when is a courtesy car not a courtesy car???????
Discussion
when the garage want to charge you £14 + vat per day.
i have been hassling a certain garage for a courtesy car, they have had my TVR for a week and a half now. i finally get there yesterday and they inform me that they want to charge for the car.
now in my mind this makes it a hire car not a courtesy car (normally free). i knew i should have got the car trailered to fernhurst and got my FREE courtesy car. i would probably have it back by now, at the moment the gearbox guy hasn't even stripped the box and got the warranty company assessor to see it. i'll be lucky if i get the car back after easter 
(4+ weeks to sort a gearbox problem out)
i have been hassling a certain garage for a courtesy car, they have had my TVR for a week and a half now. i finally get there yesterday and they inform me that they want to charge for the car.
now in my mind this makes it a hire car not a courtesy car (normally free). i knew i should have got the car trailered to fernhurst and got my FREE courtesy car. i would probably have it back by now, at the moment the gearbox guy hasn't even stripped the box and got the warranty company assessor to see it. i'll be lucky if i get the car back after easter (4+ weeks to sort a gearbox problem out)Sounds a though your between a rock and a hard place, sorry to hear your problems.
I like you, would have thought that a courtesy car would be free. Were you told at the outset that there would be a charge?
If you have entered into a rental agreement (unknowingly) then how would you know how long to hire it out for, I also would have though that they should have informed you that this type of job would normally take X days.
If they do intend to charge you (over a barrel syndrome), I would demand to know, as to how long you have will you be expected to need the “hire car” for? In a word (or two) WHEN IS THE BLOODY CAR GOING TO BE FINISHED?
Agree with you it's fernies for me every time! Perhaps next time.
Keep us informed.
>> Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 12th April 10:09
I like you, would have thought that a courtesy car would be free. Were you told at the outset that there would be a charge?
If you have entered into a rental agreement (unknowingly) then how would you know how long to hire it out for, I also would have though that they should have informed you that this type of job would normally take X days.
If they do intend to charge you (over a barrel syndrome), I would demand to know, as to how long you have will you be expected to need the “hire car” for? In a word (or two) WHEN IS THE BLOODY CAR GOING TO BE FINISHED?
Agree with you it's fernies for me every time! Perhaps next time.
Keep us informed.
>> Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 12th April 10:09
i know how frustrating it is, but when i phoned fernies, they couldn't fit it in till middle of the following week. this garage (who i have used before as well) said thursday that week would be fine and a courtesy car would be available on the following monday. now gearbox was not taken out till the tuesday (4 working days after they were meant to start on car) and then gearbox dropped to gearbox guy on the wednesday this week and he will not look at it till monday. i am absolutley livid 
and have had words already
, especially after there was no mention on this charge until i turned up to pick car up, and i have been phoning on an almost daily basis to find out whats happening. so by my calculaitions, even if guy strips box on monday, warranty holdings, will probably send out an assessor by say wednesday, give report back and give go ahead maybe thursday and then there is easter (luckily away with girlfriend in barcelona
) and might get car back by may????? 
suffice to say i WILL NEVER USE this garage again. They have had many good reports on this board as well.
oh well, you win some and you lose some
and have had words already, especially after there was no mention on this charge until i turned up to pick car up, and i have been phoning on an almost daily basis to find out whats happening. so by my calculaitions, even if guy strips box on monday, warranty holdings, will probably send out an assessor by say wednesday, give report back and give go ahead maybe thursday and then there is easter (luckily away with girlfriend in barcelona) and might get car back by may????? suffice to say i WILL NEVER USE this garage again. They have had many good reports on this board as well.
oh well, you win some and you lose some
This 'courtesy car' issue really can p*ss you off! When there was a TVR main dealer in Chichester (no names mentioned to protect the guilty!) they used to charge £15 for their 'courtesy' cars - even to those who'd spent 30-odd grand with them buying a new Griff!
And to add insult to injury it was always completely out of fuel, so your first stop was the local garage for gas!
And to add insult to injury it was always completely out of fuel, so your first stop was the local garage for gas!
it amazes me how these guys can look you in the eye, and tell you that a tvr is suitable for use every day, and then pull a stunt like this.
most of us have to work for a living ( if only to afford to buy fuel and tyres! ), and rely on our cars, and our servicing garages. if you book your car into a main dealer for any 'run of the mill' vehicle you would always expect to be able to borrow a car.
i once borrowed a brand new A4, when the dealer knew that i would be putting 500 miles on it, and they were happy as you like. at one stage the garage was hiring cars ( at it's own expense ) to loan to customers because of a spares sourcing problem!
we all understand that there are problems from time to time - i imagine you wouldn't feel so bad about it if they had told you that they were really busy, so the car may be away for a while, and that there was a charge for the loaner? often a bit of communication is all that's required. i for one don't like nasty suprises but am often more reasonable if i know what the score is ahead of time.
ah well, guess you won't be using them again then?
most of us have to work for a living ( if only to afford to buy fuel and tyres! ), and rely on our cars, and our servicing garages. if you book your car into a main dealer for any 'run of the mill' vehicle you would always expect to be able to borrow a car.
i once borrowed a brand new A4, when the dealer knew that i would be putting 500 miles on it, and they were happy as you like. at one stage the garage was hiring cars ( at it's own expense ) to loan to customers because of a spares sourcing problem!
we all understand that there are problems from time to time - i imagine you wouldn't feel so bad about it if they had told you that they were really busy, so the car may be away for a while, and that there was a charge for the loaner? often a bit of communication is all that's required. i for one don't like nasty suprises but am often more reasonable if i know what the score is ahead of time.
ah well, guess you won't be using them again then?
A courtesy car supplied by a body repairer is "free" but will be paid for in the hidden bits of a bill i suspect. A courtesy car whilst your car is in for other mechanical type repair will have to be paid for by someone (you) either up front, or in the hourly rate charged I guess. (written by someone else who was suprised the first time I was charged for a Courtesy Car)
If they haven't started work yet can't you still ask Fernies to go and fetch it?
when the garage want to charge you £14 + vat per day.
i have been hassling a certain garage for a courtesy car, they have had my TVR for a week and a half now. i finally get there yesterday and they inform me that they want to charge for the car.
MC
MajorClanger said:If they haven't started work yet can't you still ask Fernies to go and fetch it?
when the garage want to charge you £14 + vat per day.
i have been hassling a certain garage for a courtesy car, they have had my TVR for a week and a half now. i finally get there yesterday and they inform me that they want to charge for the car.
MC
i wish i could but they have already taken gearbox out and sent it to their gearbox guy who should be stripping it today, if i had known or been informed that it would take this long just to get to this stage (still haven't got a date for assessor to come and inspect) i wouldn't be using this north london garage.
i am really sorry that it has come to this but as i said before, you win some and you lose some
thanks
jody
True but when you are paying a very large hourly rate and then being asked to pay extra on top, especially if it's a 2 week job, you do tend to be abit p*ssed off. It would be better customer relations to hide it in the hourly cost like most dealers. Or atleast make sure you tell the customer how much cheaper you hourly rates are because you don't hide the "courtesy" car in them. "So if you didn't need a car you wouldn't be charged sir".
Tony Hall said: A courtesy car supplied by a body repairer is "free" but will be paid for in the hidden bits of a bill i suspect. A courtesy car whilst your car is in for other mechanical type repair will have to be paid for by someone (you) either up front, or in the hourly rate charged I guess. (written by someone else who was suprised the first time I was charged for a Courtesy Car)
Hope we dont have to pay for our courtesy car, we have had it for 3 weeks already! However, our Cerbie did go back to the dealers to be repaired on the 15th February and they only came up with a courtesy car (a Skoda) for us three weeks ago,still awaiting our cars return,not amused as they have had it for 2 months now, bit of a joke really, they still cant give us a definate date for return yet. They inform us that they are awaiting a clutch and cam shaft to arrive from TVR. To add insult to injury they managed to get a speeding fine in our car whilst one of there bods was driving it on 150 mile journey to their sister garage, when it should have been flat bedded.
So your car needs a clutch and a camshaft and they drove it atleast 150 miles (if not 300) and got a speeding ticket. I would be
ladypagles said: Hope we dont have to pay for our courtesy car, we have had it for 3 weeks already! However, our Cerbie did go back to the dealers to be repaired on the 15th February and they only came up with a courtesy car (a Skoda) for us three weeks ago,still awaiting our cars return,not amused as they have had it for 2 months now, bit of a joke really, they still cant give us a definate date for return yet. They inform us that they are awaiting a clutch and cam shaft to arrive from TVR. To add insult to injury they managed to get a speeding fine in our car whilst one of there bods was driving it on 150 mile journey to their sister garage, when it should have been flat bedded.
as well. I hope you've explained to them how much they need to make this up to you . Unfortunately the parts issue can sometimes be a problem. If your not sure try phoning the factory and checking the availability and that your parts are on order.
Looking at it from the dealers point of view 'free courtesy car' is a service that all dealers should provide, you should also find that most specialists also offer them
I use Peninsula who have always offered Free courtesy cars - usually a Corsa or 206 - fair enough sometimes with short notice I have had to use an old Toyota ! as these things are not a limitless supply and do cost money to run ( a hire car would cost you at least £20 a day) also it is an additional cost for the garage in other areas such as insurance and maintenance etc
Also with TVR jobs not always being small in and out during a few days where does the cost for the courtesy car get off set ?
As for fuel I always expect to put in the fuel that I would be using anyway The problem would be where do you draw the line on costs Put fuel in and the car would inevitably be returned empty
I agree - free courtesy cars - but dont expect a TVR pay for your fuel and check on insurance - who it is covered by
I use Peninsula who have always offered Free courtesy cars - usually a Corsa or 206 - fair enough sometimes with short notice I have had to use an old Toyota ! as these things are not a limitless supply and do cost money to run ( a hire car would cost you at least £20 a day) also it is an additional cost for the garage in other areas such as insurance and maintenance etc
Also with TVR jobs not always being small in and out during a few days where does the cost for the courtesy car get off set ?
As for fuel I always expect to put in the fuel that I would be using anyway The problem would be where do you draw the line on costs Put fuel in and the car would inevitably be returned empty
I agree - free courtesy cars - but dont expect a TVR pay for your fuel and check on insurance - who it is covered by
Looking at it from the dealers point of view 'free courtesy car' is a service that all dealers should provide, you should also find that most specialists also offer them
I use Peninsula who have always offered Free courtesy cars - usually a Corsa or 206 - fair enough sometimes with short notice I have had to use an old Toyota ! as these things are not a limitless supply and do cost money to run ( a hire car would cost you at least £20 a day) also it is an additional cost for the garage in other areas such as insurance and maintenance etc
Also with TVR jobs not always being small in and out during a few days where does the cost for the courtesy car get off set ?
As for fuel I always expect to put in the fuel that I would be using anyway The problem would be where do you draw the line on costs Put fuel in and the car would inevitably be returned empty
I agree - free courtesy cars - but dont expect a TVR pay for your fuel and check on insurance - who it is covered by
I use Peninsula who have always offered Free courtesy cars - usually a Corsa or 206 - fair enough sometimes with short notice I have had to use an old Toyota ! as these things are not a limitless supply and do cost money to run ( a hire car would cost you at least £20 a day) also it is an additional cost for the garage in other areas such as insurance and maintenance etc
Also with TVR jobs not always being small in and out during a few days where does the cost for the courtesy car get off set ?
As for fuel I always expect to put in the fuel that I would be using anyway The problem would be where do you draw the line on costs Put fuel in and the car would inevitably be returned empty
I agree - free courtesy cars - but dont expect a TVR pay for your fuel and check on insurance - who it is covered by
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