Garage charge for no work

[Celt]

My girlfriends 59 plate Corsa has been in an independent garage for a diagnostic check, engine management light was on. Same garage it gets MOT'd and serviced every year. She turned up yesterday and they said it was booked in for today. I booked it in and I am certain I said Monday. Regardless, she left it with them on the off chance they can have a look. Phoned yesterday they said it wasn't connecting to their diagnostics. Phoned again twice today to be told they cant get a reading from the ECU take it to the dealership.

She is going to collect it today. What should she be charged? I appreciate they have put X number of hours into it, but on the other hand they haven't actually achieved anything. What is fair to be charged?

[kambites]

I suppose they're entitled to charge for the time they've spent on it, but on the other hand that shouldn't be more than about half an hour - it doesn't take long to plug an OBD reader in and see that it can't connect.

[supercampeao]

£0

Never been charged for a failed diagnostics test!

[mini1380cc]

supercampeao said:

£0

Never been charged for a failed diagnostics test!

Probably this. I only say that as we do not charge for failed readings. IF however as part of diagnosing we have had reason to strip out parts and test then we would need to charge.


So if all they attempted was a OBD reading then £0. However they could have attempted diagnosis by other means which would consume time. After all there is more to diagnostics that sticking in a OBD reader.

[Jimmyarm]

We wouldn't charge for that, if I can't get our scanner to communicate with a car I'll spend a max of five minutes on it checking a couple of things relating to the OBD port.

[Celt]

They didn't charge anything and the guy was really helpful. No need for any awkward situations which is good.

[andy-xr]

Ah right, so they didnt actually say they'd charge anything, it was just a what if?

[StarmistBlue400]

Ive stopped taking the OH Chevrolet to Eden Vauxhall because they charge a £75 diagnostic fee.

This really pissed me off when the DPF light came on for the first time and they charged me £75 to put it out and told me to give it a thrash down the MWAY.

Now its 7yrs old I take it to a garage next door who charge me fark all, even when they cant find a fault.