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        General >> Problems >> Ford Dealers!
        
(Message started by: Zombie on Apr 26^th, 2006, 7:59pm)

Title: Ford Dealers!
Post by Zombie on Apr 26^th, 2006, 7:59pm

Took my car in to ford dealer today.

I was told an full oil change for the gearbox would be £200 max - I made sure she knew I wanted a call if it would be more.

They had the car all day and when I went to pick it up, the bill was £288 !

They had also just cleaned the gearbox filter.. This that correct procedure?

I made it very clear indeed to the guy behind the counter that I was not paying that much, he seemed to have more sense than the woman I first saw and quickly lowered the labour charges.

I was given a checklist with the bill stating that the remote fob did not work. It has worked fine since I put new battaries in it on Saturday. I knew I could not prove they had b****red it so I did ot spend too long arguing the toss with them. So now my gearbox is a lot smoother but my remote will not work. I have tried every trick in the Repair article on this site.

d**n annoying!

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by mr._floppy on Apr 26^th, 2006, 11:19pm

Just looking at the bill for a recent ATF and filter change for my 2lt 16V:

New filter ( I insisted they show me the old one )= £13.20

New sump gasket= £3.12

Fluid and Lubeguard = £33.40

plus labour and VAT it all came to = £136.57

I'd expect a new filter for £ 288 ???

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Baz on Apr 26^th, 2006, 11:58pm

I'd expect Henry Ford himself to fit it for £288.00!!

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Atlantic_blue on Apr 27^th, 2006, 2:27am

Name & shame ::)

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 27^th, 2006, 7:24am

It's not good to clean the filter. A new one should be put at that expense !

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Baw_Flinger on Apr 27^th, 2006, 8:27am

The term 'ripping the pish' springs to mind. I had a full autobox install, new filters/gasket/oil etc for well under that. :o

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Zombie on Apr 27^th, 2006, 6:45pm

Ford UK have also told me that they recommend dealers just wash the filter.

I'm getting independant advice, from a specialist and from Polular Mechanics. I can also ask my firms legal bods for advice.

If they are ripping me off, Ford will be getting some bad publicity.

Still, the gearbox is working much better now, so I'm happy to leave it as it is until/unless I have evidence that will force Ford to re-do the job, with a filter.

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Spannerdemon on Apr 27^th, 2006, 7:19pm

Absolutely outrageous.

No wonder I do my own repairs. These garages are out to part you with as much cash as they can. Fancy Showrooms, 'technicians', Sales managers, etc etc etc, all contribute toi your bill.

If you can't do it yourself, then find a good local garage (usually by word of mouth), and give them your custom.

Main Dealers......personally I'd tie them all to trees and set fire to them!!

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Zombie on Apr 27^th, 2006, 10:47pm

on 04/27/06 at 02:27:03, Atlantic_blue wrote:

Name & shame ::)

Oh yes..

Allan Ford
Hopping Hill
Northampton

Technically speaking, they didn't do the job I requested. I specified a new filter. I will bide my time.

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by cossie_al on Apr 27^th, 2006, 11:05pm

In my opinion they are in breach of contract.
they charged more than the quote and did not fulfill the job to your specs.
we could all stand outside with banners saying this place is full of liars or some such thing ;)

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by david_molloy on Apr 28^th, 2006, 12:20am

FMD's appear to know little about Scorpio's - apart from big bills!!
Been to 2 FMD's one an RS "specialist" & they don't want to know unless you leave yourself wide open to been taken to cleaners.
Absolutely useless!!! Wouldn't take the proverbial "wheel barrow" to them
That's why with help of site I,ve returned to DIY - trip down memory lane again!!! - forget the £1.00 a minute+ labour rates.
It's all dealers though not just FMD - know someone who got scammed by French car dealer - £400 to be told what was not wrong with car. Not much good when it went in to find out WHAT WAS WRONG. A bargain £400 quid to be told the obvious & a free dent in door - customer satisfaction bonus??
Changed 24V gearbox oil & filter & filter'O' rings & gasket then "flushed out torque converter" by 1000cc out via oil cooler pipe method / top up repeat etc.- as detailed on site. Used 9 1/2 litre of Fully synthetic AMSOIL costing £90 for total cost less than £125 & I know it's been done right including greasing linkage so that now have ultra smooth movement.
Downside was Amoco Cadiz disaster removing sump
Regarding your problem - Gather all documentation then Small Claims Court - unless they will fit new filter o rings & oil FOC. Don't get drawn into debate - take action - it works in 90%+ of cases.
All the best
david

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by mr._floppy on Apr 28^th, 2006, 12:26am

I would even check if the sump has been taken off at all ( it's possible to suck out most of the old stuff and put in the new fluid through the dipstick tube ) get a strong torch and see if you can see a nice new white gasket sandwiched between the sump and the gearbox.

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by jonnycab on Apr 28^th, 2006, 2:52am

Do FMD let you watch as the work is done?...as I'm always afraid to take it to a FMD incase they let the apprentices loose on it.

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by tintin on Apr 28^th, 2006, 1:40pm

when i had my audi 100 (1983) the water pump sprung a gusher of a leak, i phoned the local Audi dealership for a quote, they couldnt find my car by the reg so i said i would drop it in so they could check it out.

quote came back at £330, i said wow, i will pick it up thanks anyway. got to the dealership, and they had a £80 "diagnostic" invoice ready for me. i said ridiculous, give me my car, but they can hold onto your car until payment received. i asked for a copy of the job sheet and paid.

i wrote to them offering to pay half (i knew they wouldnt accept), pointing out it was rather obvious and didnt need any pressure test they allegedly performed (apparently they did work from 2:10pm to 2:75pm on the job sheet ha ha add 65 mins....)

finally i wrote to the their Trade Association (mine was Scottish one, ask them who they are with...) with copies and explanation, and that i had offered a reasonable sum which had been refused. i asked for all the money back now.

check came through the post within 2 weeks of posting, with a letter of apology. i fully recommend you contact these associations, as they have a lot of clout, and turn smaller claims around quickly.

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by mr._floppy on Apr 29^th, 2006, 12:39am

Often wondered about that one, :( legally can a garage seize your car until the outstanding invoice is settled ?

How the flip can you assess whether the work you ordered done has been done to your satisfaction unless you can get access to the car ?

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by sector-9 on Apr 29^th, 2006, 2:23pm

Legally they can - it's recommended you pay them the amount owed but write on the invoice "without prejudice" (as in prejudicing a claim or further proceedings, not racism) and that the work done is under dispute. Follow it up by sending a letter detailing your complaint(s) to the manager stating what course of action you expect.

Darren

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by Octavian_P on Apr 29^th, 2006, 6:07pm

Reading all that of the ford dealears remaind me of a friend of mine who had the car (mondeo) in for a change of front and rear bumper. When it was ready it had a changed a headlight motor (which now it doesn't work), the car has +3 Km done, all the radio stations changed......so i'm wandering what they could have done to it.....take a trip around the town.....it's just outstanding !!!

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by stafford on Apr 29^th, 2006, 7:35pm

oh dear..please PM me and I will tell you in very simple stages exactly what to do in this situation. In the meantime pop down to your local county court where they deal with small claims and get the relevent forms off them to issue them a summons..they are helpful in the court and even the ushers will know what form it is....

Title: Re: Ford Dealers!
Post by trogg on Apr 29^th, 2006, 7:42pm

hi guys,
fmd charges are ridiculous i go to a local garage who are far more reasonable the garage i use always give good service and never use unnessasery parts.