Mace dealer stamped a service they never did
Discussion
Hi any help would be welcome.
Our old car died suddenly and we didn’t have the money for a new car. My brother in law kindly purchased a car for us from a dealer.
It’s a 2010 Astra sport costing £3250. With a 3 month engine and gearbox warranty
From day one it leaked coolant and after sending it to my local garage found it had a leaky rad. Fair enough ..... but they also gave it a check over for me as it just didn’t feel right. They found the spark plugs all had major cracks in and were about to break off. So I had them done at cost to myself. Upon returning home I checked all the paperwork for the car. As the garage told me it had been serviced the day before I collected the car. And sure enough with their own stamp on they had ticked that they had changed the spark plugs Hmmmmm I thought. So I checked all the other items they had ticked off on the service book with their stamp on it. Fuel filter for example.... this model Astra has a lifetime filter in the tank that you can’t change.
I called the garage and they told me they only do oil change and oil filter as their service. I asked why they had ticked the others and they said oh il have to talk to the boss but he is never around!! Handy that!
They have ticked off fuel filter, plugs, brake fluid, transmission fluid, pollen filter and air filter. All of which have not been touched! (verified by local independent garage!
I contacted garage and was very reasonable and said if they pay for rad il pay labour as it’s not covered by the warranty. But it also cost me 65 to get plugs changed 50 for a pressure test and new coolant and had a quote of 160 for a service that they have falsified. I have kept original spark plugs and photo evidence from local garage. Also local garage said rad parts are £111.
After contacting the garage they only offered me £50 as they said they could get a rad for that.
I feel however that faking a service with their own stamp on saying it had been done when it hasn’t is misrepresentation?
I need some advice as it’s going to cost 400 -500 total to sort the service and coolant leakage. Also they told my wife they had mot’d the car but it has six months left on it so you can’t?!
All I asked them for was the 400 total cost to get it all done and that’s without rad labour.
Sorry for the long rant! Where shall I go from here?
Thanks guys!
Our old car died suddenly and we didn’t have the money for a new car. My brother in law kindly purchased a car for us from a dealer.
It’s a 2010 Astra sport costing £3250. With a 3 month engine and gearbox warranty
From day one it leaked coolant and after sending it to my local garage found it had a leaky rad. Fair enough ..... but they also gave it a check over for me as it just didn’t feel right. They found the spark plugs all had major cracks in and were about to break off. So I had them done at cost to myself. Upon returning home I checked all the paperwork for the car. As the garage told me it had been serviced the day before I collected the car. And sure enough with their own stamp on they had ticked that they had changed the spark plugs Hmmmmm I thought. So I checked all the other items they had ticked off on the service book with their stamp on it. Fuel filter for example.... this model Astra has a lifetime filter in the tank that you can’t change.
I called the garage and they told me they only do oil change and oil filter as their service. I asked why they had ticked the others and they said oh il have to talk to the boss but he is never around!! Handy that!
They have ticked off fuel filter, plugs, brake fluid, transmission fluid, pollen filter and air filter. All of which have not been touched! (verified by local independent garage!
I contacted garage and was very reasonable and said if they pay for rad il pay labour as it’s not covered by the warranty. But it also cost me 65 to get plugs changed 50 for a pressure test and new coolant and had a quote of 160 for a service that they have falsified. I have kept original spark plugs and photo evidence from local garage. Also local garage said rad parts are £111.
After contacting the garage they only offered me £50 as they said they could get a rad for that.
I feel however that faking a service with their own stamp on saying it had been done when it hasn’t is misrepresentation?
I need some advice as it’s going to cost 400 -500 total to sort the service and coolant leakage. Also they told my wife they had mot’d the car but it has six months left on it so you can’t?!
All I asked them for was the 400 total cost to get it all done and that’s without rad labour.
Sorry for the long rant! Where shall I go from here?
Thanks guys!
Oil change, oil filter, fuel filter, brake fluid, transmission fluid, pollen filter and air filter for £160? (Assuming the sparks were paid separately). You could easily be over £100 in parts alone.
Sound like a bunch of cowboys but I'm not surprised especially if they are a main dealer?
My experience with main dealers (especially Honda) is that they never change anything, only the oil if you are lucky. They have the name on the sign so reputation won't be as important as a local indie's would. Which is why a main dealer FSH means nothing to me. Give me a good indie any day of the week!
I wouldn't let them near my car again!
Sound like a bunch of cowboys but I'm not surprised especially if they are a main dealer?
My experience with main dealers (especially Honda) is that they never change anything, only the oil if you are lucky. They have the name on the sign so reputation won't be as important as a local indie's would. Which is why a main dealer FSH means nothing to me. Give me a good indie any day of the week!
I wouldn't let them near my car again!
Sorry it’s meant to say car dealer. It’s my fingers.
The £160 was just a quote from my local garage/mechanic for an interim service. They are pricing the other things up for me on Tuesday.
The dealer has offered £50 for a rad and £20 for plugs and that’s it.
I have photos of the service book that shows they ticked things they didn’t do.
Is my next step trading standards and small claims?
The £160 was just a quote from my local garage/mechanic for an interim service. They are pricing the other things up for me on Tuesday.
The dealer has offered £50 for a rad and £20 for plugs and that’s it.
I have photos of the service book that shows they ticked things they didn’t do.
Is my next step trading standards and small claims?
Sorry it’s meant to say car dealer. It’s my fingers.
The £160 was just a quote from my local garage/mechanic for an interim service. They are pricing the other things up for me on Tuesday.
The dealer has offered £50 for a rad and £20 for plugs and that’s it.
I have photos of the service book that shows they ticked things they didn’t do.
Is my next step trading standards and small claims?
The £160 was just a quote from my local garage/mechanic for an interim service. They are pricing the other things up for me on Tuesday.
The dealer has offered £50 for a rad and £20 for plugs and that’s it.
I have photos of the service book that shows they ticked things they didn’t do.
Is my next step trading standards and small claims?
Alucidnation said:
You should have taken it back to where it was bought from, for them to deal with it.
This, but given the path you have taken, get the inspection report in writing, the work done and then take the dealer to the small claims court. Keep the parts that have been replaced too.
Thanks cousin. Sounds like good advice. It’s in on Tuesday for all works. Then il report them and see what I can get out of them.
Luckily my local garage has told me the car isn’t a complete wreck just needs a proper service and new rad.
I could just leave it but we can’t all let them get away with it!
Unfortunately my brother in law bought the car because if I had checked the reviews I would have steered well clear!
One review made me lol!! It said they were looking at a car of theirs and someone drove past and shouted out the window “don’t buy a car from them!” !
Luckily my local garage has told me the car isn’t a complete wreck just needs a proper service and new rad.
I could just leave it but we can’t all let them get away with it!
Unfortunately my brother in law bought the car because if I had checked the reviews I would have steered well clear!
One review made me lol!! It said they were looking at a car of theirs and someone drove past and shouted out the window “don’t buy a car from them!” !
£3250 for a 10 plate Astra 
I'm always astonished by these threads, where people buy cars from, how much they pay for them and the problems they have afterwards.
Honestly people, buying a used car should be pretty straightforward, yes, cars do and will go wrong, but some people seem to be there own worst enemy, buying over expensive cars from bombsite dealers with s
tty reviews and a portakabin with bunting outside.
Please, people, buy from a used dealer that has good reviews, seems to care about there stock, offer a comprehensive warranty, and have mechanically prepared the car properly.
This is stuff you can ask to see, the PDi sheet, all dealers should have one, that shows what has been checked, fixed or replaced.
I don't know where some of you buy this stuff from, honestly, it baffles me.
I'm always astonished by these threads, where people buy cars from, how much they pay for them and the problems they have afterwards.
Honestly people, buying a used car should be pretty straightforward, yes, cars do and will go wrong, but some people seem to be there own worst enemy, buying over expensive cars from bombsite dealers with s
tty reviews and a portakabin with bunting outside.Please, people, buy from a used dealer that has good reviews, seems to care about there stock, offer a comprehensive warranty, and have mechanically prepared the car properly.
This is stuff you can ask to see, the PDi sheet, all dealers should have one, that shows what has been checked, fixed or replaced.
I don't know where some of you buy this stuff from, honestly, it baffles me.
As I said my brother in law bought it for us from miles away from where we live as a ‘favour’ to my wife! I knew from the minute I saw it it was overpriced.
And he is a solicitor so I was shocked he hadn’t checked the reviews. My wife collected it with him.
Next time il make sure I go!
And he is a solicitor so I was shocked he hadn’t checked the reviews. My wife collected it with him.
Next time il make sure I go!
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