Focus (2005 model) - bubbling paintwork around wing mirrors

[Little Mac]

Just had an interesting phone call from my local Ford garage. I took my wife's aging Ford Focus in to them last week as I noticed the paint around the wing mirrors was bubbling. They told me it is a known fault and it requires the plastic trim to be cut back & paintwork repaired. They took photo's of the damage and also scraped some paint off one side as it wasn't bad enough to show on the photograph. I gave them the service book which showed that the car (which I bought from them back in 2005) had been serviced with them up until 2009 and then done independently. However, the Ford garage had not completed the paintwork check, but they said they would sort this i.e. stamp the book retrospectively.

Anyhow, to cut a long story short they have just rung to say that Ford have rejected the claim as the paintwork check was not completed in 2009 & 2010! How do they know it wasn't...even Ford themselves didn't fill in the book until this week - and, in any case what is to stop me getting my independent garage to fill it in likewise. Isn't there a law now to stop such disciminatory behaviour by the main dealers? Any legal eagles out there with a view as to what stance to take here to persuade them when we next have a 'discussion'

[anonymous-user]

The paintwork check is, IMO, bks! It's a way to avoid claims like this. I've always had mine done although each dealer has charged for it (£10-£15). IIRC it is NOT part of the service-you have to ask for it.