Nonsense Fiat dealer service costs

[heraldsteve]

I thought it might interest or amuse someone.

My wife bought a brand new Fiat 500 three years ago. It has now done 22,000 miles and has been serviced twice. It is just approaching its third service so the Fiat dealer called and asked me if we would like it booked in.
•I asked how much will it cost to which she replied 'the five year service is £165'.
•I said 'fine, but it's only three years old with 22k on the clock'.
•She said ‘in that case it's £386 for a three year service'.
•I said 'why the big difference?'
•She replied 'I don't know but that's what Fiat say it costs'.
•I said 'in that case it we won't be having it serviced'.
•She replied 'but that will invalidate your warranty'.
•I asked 'what warranty? It's three years old'.
•She replied 'the Fiat warranty'.
•I said 'but there isn't any warranty, the car is three years old'.
•She replied 'but you have to have it done because if something goes wrong you won't be covered'
•I said 'but it won't be covered anyway as it's out of warranty'.
•There was then a few seconds silence on the other end of the phone, but she eventually said ‘in that case what do you want to do?'
•I replied 'nothing thanks' and hung up.

Laughable but what shoddy service from a main dealer.</SPAN>

 

[Kerr1992]

haha! I love it, just reading that alone has made my day!

 

[s130]

Sounds very much like a clear case of a dealer putting a "clerk" on the desk.

For me a Service Desk Advisor/Clerk should be an ex-technician who knows their stuff but wants a break from the workshops BUT MUST also have the customer facing skills a well.

Thankfully not all dealers are like the one you have been subject too.

Personally I would be back on the phone to the Dealer Principal / MD / Service Manager and give him or her a really had time. There is no excuse for this ignorance and **** like this is just one further nail in the coffin of the FIAT UK dealer/service chain.

And while your bollocking the dealer have a go af FIAT UK as well.

 

[T14086]

For me a Service Desk Advisor/Clerk should be an ex-technician who knows their stuff but wants a break from the workshops BUT MUST also have the customer facing skills a well

Exactly, but no one listens do they!

 

[T14086]

I thought it might interest or amuse someone.

My wife bought a brand new Fiat 500 three years ago. It has now done 22,000 miles and has been serviced twice. It is just approaching its third service so the Fiat dealer called and asked me if we would like it booked in.
•I asked how much will it cost to which she replied 'the five year service is £165'.
•I said 'fine, but it's only three years old with 22k on the clock'.
•She said ‘in that case it's £386 for a three year service'.
•I said 'why the big difference?'
•She replied 'I don't know but that's what Fiat say it costs'.
•I said 'in that case it we won't be having it serviced'.
•She replied 'but that will invalidate your warranty'.
•I asked 'what warranty? It's three years old'.
•She replied 'the Fiat warranty'.
•I said 'but there isn't any warranty, the car is three years old'.
•She replied 'but you have to have it done because if something goes wrong you won't be covered'
•I said 'but it won't be covered anyway as it's out of warranty'.
•There was then a few seconds silence on the other end of the phone, but she eventually said ‘in that case what do you want to do?'
•I replied 'nothing thanks' and hung up.

Laughable but what shoddy service from a main dealer.</SPAN>

I suspect the difference in price is timing belt.
Also alot of garages use a call centre to make bookings for all different makes of cars.

 

[heraldsteve]

I suspect the difference in price is timing belt.
Also alot of garages use a call centre to make bookings for all different makes of cars.

Timing belt belt at 22,000 miles - even if that's what bumps the quote up it still ain't being done! I wouldn't have minded if the girl had said the price differenece was due to requiring a timing belt (or whatever) but she was clueless.

I won't be complaining, this is the second time I've been fed rubbish in the last 12 months so I'll just be using a different dealer next time, even though I've used this one since 1988.

 

[fingers99]

I don't know the belt intervals for your car. If it's a 16v and the service interval for the belt is 22,000 miles, I'd do it.

 

[vra]

hahaha... ) she was prolly still sleeping.. ))))))

 

[heraldsteve]

I don't know the belt intervals for your car. If it's a 16v and the service interval for the belt is 22,000 miles, I'd do it.

I forget the mileage at which it should be changed, but it certainly is not 22,000 miles. The girl didn't know what she was talking about is the point I was trying to make, she had no idea why the two quotes were so far apart and was simply clueless. She even quoted me originally on a 5 year service even though the car was bought from that dealer and has been serviced there the past two years.

Changing of cambelts is also an emotive subject often used to scare people in to parting with their cash. Yes if it snaps it can cause horrendous damage, but that is not always the case. I have had one snap (on a Punto) well withing its normal lifetime and no damage was caused. I fitted a new belt (did it myself no problem) and the engine started and ran fine until the day I sold the car. I have also twice had camblets slip, once on a Uno and once on a Citroen, again no damage was caused.

 

[fingers99]

Yes -- as far as the scare tactic goes. And I did get the main point.

But the 8v FIRE engines are safe (non interference) so they'll snap and/or slip and the engine will just stop. Dunno about Citroens.

The results on 16v Fiat engines (including the FIRE) and Alfas are generally devastating.

 

[T14086]

she was clueless.

Ever phoned up SKY or BT:bang:

 

[heraldsteve]

I have recently phoned BT support and it wasn't too bad overall, although the engineer they sent out had come to increase my broadband speed rather than the fault the on the line I had registered He still sorted it though.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I forget the mileage at which it should be changed, but it certainly is not 22,000 miles.

it's done on age also don't forget

With such low mileage it's going t have a higher wear rate, so out of the 2 years quoted for normal/extensive wear you'll need the earlier one