Mercedes G Wagon and dealer service charge
Discussion
Hi guys. Need some advice if possible.
So I was driving my 1990 Mercedes 300GE G class when it just cut out at the lights. No power. Tried jump starting it and it only contained enough charge to take me onto the side road and cut out again. So I therefore knew it was the alternator that had gone. I replaced the battery with a new Bosch battery to give me enough power to take it somewhere local. Nearest to me was a Mercedes dealership. I thought no worries, main dealer should be sorted.
I dropped the car and specifically told them, no need for a diagnosis charge, its definitely the alternator, so please just replace the alternator. Days go by. I had to ring them myself. They said they couldn't find an alternator for my G wagon. I had to go and pick up the car and find somewhere myself.
So I go to pick up the car and they give me a bill of £121 to say they done a voltage reading and that the alternator isn't working. I was like you are having a flipping laugh. I knew this...I told you this. The woman had no authority and said have to wait next day for service manager. I was on my lunch break and had to get out of there with the car. I've complained to Merc UK head office who are looking into it.
Anyone had similar issue and is there anything legally wise I could throw at them ie: trading standards etc.
Thanks
So I was driving my 1990 Mercedes 300GE G class when it just cut out at the lights. No power. Tried jump starting it and it only contained enough charge to take me onto the side road and cut out again. So I therefore knew it was the alternator that had gone. I replaced the battery with a new Bosch battery to give me enough power to take it somewhere local. Nearest to me was a Mercedes dealership. I thought no worries, main dealer should be sorted.
I dropped the car and specifically told them, no need for a diagnosis charge, its definitely the alternator, so please just replace the alternator. Days go by. I had to ring them myself. They said they couldn't find an alternator for my G wagon. I had to go and pick up the car and find somewhere myself.
So I go to pick up the car and they give me a bill of £121 to say they done a voltage reading and that the alternator isn't working. I was like you are having a flipping laugh. I knew this...I told you this. The woman had no authority and said have to wait next day for service manager. I was on my lunch break and had to get out of there with the car. I've complained to Merc UK head office who are looking into it.
Anyone had similar issue and is there anything legally wise I could throw at them ie: trading standards etc.
Thanks
Edited by 0to60 on Monday 7th January 15:06
Look at it from their point of view.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
I think the problem is main dealers approach car maintenance in a completely opposite manner to how you might expect. They have duty of care to perform on any car which passes through their hands. You probably got a tick chart telling you when your wipers needed changing as well.
I know it's no help now, but really it should have gone to a trusted indy or auto electrician and you'd have be fine.
I know it's no help now, but really it should have gone to a trusted indy or auto electrician and you'd have be fine.
Roo said:
Look at it from their point of view.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
Yeah but that is also a very simplistic view! If a customer requests something specifically, make a note of it and do it, do not charge £100+ to tell them what they already knew.Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
s1rallyemark said:
Roo said:
Look at it from their point of view.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
Yeah but that is also a very simplistic view! If a customer requests something specifically, make a note of it and do it, do not charge £100+ to tell them what they already knew.Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
Roo said:
Look at it from their point of view.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
not as irate as the customer would be if handed a bill for 121 quid telling him what he told the garage originally.Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
I hadn't signed anything. I would have no problem paying for the alternator even if it didn't fix anything. After all I've restored a lot of the car, and a new alternator wouldn't be anything bad to add even if the other problem that arises had to be sorted out.
Like the other guys say, its that I specifically said don't charge me for diagnosis, just fit new alternator. If they couldn't fit the alternator, there's no due care needed and no need to charge £121 for what I already told them.
Trust me, there's no checklist, just a bill. I said to the woman, for £121 they could have at least washed the car on the outside lol.
Like the other guys say, its that I specifically said don't charge me for diagnosis, just fit new alternator. If they couldn't fit the alternator, there's no due care needed and no need to charge £121 for what I already told them.
Trust me, there's no checklist, just a bill. I said to the woman, for £121 they could have at least washed the car on the outside lol.
0to60 said:
I would have no problem paying for the alternator even if it didn't fix anything.
And most other people won't have been happy.I'm not condoning what they've done, just that if every garage only ever did what a customer said without checking if that was the problem there would be a lot of disgruntled people moaning about poor quality service.
RicksAlfas said:
I know it's no help now, but really it should have gone to a trusted indy or auto electrician and you'd have be fine.
I eventually took it to an auto electrician, but cos of the area I live there's no specialists and thought if the battery is not charging don't want to risk driving far. Shot myself in the foot really because I thought the dealership would have some clue or help.Roo said:
And most other people won't have been happy.
I'm not condoning what they've done, just that if every garage only ever did what a customer said without checking if that was the problem there would be a lot of disgruntled people moaning about poor quality service.
Point taken and I get that...fair commentI'm not condoning what they've done, just that if every garage only ever did what a customer said without checking if that was the problem there would be a lot of disgruntled people moaning about poor quality service.
0to60 said:
Roo said:
And most other people won't have been happy.
I'm not condoning what they've done, just that if every garage only ever did what a customer said without checking if that was the problem there would be a lot of disgruntled people moaning about poor quality service.
Point taken and I get that...fair commentI'm not condoning what they've done, just that if every garage only ever did what a customer said without checking if that was the problem there would be a lot of disgruntled people moaning about poor quality service.
I guess you havent owned this from new, one of the main things that got to me with my g wagen was the complete lack of caring from the main dealers. Turn up in a c class and get treated like a king turn up in a g wagen and get treated like a no hoper that either has a s
t load of cash so lets take all of his money or some sub human type species who should not be let in at any cost.
t load of cash so lets take all of his money or some sub human type species who should not be let in at any cost.kazste said:
I guess you havent owned this from new, one of the main things that got to me with my g wagen was the complete lack of caring from the main dealers. Turn up in a c class and get treated like a king turn up in a g wagen and get treated like a no hoper that either has a st load of cash so lets take all of his money or some sub human type species who should not be let in at any cost.
So true kazste. Do you still own your G? Merc guys and even other garages seem to get baffled when a G turns up. Especially if you go to a dealer to order just normal parts like rubber seals etct load of cash so lets take all of his money or some sub human type species who should not be let in at any cost.Roo said:
Look at it from their point of view.
Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
But the customer didnt say 'my car doesnt work, fix it' they said 'replace the alternator'. Note to this effect on invoice, job done.Bloke brings in an old car and tells them what's wrong with it - in his opinion.
They take his word for it and and supply and fit an expensive part that doesn't cure the problem.
Customer would now be irate for being charged for something that didn't solve the problem.
I've done it in the past when I was 100% certain what was wrong - main dealer had no trouble taking my word for it on the understanding that I was paying them to replace Part X not to fix Problem Y. I signed to agree this.
JonnyFive said:
If a customer rung me (Service Advisor) and said what you said.. I'd get a deposit on the part and get it ordered. Make sure the paperwork said customer diagnosed or along those lines, you sign the paperwork that says it's what you want us to do.. Doesn't fix it, you asked for it.
EXACTLY! Seen and done it before.
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