• Car Dealer Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
No Result
View All Result

Some repairs 'not needed'

James Baggott by James Baggott
February 4, 2009
0
Home News

garages-attacked-for-unnecessary-repairs1CAR owners have been warned of garages allegedly inflating repair bills with unnecessary work.

Warranty Direct says it has discovered clear evidence of garages adding on extra unnecessary work to car repairs – and the trend has been increasing over the last 6 months.

What’s more, it says franchised car dealers are most guilty of this. In one case, says the warranty company, a customer was quotes £2200 more than actual repairs necessary.

It is a further hit in what’s already been a bad spell in the press for car dealers. Which? magazine, last week, slammed dealers, too.

Warranty Direct illustrated a number of cases its independent undercover assessors discovered:

The Company uses independent inspectors to assess quoted work where its engineers have raised suspicions.

•    A Peugeot dealer said fuel contamination would require an entire fuel system to be replaced, costing £2895. The actual repair needed only a fuel filter, costing £131.

•    A Vauxhall garage said both front dampers, springs, track control arms and ball joints needed replacing, costing £720. Only 1 front spring actually needed replacing, for £170.

•    A Volkswagen Golf owner was told a new wishbone and anti roll bar bushes were needed, costing £293. they actually took the car in to have a glowing engine light investigated – a £21 fix.

•    A Mercedes E-Class owner took their car in to have a differential oil leak repaired. They were told new lower ball joints were also needed, adding £138 to the bill. They were unnecessary.

‘It’s a sad state of affairs, but some are simply going too far,’ said Duncan McClure Fisher, MD of Warranty Direct. ‘We’re finding ourselves policing dealers on behalf of our customers.

‘This is a worrying development, and we are releasing our findings not only to protect the motorist, but also to allow some unscrupulous garages to get their houses back in order – in the interests of the industry as a whole.’

These findings add further weight to customers’ suspicions that dealers are taking them for a ride.

It is thus imperative that you respond to these concerns, and do whatever is necessary to bolster your reputation in what has been a damaging time for the industry. 

Motor industry Code praise

Bad habits cost owners

Garage of the Year 2009

Previous Post

Camden in administration

Next Post

Which? Car offers aid

Related Posts

DS Automobiles launches ‘Concierge’ online buying platform
News

DS Automobiles launches ‘Concierge’ online buying platform

January 20, 2021
News

Vauxhall appoints former Nissan GB MD Paul Willcox as new boss

January 20, 2021
Auto Trader launches digital ‘store fronts’ for dealers to build trust with customers
News

Auto Trader launches digital ‘store fronts’ for dealers to build trust with customers

January 20, 2021
UK manufacturing loses some of its ‘bounce’ as recovery growth eases
News

Future of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory in doubt with decision expected within weeks

January 20, 2021
New Bugatti showroom coming soon as Sytner adds brand to its impressive collection
News

New Bugatti showroom coming soon as Sytner adds brand to its impressive collection

January 20, 2021
Jan 20 round-up: Record death toll; Biden inauguration; Ladbrokes bid dropped; Ferrari 812 smash
News

Jan 20 round-up: Record death toll; Biden inauguration; Ladbrokes bid dropped; Ferrari 812 smash

January 20, 2021

Want to receive the latest news?

Sign up to the Car Dealer daily news briefing for the latest news and advice during these unprecedented times.

Subscribe Now
Video: How do you buy a used car online and get it delivered to your house? We put online car dealer Carzam to the test
Car Dealer Live

Video: How do you buy a used car online and get it delivered to your house? We put online car dealer Carzam to the test

January 20, 2021
Used Car Awards Shortlist: Find out who made it through mystery shopping and are now in running for our gongs
News

Used Car Awards Shortlist: Find out who made it through mystery shopping and are now in running for our gongs

January 6, 2021
Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK
Car Dealer Top 100

Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK

January 20, 2021
Car Dealer Live: Data shows there are buyers out there and they want new cars via click and collect, say What Car? team
Car Dealer Live

Car Dealer Live: Data shows there are buyers out there and they want new cars via click and collect, say What Car? team

January 20, 2021
Car Dealer Live: Top tips for car dealers to keep business and spirits high during national lockdown
Car Dealer Live

Car Dealer Live: Top tips for car dealers to keep business and spirits high during national lockdown

January 20, 2021
Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice
News

Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice

January 15, 2021
Less demand at home and abroad sees car production drop by nearly a fifth
News

Car dealers blast manufacturers for continuing to impose sales targets during lockdown 3 as ‘morally wrong’

January 20, 2021
Car Dealer Power

The best car dealer suppliers named in the Car Dealer Power Awards 2020

November 26, 2020
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
Call us: 020 8125 3880

© 2020 Blackball Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Car Dealer Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100

© 2020 Blackball Media

Log In
Register
Register
Server C