Are Motorists Deceived by Internet Car Service Vouchers ?

Dionysius2

Have just had words with a garage where my car was serviced on foot of one of those service vouchers touted as a really worthwhile deal at an unbelievable price. The service voucher basically touts a 50+ point check inclusive of filter & oil changes, etc plus a small scale valet. When I went to pick it up, I discovered that the handbrake was just as floppy as when I had left it in....i.e. not holding properly. Invoice says nothing about this so I ask if this has been missed by the mechanic. "No" say the garage...."that would be a special job now and would have to be checked in....all makes are different, etc". The invoice stated at this point that the front & back brakes are 'all OK' (their words) and makes no mention of the handbrake.

After I have drawn attention to the handbrake (post service), a line is inserted in the Invoice to say that the handbrake needs to go to a main dealer for that make of car. So I was the one prompting the diagnosis at that point ! So my query is am I being unrealistic to think that a 50+ point service check should involve paying attention to the handbrake ? Is the explanation offered on this point by the service supplier satisfactory ?

When I ask about the 50+ point checklist, the reply is and every person thinking of buying one of these multipoint service vouchers should note this : "well that list is basically a health check". Now that sounds to me like a pre-service check intended to find faults and then bring these to your attention as further 'jobs' to be done at your discretion. Somehow, I doubt that the average person booking one of these vouchers sees it that way and would like to hear what the expectations of other motorists would be in that situation ? To me, this 'health check' revelation is comparable to an Xray which will hopefully pinpoint the problem but does not go one iota in the direction of adjustment/repair. etc ? The filters and oil change apart, what I got therefore was somebody doing a ticklist overview spread over 50+ points on my car and which is not then made available to me.....how good is that ? How much value is that for €165 approx ?

What we have here, imo, is a clever marketing idea which is designed to delude motorists (especially those for whom the cost of running a car is extremely tough) and to draw them in with a 'big value' promise delivered at low cost by the service provider and to make no firm commitment as to what he/she will get in return. The vast bulk of what you are paying for is a 'health check' !!!
Having thought about it and seen it in action, I am prepared to say that this is a con job designed to get easy money for big cardealers to keep their doors open. Can't see myself ever bothering with that again.

skyhighflyer

Dionysius2 wrote: »

What we have here, imo, is a clever marketing idea which is designed to delude motorists (especially those for whom the cost of running a car is extremely tough) and to draw them in with a 'big value' promise delivered at low cost by the service provider and to make no firm commitment as to what he/she will get in return. The vast bulk of what you are paying for is a 'health check' !!!

Question: if they check 50+ items (which you accept they do), are you honestly expecting them to fix any issue identified with any of those items for an all-inclusive price of €165? What if the car needed pads or discs? What if the exhaust was blowing? What if it needed tyres? I'm being a bit OTT here but where would you draw the line?

For you €165 you got an oil and filter change and a valet. You also got (I assume) a qualified mechanic to look over your car and give it a safety check. To my mind that's what a service is. Anything beyond this falls into the category of 'repairs' and of course will be charged accordingly.

In fariness, I would however have expected them to note the handbrake was off and assuming that it's not an electronic handbrake they should have tightened it up.

Not attacking you personally OP, but this is why I would never want to be a mechanic - people's expectations of what a service should be versus what one actually is seem to vary an awful lot.

165 :eek:
They saw you coming.

Alanstrainor

It sounds like they provided what they said they would. Oil and filter service, and check everything else and advise you of anything that needs doing.

165 is mad money for what they did tbh.

Gurgle

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It sounds like they provided what they said they would. Oil and filter service, and check everything else and advise you of anything that needs doing.

165 is mad money for what they did tbh.

If the bit in bold was actually done, €165 wouldn't be crazy.

A real thorough inspection of a car could take 2 hours, so €65 for the oil + filter and €100 for 2 hours labour to inspect the car. It's not a bargain but not a rip-off either.

If the voucher is for a 50-point check, I'd expect to receive a 50-point checklist with each item checked.

@OP, Make a complaint to whoever was doing the voucher deal. You didn't get what you paid for.

Dionysius2

Gurgle wrote: »

If the bit in bold was actually done, €165 wouldn't be crazy.

A real thorough inspection of a car could take 2 hours, so €65 for the oil + filter and €100 for 2 hours labour to inspect the car. It's not a bargain but not a rip-off either.

If the voucher is for a 50-point check, I'd expect to receive a 50-point checklist with each item checked.

@OP, Make a complaint to whoever was doing the voucher deal. You didn't get what you paid for.

A complaint is currently under consideration but I am open to hear other people's views on the topic. I would really be interested to hear more people's views on this. Gurgle, I respect what you say but.....just to take your point about €100....how many people reading this or indeed the average middle of the road (pun intended) motorist would hand over €100 for someone to just take a look at his/her car and say if it further attention is needed ? Anyone care to enlighten me with a view on the handbrake problem posed in the OP ?
Furthermore, I regard it as a bit clever by the garage in refusing to supply a checklist.....that way, there's no way of knowing which boxes were or were not ticked. What are they committing to in the deal if they won't reveal what they are doing beyond bland references to : "health checks" ?
What does that mean anyway in plain English in the context of car servicing ? The garage response to that question went no further than : "Oh, seeing that things are alright ".

veetwin

Sounds like you didn't really shop around for value. You could have got a proper main dealer service for less.

eg http://www.karmann.ie/page/offers/the-ultimate-service-only-129

Andrewf20

I was given a voucher for a pre NCT inspection. Afterwards they said all was in order, however there is a small rip in the drivers seat, exposing a metal spring that the NCT may fail me on.

The following week I sent me car in for the actual NCT, feeling confident. Guess what? - they failed my car for 9 things. (rear spings broken x 2, brake line corrosion, bushing on the way out, engine mount damage among others). They didnt fail me on the rip in the seat, suprise suprise.

A complete waste of time and money.

Honey-ec

OP, did you actually pay 165, or was that the stated value of the entire service?

Andrewf20 wrote: »

I was given a voucher for a pre NCT inspection. Afterwards they said all was in order, however there is a small rip in the drivers seat, exposing a metal spring that the NCT may fail me on.

The following week I sent me car in for the actual NCT, feeling confident. Guess what? - they failed my car for 9 things. (rear spings broken x 2, brake line corrosion, bushing on the way out, engine mount damage among others). They didnt fail me on the rip in the seat, suprise suprise.

A complete waste of time and money.

All pre-NCT inspections are a waste of time and money, imo. Just do the actual NCT and let them tell you exactly what's wrong with the car on the fail report.

Gurgle

Dionysius2 wrote: »

What are they committing to in the deal if they won't reveal what they are doing beyond bland references to : "health checks" ?
What does that mean anyway in plain English in the context of car servicing ? The garage response to that question went no further than : "Oh, seeing that things are alright ".

I would interpret the 50-point check simply as a check.

I wouldn't expect them to fix the 50 biggest problems they could find on a 30yo cortina, but I certainly would expect a list of the 50 things they're going to check and a (signed) report indicating which of those 50 items had a problem.

Dionysius2

Honey-ec wrote: »

OP, did you actually pay 165, or was that the stated value of the entire service?



All pre-NCT inspections are a waste of time and money, imo. Just do the actual NCT and let them tell you exactly what's wrong with the car on the fail report.

I actually paid more but that was because of an extra I chose to add-in.
I'm confining my critical comments about the 'super service' cost to the amount paid for the service. It's a sweet con which will entrap the unwary motorist just as it did me, sorry to say. The point is that at the end of that check, the car's safety or wellbeing has not been improved one jot and I am convinced that the vast bulk of motorists are not fully aware of that. They have paid their money and get a verbal assurance at the end of it that it's 'OK' and must drive off not knowing what checks were carried out. I know, I know....I'm wiser now and will not be caught again by this kind of three card trick. It's the slickest money for jam I've heard of in ages.

challengemaster

Why do I have a feeling that

"Check windscreen washer fluid level & top-up if necessary" is 1-2 points on this checklist.

Dionysius2

Dionysius2 wrote: »

.............. It's a sweet con which will entrap the unwary motorist just as it did me, sorry to say. .............

I can't see too many being enticed by an internet car service voucher for €165 when there are plenty others for less than €100.

You'd want to be very very very unwary.

Cashel Mc

Hi,
If you already knew the handbrake was weak , why did you not point it out at the time of hand over? Just so everything is black and white,

And they might of gave you and indication if it was going to be extra to fix or unfixable by them.

Maybe I am wrong but that just makes the most sense to me.

goz83

Honey-ec wrote: »

All pre-NCT inspections are a waste of time and money, imo.

I agree for the most part. Unless you have a decent garage/mechanic, you will end up paying for things that don't need doing and things will be missed, or not checked at all in many cases.

Honey-ec wrote: »

Just do the actual NCT and let them tell you exactly what's wrong with the car on the fail report.

I don't think the NCT should be used to check the safety of cars. If all you're after is a piece of paper in the window, then go ahead. But, you could be driving a death trap away from the centre. Half of those buffoons miss very serious faults on cars.

Best practice is to keep on top of car maintenance. I'm pretty confident that if my car went through the nct right now, it would pass no bother. It's not due til december and I won't be going near the pre-nct test joke.

Dionysius2

Cashel Mc wrote: »

Hi,
If you already knew the handbrake was weak , why did you not point it out at the time of hand over? Just so everything is black and white,

And they might of gave you and indication if it was going to be extra to fix or unfixable by them.

Maybe I am wrong but that just makes the most sense to me.

Of course I knew the handbrake was weak. I'm the only daily driver of the car. Furthermore, the mechanic who took it from the car park and drove it around to the garage and up the ramp could not possibly have done that without observing that the handbrake was in need of attention. The widely publicised 54 point check didn't seem to unearth that failing at all yet I am paying almost three times what some other 54 point checks are costing so is that not gross overcharging for a diabolical service ? I booked it in all good faith at the time and now know that a similar service is available elsewhere for around €50+. I'm wiser now, etc.
It may have helped if I had mentioned the handbrake but dammit what's wrong with them doing all the checks they are being paid to do and in that way finding what needs to receive attention ? Is it realistic that when I book a 54 point service I still need to tell the service experts what needs attention especially when it's as fundamental as brakes ? Like it's only viable for attention if I mention it ?

Dionysius2

Dionysius2 wrote: »

.................. The widely publicised 54 point check didn't seem to unearth that failing at all yet I am paying almost three times what some other 54 point checks are costing so is that not gross overcharging for a diabolical service ? I booked it in all good faith at the time and now know that a similar service is available elsewhere for around €50+. .................

Is the €165 rate actually discounted at all? What was the RRP?

fasttalkerchat

Check the prices for the oil and filters only. Then ask yourself if the rest of the €165 was a fair amount to pay someone for an hours trouble free work...

mathepac

Here is a link to an invoice from an AutoDynamic offer from boards.ie before Christmas. They did exactly what they offered and I asked them to replace the fuel-filter and bulb. Superb service and very satisfied with them. I would have no hesitation in using them again or recommending them.

I guess if you're unfortunate enough to deal with gougers, you'll get gouged, if you deal with decent people you get decent, great value treatment and service.

They drove me to the Luas station before working on the car and collected me afterwards

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pygtc582n9dr6km/Vv29954QX-/autodynamic%20dec.pdf

Hailhail1967

No offence OP but €165 as advertised was hardly a scam, they blatantly said "we would like to rob you" and you wittingly said "ok".

Pretty much every dealer will give you that basic service, which you got for around €99, excluding certain new cars. You would want to be off your head to give someone €165 for it.

I do agree though, you definitely should have got a list of the 50 things that were checked.

I always find it hard to justify the costs people spend on their cars but then, I would just do it myself. I have never needed a 50 point check yet and haven't had any major explosions or failing brakes.

Oil = €30 - Filter = €10 Hoover = 10 minutes - Labour = 20 minutes

That is basically what you payed €165 for, no other way of looking at it.

L1011

I paid less than 165 for a dealer service on a semi-obscure (car is common, sub-type with specific engine, transmission and brakes combo is far from it) recently.

If 165 was what you paid, you got hideously ripped off; if 165 was the notional "value" of the voucher before the discount, they were pushing that as high as they could to make it seem like a good deal.

Cashel Mc

If it was me , I would have said it so they would'nt have to waste time looking for it , and would have just done it or advised me on what to do with it.

Which would of gave them more time to look at brakes or whatever else, because after all ,they are only going to spend a certain amount of time on the car.

I do think you were over changed by maybe 50 or 60 Euro.

ValerieR

I personally think that these advertised check-ups for your car is a way of getting you in their garage to generate more work for them : a marketing ploy in other words. They look at your car, find problems and offer to fix them for you ... at their prices ....

Personally, I wouldn't dream about getting my car serviced at different garages. I prefer to have my mechanic do all the work on my car. He knows what he has done in the previous services/interventions and knows what is coming up for maintenance for the next pit stop.

That said, you should get a list of what they checked ...

Dionysius2

Cashel Mc wrote: »

If it was me , I would have said it so they would'nt have to waste time looking for it , and would have just done it or advised me on what to do with it.

Which would of gave them more time to look at brakes or whatever else, because after all ,they are only going to spend a certain amount of time on the car.

I do think you were over changed by maybe 50 or 60 Euro.

I blame myself for booking the damn service (apparently as did many more according to their advertising blurb) but you'll have to pardon me if I feel that I am not at fault for not specifically telling them about such an obvious defect. Maybe it would have been 'nice' to have told them but that does not amount to blame on my part. If they do a 54 point check correctly then they should have found the defective handbrake and on top of that the mechanic who drove it into the garage and onto the ramp could not possibly have done so without discovering the loose handbrake lever.

I see a 54 point service check costing €55 with an oil and filter change (56% off) advertised in Dublin 8 by another agency currently via the Internet (Groupon City Deal ) and I ask the question : what does a 54 point service check for €165 entail that a €55 service check covering the same number of points does not entail ?

It's a rum deal and I was foolish to fall for it. Maybe by highlighting it here I may have helped some other motorist avoid this scam. Hope so.

Gurgle

Dionysius2 wrote: »

If they do a 54 point check correctly then they should have found the defective handbrake

I probably would have said nothing, to see if they were doing any checks at all.

It's a rum deal and I was foolish to fall for it. Maybe by highlighting it here I may have helped some other motorist avoid this scam. Hope so.

It wouldn't be a bad deal if it included a thorough (2-hour) inspection of your car and a report listing things that were wearing out / worn out / broken.

Last year my trusty old A4 went to the junkyard a matter of weeks after I spent €400 on it. I blamed myself for not getting a thorough inspection before spending the money.:rolleyes: