Arnold Clark!
- Thread starter kayos
- Start date
Safetyman
Well-known member
Caveat emptor springs to mind here. Not wanting to sound unsympathetic Mark, because I am, but how do you think mainline dealers stay in business? By ripping off the ordinary punter with excessive car prices, servicing charges and promises which never bear fruit.
To be honest I wouldn't trust any of them. How many times have we heard of warranties which only cover engine and gearbox. We never discover this until we actually go back and try to claim on the warranty.
I haven't heard of a service that didn't include the items that you mention but this is just another scam they are coming up with to con the ordinary punter.
The main problem is, and we are all guilty of this, is we don't read the small print and make sure we fully understand everything before we make a purchase.
Difficult situation Mark but I genuinely hope you get some success from this to get your service completed without extra cost and to teach the dealer a lesson
To be honest I wouldn't trust any of them. How many times have we heard of warranties which only cover engine and gearbox. We never discover this until we actually go back and try to claim on the warranty.
I haven't heard of a service that didn't include the items that you mention but this is just another scam they are coming up with to con the ordinary punter.
The main problem is, and we are all guilty of this, is we don't read the small print and make sure we fully understand everything before we make a purchase.
Difficult situation Mark but I genuinely hope you get some success from this to get your service completed without extra cost and to teach the dealer a lesson
kayos
Well-known member
You are right on a lot of what you say, but it is the flagrant deception they indulge in. I mean if they had said " We haven't actually checked the parts we are recommending need changing it is based purely on the age of the car." Now then we would have said, no thanks. They know that so they deceive. Anyway if you give in to them, they will continue to do it, so I am not letting it go. That's a Taurean for you! 
Arnold clark is a big company mate and imo they wouldn't give a toss about an ageing motor like yours (even if it's low millage) and you personally. They're regimental in the service department, regardless of previous work, if it say's do it at that age/millage then they'll do it subject to your authorisation. They're only really interested in the company vehicles and ppl who renew every 2 or 3 years. If yer after an older car steer clear of main dealers, it just ain't good business I reckon. Hope this helps like, for the future of course
Topfly
Well-known member
Kayos, Mick is dead right, get in touch with Trading Standards.
complete waste of time, forget it. just a good job you used due diligence to avoid the rip off, be thankful and move on.
Safetyman
Well-known member
You are right on a lot of what you say, but it is the flagrant deception they indulge in. I mean if they had said " We haven't actually checked the parts we are recommending need changing it is based purely on the age of the car." Now then we would have said, no thanks. They know that so they deceive. Anyway if you give in to them, they will continue to do it, so I am not letting it go. That's a Taurean for you!
Mark
I agree with you totally and g.ordon who posted after you the mainline dealers only care about the company lease cars and those who change their cars regularly.
I had a similar problem a few years when a mainline dealer insisted on changing a timing belt on my Ford Orion which only had 19,000 on the clock. The recommended mileage for the timing belt was 60,000. I wrote to Ford complaining and they refunded my money "as a gesture of goodwill"
I think we could all roll off many stories of greed and deceit but the manufacturers rely on the mainline dealers for sales and so they won't criticise them.
My current car I bought from a place in North Yorkshire who buys cars on your behalf. The owner openly admits that the mainline dealers buy up nearly new cars at car auctions so that they charge what they like for the car and can keep the prices artificially high.
Stay clear of mainline dealers, they don't need you
lys823
Active member
I know that mate, but our paper work said "standard service" which is not mentioned on their website! My issue is they phoned my partner and told her work needed done but did not tell her they hadn't checked these parts and she obviously assumed they had as they had just serviced it. If I had not been on the ball she would have been scammed!
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On the website they are not covered in a standard service or the value one. I bought my car from a similar large franchise and its the same story. They are called a service but more of an oil and filter change and safety check. Always come up with something that should be changed at an extra cost. Don't think you have a case really but good luck anyway.
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On the website they are not covered in a standard service or the value one. I bought my car from a similar large franchise and its the same story. They are called a service but more of an oil and filter change and safety check. Always come up with something that should be changed at an extra cost. Don't think you have a case really but good luck anyway.
agree, best bet for a car that has ran out of manufacturers warranty is find a good local garage with good rep to do the service, after all it's only really an oil change and brake check required. MOT will show up any serious defects
Trust me mate
All cars differ on service schedule
No car requires spark plugs on every service nor every filter changed
The requirements will be documented in your service booklet
Some cars are long life service
Others require a mileage or time service IE. What comes first
A garage has no responsibility to check previous services
All it has to do is notify you that it will be required at a set time IE mileage
Or time the garage only opens your service booklet to stamp and document what work they have carried out
They have not tried to have you over its just a case of the guidelines for your car will say they are due because ov a upcoming mileage or age of your car
I would advise against commencing to start any proceedings against them because it will cost you money
It is your responsibility to inform the garage of any services that have been done
If the work was nor carried out by them
IE you stated the timing belt has been changed previously
Hope this helps
All cars differ on service schedule
No car requires spark plugs on every service nor every filter changed
The requirements will be documented in your service booklet
Some cars are long life service
Others require a mileage or time service IE. What comes first
A garage has no responsibility to check previous services
All it has to do is notify you that it will be required at a set time IE mileage
Or time the garage only opens your service booklet to stamp and document what work they have carried out
They have not tried to have you over its just a case of the guidelines for your car will say they are due because ov a upcoming mileage or age of your car
I would advise against commencing to start any proceedings against them because it will cost you money
It is your responsibility to inform the garage of any services that have been done
If the work was nor carried out by them
IE you stated the timing belt has been changed previously
Hope this helps
Just in case you missed it the first time we boath posted at the same time
kayos
Well-known member
They have not tried to have you over its just a case of the guidelines for your car will say they are due because ov a upcoming mileage or age of your car
I would advise against commencing to start any proceedings against them because it will cost you money
Mate had they said "we are recommending this because of the age of the car" I would have no issue with them, They didn't for a reason..... to con us (maybe they think they can con a woman easier than a man, so tried it on with Lynn)and thousands like us. Emailing them, contacting CAB, Trading Standards etc costs nothing, I am not stupid enough to spend money fighting them for about £50!!
I would advise against commencing to start any proceedings against them because it will cost you money
Mate had they said "we are recommending this because of the age of the car" I would have no issue with them, They didn't for a reason..... to con us (maybe they think they can con a woman easier than a man, so tried it on with Lynn)and thousands like us. Emailing them, contacting CAB, Trading Standards etc costs nothing, I am not stupid enough to spend money fighting them for about £50!!
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Mate had they said "we are recommending this because of the age of the car" I would have no issue with them, They didn't for a reason..... to con us (maybe they think they can con a woman easier than a man, so tried it on with Lynn)and thousands like us. Emailing them, contacting CAB, Trading Standards etc costs nothing, I am not stupid enough to spend money fighting them for about £50!![/QUOTE]
No bother mate its just a few people will try to worsen the situation
Also had they undertaken the work and not informed you you could have got your money back any way
No bother mate its just a few people will try to worsen the situation
Also had they undertaken the work and not informed you you could have got your money back any way
Dont give up, i'm also Taurean, and i know once horns are locked,
all the best.
see what I mean lol
kayos
Well-known member
Kayos, Mick is dead right, get in touch with Trading Standards.
Thanks Topfly mate... the reason I mentioned trading standards was... a few year ago I bought a second hand car, still cost me a few grand and within a week things started going wrong, so I took it to my pals garage to get fixed, explained the situation and he said the garage I bought it off should do the work, well they wouldn't play ball so me pal said to threating them with trading standards, well to cut it short they did do the work, I still had to pay a bit but not as much, the point im trying to make mate is that trading standards must have some clout, just a thought might be worth a try.
