Dealer lied about working on car

[aturnick54]

Car has been in at the dealer for investigation work under warranty.

Tracker fitted shows it was parked up Monday morning when I dropped it off, and didn't update (which it does when ignition is turned on) until after they called this morning to say they couldn't find the problem.

Got home and curiosity lead to me checking the dash cam footage from the car. This backed up what the tracker reported. There's footage of me parking up on Monday morning, the next footage is from them (very badly) washing the car after they called me this morning and then parking up in a different space after. Not once did the car enter their workshop to be looked at, seems it hadn't been moved since Monday.

Quite frustrated by this, as they have likely lied to me. What would you do in this situation?

[Dan W.]

aturnick54 said:

Car has been in at the dealer for investigation work under warranty.

Tracker fitted shows it was parked up Monday morning when I dropped it off, and didn't update (which it does when ignition is turned on) until after they called this morning to say they couldn't find the problem.

Got home and curiosity lead to me checking the dash cam footage from the car. This backed up what the tracker reported. There's footage of me parking up on Monday morning, the next footage is from them (very badly) washing the car after they called me this morning and then parking up in a different space after. Not once did the car enter their workshop to be looked at, seems it hadn't been moved since Monday.

Quite frustrated by this, as they have likely lied to me. What would you do in this situation?

Call the service manager and ask him to explain why they lied to you. Maybe a mechanic has fiddled his time sheets and pretended to work on it if so a workshop manager will want to know.

present the evidence and see what they say.

[randlemarcus]

Main dealer, or indie. If the latter, rethink where it goes from now on. If the former, a quick moan at the manufacturer should help. For better amusement, include the dashcam and tracker clips.

[aturnick54]

JRHartless said:

Could they have at least plugged in a fault code reader whilst it was parked up?

That's usually about the extent of "investigative work" that most dealers would do these days.

In for a coolant leak, so I'd hope that's not their idea of investigatory work.

[aturnick54]

randlemarcus said:

Main dealer, or indie. If the latter, rethink where it goes from now on. If the former, a quick moan at the manufacturer should help. For better amusement, include the dashcam and tracker clips.

It's an indy. Bought the car from there, so the only reason I've gone back is because it's covered by warranty (which I paid extra for, wish I didn't now tbh).

[aturnick54]

Dan W. said:

Call the service manager and ask him to explain why they lied to you. Maybe a mechanic has fiddled his time sheets and pretended to work on it if so a workshop manager will want to know.

present the evidence and see what they say.

I think I'm going to have to. I hate to be 'that person' who calls and complains with dashcam footage. I do like to trust people working on the car. I wouldn't have even looked at the dash cam footage if the tracker had updated before today.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

aturnick54 said:

JRHartless said:

Could they have at least plugged in a fault code reader whilst it was parked up?

That's usually about the extent of "investigative work" that most dealers would do these days.

In for a coolant leak, so I'd hope that's not their idea of investigatory work.

Bent down, looked under car... No drips... Problem not found

[Dan W.]

aturnick54 said:

Dan W. said:

Call the service manager and ask him to explain why they lied to you. Maybe a mechanic has fiddled his time sheets and pretended to work on it if so a workshop manager will want to know.

present the evidence and see what they say.

I think I'm going to have to. I hate to be 'that person' who calls and complains with dashcam footage. I do like to trust people working on the car. I wouldn't have even looked at the dash cam footage if the tracker had updated before today.

You have every right to know why it has not been done. i would be the same as you as well

[Bennet]

What would I do? It depends on about a million things you haven't mentioned in your post, but at a guess:

Run a mile, get it fixed independently and be glad the shysters hadn't also taken it for a thrash up the M6. (Your local motorway may vary.)

[WPA]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

aturnick54 said:

JRHartless said:

Could they have at least plugged in a fault code reader whilst it was parked up?

That's usually about the extent of "investigative work" that most dealers would do these days.

In for a coolant leak, so I'd hope that's not their idea of investigatory work.

Bent down, looked under car... No drips... Problem not found

Exactly

[MervJnr]

Try and get some detail as to what they've done - ask if they've had it in the workshop and given it a proper inspection. If they say yes, you know for definite that they're lying and can then use your footage. If they say they've investigated it whilst it was parked up, I guess you can't prove otherwise.

[MBVitoria]

Dan W. said:

aturnick54 said:

Car has been in at the dealer for investigation work under warranty.

Tracker fitted shows it was parked up Monday morning when I dropped it off, and didn't update (which it does when ignition is turned on) until after they called this morning to say they couldn't find the problem.

Got home and curiosity lead to me checking the dash cam footage from the car. This backed up what the tracker reported. There's footage of me parking up on Monday morning, the next footage is from them (very badly) washing the car after they called me this morning and then parking up in a different space after. Not once did the car enter their workshop to be looked at, seems it hadn't been moved since Monday.

Quite frustrated by this, as they have likely lied to me. What would you do in this situation?

Call the service manager and ask him to explain why they lied to you. Maybe a mechanic has fiddled his time sheets and pretended to work on it if so a workshop manager will want to know.

present the evidence and see what they say.

This - surely simple call to the manager to point out that the car wasn't moved and you don't believe they have done any investigation work.

[Dimebars]

The logical explanation is they've disconnected the dashcam while they work on it

Workshops do this regularly

[aturnick54]

Dimebars said:

The logical explanation is they've disconnected the dashcam while they work on it

Workshops do this regularly

Which is often true yes.

But that doesn't explain why the tracker hasn't updated since it was dropped off, and why the car was parked in the exact same space two days later (albeit covered in a few more leaves and rain) when they moved it to be washed (no doubt they've made a mess of the paintwork too).

[Defcon5]

Does the car have to move for the tracker to update? Or does starting the car do it?

Could have just left it idling to try an find a leak

[Ham_and_Jam]

Just ask them what work was done.

[PositronicRay]

Was it an insurance backed warranty?

If so has the dealer set it up?
If they have set it up they won't be able claim for 4 weeks.

Not excusable but may be an explanation.

[Panamax]

Static pressure test.

No need to start the car.

[aturnick54]

Defcon5 said:

Does the car have to move for the tracker to update? Or does starting the car do it?

Could have just left it idling to try an find a leak

No it simply has to have the ignition on, dash cam comes on with the engine running

[aturnick54]

PositronicRay said:

Was it an insurance backed warranty?

If so has the dealer set it up?
If they have set it up they won't be able claim for 4 weeks.

Not excusable but may be an explanation.

No, self warranty by the dealer. Paid for it when I bought the car