubt the corrosion was even there a year ago.
From discussions with the service manager, the manufacturer first suggest the dealer could ‘touch up’ the area with paint, he replied back explaining no, it needed fixing properly as it was corroded.
The Service manager then asked me for the old copies of the bodywork check sheets from it’s previous services. I do not have these, as they were never given to me when I bought the car. I provided the one I have. He said he would look for the other two (I presume they keep copies). They need these to make the claim with the manufacturer.
The latest is that they have found one of the previous sheets, but cannot find a copy of the other one, but need this to get the repairs approved by the manufacturer.
So, where do I stand …
My thoughts ….
The car was sold to me still under the 3 year manufacturer mechanical and bodywork warranty.
The body check sheets were never given to me so it seems unreasonable that this could be used to deny to claim.
The body check sheet I was just given shows no corrosion (which perhaps isn’t unreasonable as previously explained, and the corrosion probably wasn’t there at the service prior to the one it’s just had) so it is very also reasonable to suggest the previous two sheets (one of which is still missing) will also show no corrosion.
Although it was not explicitly stated, it was ‘hinted’ by the dealer that all the paper work has to be sorted out by 3rd March (warranty expire date), again, I’m not sure how this is fair, the issue was reported New Years Eve, hardly my fault it taken them over 2 months to get this authorised.
Any suggestions on how to handle this would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance ...
After a tad of advice if I may - apologies that this is a ‘what if’, things may pan out ok but I’m just testing the waters in case this goes a bit pair shaped.
In March 2021 I bought a second hand car from a main dealer. The car was under 3 years old and had had it’s second service a few months before in Feb. I’m not naming and shaming, so have purposely not mentioned who they are, and of course, maybe things will work out.
The service record is ‘digital’ so little paperwork came with the car.
What isn’t stored on the service recorder the body check sheets, of which there should have been two, these were not supplied with the car, and if I’m honest, I didn’t notice at the time.
The warranty runs out in March this year.
In December, I spotted a tiny ‘dot’ of what looked like corrosion, it was not obvious, and to be honest you had to almost be looking to find it, it was right by the boot seal. I gently lifted the boot seal to find some ‘set in’ corrosion, not massive, but more than surface rust and needs fixing properly.
Disappointing, but not a major issue, it’s under warranty.
Took it to the dealer New Year’s Eve, they requested I sent an email with some pics, and they would get back to me first week of Jan, which they did.
They wanted some more pics, and as the car was coming up for it’s 3rd service so I just had that done early whilst it was there.
As part of the service, I received the body check sheet (so the 3rd for the car but the only one I have), it showed no corrosion on the body. The is perhaps understandable, as the ‘tiny dot’ of corrosion I had spotted was difficult to see.
It also suggests that the previous sheets would also be blank, I doubt the corrosion was even there a year ago.
From discussions with the service manager, the manufacturer first suggest the dealer could ‘touch up’ the area with paint, he replied back explaining no, it needed fixing properly as it was corroded.
The Service manager then asked me for the old copies of the bodywork check sheets from it’s previous services. I do not have these, as they were never given to me when I bought the car. I provided the one I have. He said he would look for the other two (I presume they keep copies). They need these to make the claim with the manufacturer.
The latest is that they have found one of the previous sheets, but cannot find a copy of the other one, but need this to get the repairs approved by the manufacturer.
So, where do I stand …
My thoughts ….
The car was sold to me still under the 3 year manufacturer mechanical and bodywork warranty.
The body check sheets were never given to me so it seems unreasonable that this could be used to deny to claim.
The body check sheet I was just given shows no corrosion (which perhaps isn’t unreasonable as previously explained, and the corrosion probably wasn’t there at the service prior to the one it’s just had) so it is very also reasonable to suggest the previous two sheets (one of which is still missing) will also show no corrosion.
Although it was not explicitly stated, it was ‘hinted’ by the dealer that all the paper work has to be sorted out by 3rd March (warranty expire date), again, I’m not sure how this is fair, the issue was reported New Years Eve, hardly my fault it taken them over 2 months to get this authorised.
Any suggestions on how to handle this would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance ...
Edited by mph999 on Sunday 20th February 00:44
Edited by mph999 on Sunday 20th February 00:46
Edited by mph999 on Sunday 20th February 00:47
If you've had the car serviced on schedule at a main dealer then it's their responsibility to have all the correct documentation stored. missing 'paperwork' is a red herring these days
Was it 'approved used' or similar?
Secondly, you've raised the issue within the 3 years and the clock stops at that point. The March date is not relevant.
Was it 'approved used' or similar?
Secondly, you've raised the issue within the 3 years and the clock stops at that point. The March date is not relevant.
Canon_Fodder said:
If you've had the car serviced on schedule at a main dealer then it's their responsibility to have all the correct documentation stored. missing 'paperwork' is a red herring these days
Was it 'approved used' or similar?
Secondly, you've raised the issue within the 3 years and the clock stops at that point. The March date is not relevant.
Perfect, as I thought, thank you. 👍Was it 'approved used' or similar?
Secondly, you've raised the issue within the 3 years and the clock stops at that point. The March date is not relevant.
I'd try and get exact wording of the manufacturers warranty
my belief was that most "rust" warranty was actually only against any perforation. If the dealer didn't provide you with the evidence that he should have and didn't highlight this as meaning a section of the warranty would be invalid they are the ones who will need to make the repair and pay for it.
Obvious question; did this dealer do both services or just the one they've found the corrosion check sheet for?
my belief was that most "rust" warranty was actually only against any perforation. If the dealer didn't provide you with the evidence that he should have and didn't highlight this as meaning a section of the warranty would be invalid they are the ones who will need to make the repair and pay for it.
Obvious question; did this dealer do both services or just the one they've found the corrosion check sheet for?
andburg said:
I'd try and get exact wording of the manufacturers warranty
my belief was that most "rust" warranty was actually only against any perforation. If the dealer didn't provide you with the evidence that he should have and didn't highlight this as meaning a section of the warranty would be invalid they are the ones who will need to make the repair and pay for it.
Obvious question; did this dealer do both services or just the one they've found the corrosion check sheet for?
The dealer has done all the services on the car, it was also purchased from then originally.my belief was that most "rust" warranty was actually only against any perforation. If the dealer didn't provide you with the evidence that he should have and didn't highlight this as meaning a section of the warranty would be invalid they are the ones who will need to make the repair and pay for it.
Obvious question; did this dealer do both services or just the one they've found the corrosion check sheet for?
The manufacturer offers both Anti-Perforation Warranty (12 years) and a separate 3 year paintwork defeat/ surface corrosion warranty.
There doesn't seem to be any argument it's not covered in terms of it's corroded, it shouldn't be and therefore needs fixing, it's just a 'paperwork issue'.
mph999 said:
The dealer has done all the services on the car, it was also purchased from then originally.
The manufacturer offers both Anti-Perforation Warranty (12 years) and a separate 3 year paintwork defeat/ surface corrosion warranty.
There doesn't seem to be any argument it's not covered in terms of it's corroded, it shouldn't be and therefore needs fixing, it's just a 'paperwork issue'.
Sounds like. VW or Audi then?The manufacturer offers both Anti-Perforation Warranty (12 years) and a separate 3 year paintwork defeat/ surface corrosion warranty.
There doesn't seem to be any argument it's not covered in terms of it's corroded, it shouldn't be and therefore needs fixing, it's just a 'paperwork issue'.
You should be covered. Fingers crossed.
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