another warranty question

[wjwren]

I purchased a car for my daughter - fiat 500. There is an issue with it draining the battery from the bluetooth. Garage has replaced the battery twice now. It is apparent it is not the battery at fault but im guessing from the Blue& Me system which seems common.
The car has an RAC warranty but Fiat want £140 diagnosis fee which the RAC or the garage wont cover.
We have had the car nearly 4 months, paid for on santander debit card, so less than 120 days which is there chargeback criteria. Ive phone the garage on several occasions and they keep directing me towards the RAC. This issue was present from day 1.

[boombang]

https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/rejecting-a-car/

Have a read of this

[Canon_Fodder]

OP forget the warranty. This is a consumer rights issue covered by the CRA 2015. Your rights under that are much stronger than any warranty

How long after the fault first became apparent to did you raise the matter with the dealer?

[LightningBlue]

It’s not a warranty issue as the fault has been present since you bought the car. The Consumer Rights Act covers this, you could contact the CAB for advice but I find when you start quoting the act and the rights it gives you dealers usually fix the problem. You shouldn’t have to pay a penny although it can be easier to do that if it’s not too expensive. You could always submit a Moneyclaim if you do pay for jt

[mmm-five]

I'm not sure why you think your debit card chargeback will help?

If you want to reject the car, then tell the dealer that and take it from there...but I'm surprised the dealer has not offered to reimburse the diagnostic cost if a fault is found - or are they just asking you to pay it up-front...in case they can't find a fault and thus can't charge anything to the warranty company?

This shady 'diagnostic' fee is becoming more common...even with the 'premium' brands...along with not-free courtesy cars with £15/day admin charges. Almost makes you not want to bother paying their premium servicing prices when you're no longer getting a premium service.

[waynecyclist]

The diagnostic fee charge is pretty standard these days in case the fault is not a warranty issue

[Jamescrs]

All main dealers seem to charge diagnostic fees now.

The warranty company won't cover it as they will say it was a fault at the point of sale, this is down to the supplying dealer but as is common they try to hide behind warranties.

[KungFuPanda]

mmm-five said:

This shady 'diagnostic' fee is becoming more common...even with the 'premium' brands...along with not-free courtesy cars with £15/day admin charges. Almost makes you not want to bother paying their premium servicing prices when you're no longer getting a premium service.

Why are you describing the diagnostic fee as shady? Fiat weren’t the selling garage nor are they contracted with the warranty company. So you expect them to spend their time and equipment for free to diagnose a problem so that the OP can trundle off and get another garage to do the work cheaper or go back to the selling garage with their findings?

[mmm-five]

KungFuPanda said:

Why are you describing the diagnostic fee as shady? Fiat weren’t the selling garage nor are they contracted with the warranty company. So you expect them to spend their time and equipment for free to diagnose a problem so that the OP can trundle off and get another garage to do the work cheaper or go back to the selling garage with their findings?

Yes, you are correct.

I was reading it as the 'garage' and 'Fiat' were one and the same, and trying to get a '2nd bite of the cherry' by charging the customer for something that the warranty should cover.

Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 8th February 11:54

[mattyprice4004]

KungFuPanda said:

Why are you describing the diagnostic fee as shady? Fiat weren’t the selling garage nor are they contracted with the warranty company. So you expect them to spend their time and equipment for free to diagnose a problem so that the OP can trundle off and get another garage to do the work cheaper or go back to the selling garage with their findings?

It is shady - any customer of a 4 month old car shouldn't have to pay a penny to have issues investigated or repaired.

To the OP, focus on the selling dealer (and don't take no for an answer)

[Dan W.]

mattyprice4004 said:

KungFuPanda said:

Why are you describing the diagnostic fee as shady? Fiat weren’t the selling garage nor are they contracted with the warranty company. So you expect them to spend their time and equipment for free to diagnose a problem so that the OP can trundle off and get another garage to do the work cheaper or go back to the selling garage with their findings?

It is shady - any customer of a 4 month old car shouldn't have to pay a penny to have issues investigated or repaired.

To the OP, focus on the selling dealer (and don't take no for an answer)

I think they have had it 4 months, its not a 4 month old car.

I agree the customer shouldnt have to pay a penny but nor should a garage who didnt sell them the car foot any bill.

Op keep on at the original garage pester them