Join for free
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
realspeed
Chatterbox
realspeed is offline
South coast
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12,931
realspeed is male  realspeed has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
27-08-2019, 05:40 PM
1

service and MOT

Just got the Nissan back from the main dealer having it serviced and MOT (Passed). What the crafty sod did was unplug the power lead into the sat nav at the sat nav end.
That way it stopped them being recorded as to what and when they worked on the car. Mine is hard wired so as soon as the engine is on so is the sat nav.

In true they had no right to even touch it
Primus1's Avatar
Primus1
Senior Member
Primus1 is offline
York
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,648
Primus1 is male  Primus1 has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
27-08-2019, 09:08 PM
2

Re: service and MOT

Don’t you mean dash cam...??.
realspeed
Chatterbox
realspeed is offline
South coast
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12,931
realspeed is male  realspeed has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
27-08-2019, 09:43 PM
3

Re: service and MOT

Originally Posted by Primus1 ->
Don’t you mean dash cam...??.
yes sorry brain freeze
Primus1's Avatar
Primus1
Senior Member
Primus1 is offline
York
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,648
Primus1 is male  Primus1 has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
27-08-2019, 09:48 PM
4

Re: service and MOT

Nowadays they video the service and send you a copy, they did this when I had my company van serviced last week...
Ray Cathode's Avatar
Ray Cathode
Senior Member
Ray Cathode is offline
Scotland, UK (but not EU)
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,706
Ray Cathode is male  Ray Cathode has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
27-08-2019, 11:07 PM
5

Re: service and MOT

Originally Posted by Primus1 ->
Nowadays they video the service and send you a copy, they did this when I had my company van serviced last week...

Edited of course.
Barry's Avatar
Barry
Chatterbox
Barry is offline
North Notts
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 15,676
Barry is male  Barry has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-08-2019, 08:59 AM
6

Re: service and MOT

Originally Posted by realspeed ->
Just got the Nissan back from the main dealer having it serviced and MOT (Passed). What the crafty sod did was unplug the power lead into the sat nav at the sat nav end.
That way it stopped them being recorded as to what and when they worked on the car. Mine is hard wired so as soon as the engine is on so is the sat nav.

In true they had no right to even touch it
I'm rather bemused by this RS, how would the dashcam have recorded when they worked on the car when much of the servicing is done with the engine off? What is it that you think they are hiding?
Longdogs's Avatar
Longdogs
Chatterbox
Longdogs is offline
SW England
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 43,957
Longdogs is male  Longdogs has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-08-2019, 10:55 AM
7

Re: service and MOT

Originally Posted by barry ->
i'm rather bemused by this rs, how would the dashcam have recorded when they worked on the car when much of the servicing is done with the engine off? What is it that you think they are hiding?
realspeed
Chatterbox
realspeed is offline
South coast
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12,931
realspeed is male  realspeed has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-08-2019, 02:39 PM
8

Re: service and MOT

Got no idea what they are hiding, the car is moved from the service bay to the other side on the premises to the cleaning bay so it should have been working. All I can think is they don't want you to know when they started the service and finished.
The previous service the dashcam was not touched.
Ray Cathode's Avatar
Ray Cathode
Senior Member
Ray Cathode is offline
Scotland, UK (but not EU)
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,706
Ray Cathode is male  Ray Cathode has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-08-2019, 05:13 PM
9

Re: service and MOT

This is the text from an Honest John article about unscrupulous garages and MOTs


https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn...rm=Read%20more

A RIP-OUT RIP-OFF GUIDE FOR WORKSHOP MANAGERS TO HELP MAXIMISE SERVICE REVENUES

After extensive research, Dishonest John presents the top tips for dodgy service managers who prefer to put profits before punters.

The Keyfob Caper
Tell the punter that his remote control keyfob needs new batteries but for it to work again it also needs to be re-programmed at a cost of anything from £40 to £85.

The Bulb Blag
Phone the customer while his car is in for service to tell him that among the additional items needing attention a bulb has gone. He will think, "can't cost much" and will agree to a bulb replacement. Then charge him 15 minutes labour at £60 an hour to change the bulb and another 15 minutes for the fitter to obtain it from stores.

The Screenwash Scam
Always automatically charge for renewing the screenwash additive. Even if it the reservoir is full when the car arrives, leave a bottle of additive in the boot and still charge for it at an outrageous rate.

The Multipurpose Lubricant Leglifter
Similar to the screenwash scam. Always supply a spray can of multipurpose lubricant at every service, and charge for it, of course.

The Oil Filter Flanker
Instead of changing the oil filter at a routine service, tell the fitter to simply give it a good clean over with a rag. It will look like new, the punter won't know any difference and the garage will save 15 minutes obtaining the new filter from stores and fitting it, plus, of course, the cost of the filter.

The Fluids Overfill
Charge the customer for an quantity of oil, coolant, ATF, gearbox oil, brake fluid, etc over and above what the car will actually take. Very few punters ever spot this and if they do, tell them it's a clerical error, revise the invoice and refund them the extra money. 99 times out of 100 you'll never have to.

The Major Component Confusion
Never, ever repair a major component. If, for example, an automatic gearbox has a problem DO NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. Instead, simply quote for fitting an entirely new automatic gearbox. The fault may be nothing more than a duff solenoid in the valve block, but don't waste time with a £200 job when there is much more profit to be gained from fitting a new autobox at £1,750 plus.

The Wiper Wipe Out
Always phone to suggest to the customer that his or her wipers need replacing, then not only charge a 100% margin on the replacement wipers, but also charge 15 minutes labour for fitting them. One reader was quoted £104 for fitting a pair of new wipers to her Alfa Spider. For a Renault Espace, it was £40 plus fitting.

The Seals Scam
If the engine or gearbox is suffering from a slight oil leak (or even if it isn't and you can induce one) quote the punter for expensive new gaskets or seals, preferably internal shaft end-seals. They usually fall for it, but watch out for the bloke who has a handy mate with a ramp who can spot that all that's needed is to tighten a few nuts.

The Brake Blag
During a routine service, 'discover' that the front brake discs are wearing thin and are in need of replacement. Punters are getting used to having to replace discs every 30,000 miles, so even if the discs are still in good condition you will probably get away with selling the parts and a nice fat labour charge.

The Calliper Con
Alternatively, if the brake discs really are wearing thin it may well be due to sticking or rusty pins in the callipers leading the pads to bind on. Whatever you do, don't replace or clean these pins. To maximise replacement revenue, wait until the customer comes back with another worn thin pair of discs, then tell him the callipers need replacing as well as the discs and pads.

The Battery Blether
If the punter complains of slow starting, that's your cue to flog him a new battery. Persuade him that a' maintenance free battery' cannot be topped up or re-charged.

The Sundries Scam
Always charge a figure of between £2.50 - £5.00 + VAT for 'sundries' and if the customer asks what they are, tell him disposable wipes, disposable rubber gloves and oils and greases used in small quantities on things like door locks and hinges.

The Over-the-Top Oil Earner
Even though the workshop's engine oil comes from a bulk tank at a huge discount, still charge for it per litre as if it has been supplied in individual litre bottles.

The Warranty Maintenance Muckaround
If the customer has a used car warranty requiring the car to be regularly serviced at a franchised dealer's, this can be a real goldmine. Be careful to find a long list of repairs and replacements, none of which are covered by the warranty, but all of which must be made for the warranty to remain intact.

The Drivebelt Dodge
"Check auxiliary drive belts" will usually be included on a service schedule. But no mention will be made of making any adjustments to the tension of the belt, so this should be charged for at the rate for at least 15 minutes labour.

The Low Sulphur Scam
If a punter shows up with a non-functioning diesel pump, tell him the reason is wear due to the lack of lubricity of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel. The problem may really be no more than a chafed cable to the pump, but it's much more profitable to sell him a new pump and fix the chafed cable without telling him.

The Clutch Con
Sudden clutch failure may be due to the pressure fork fracturing rather than failure of the clutch itself. On many makes and models, the fork is easy to get at and replace without any serious dismantling. But the customer probably won't know that. So, if a clutch appears to have failed, always quote for a complete new exchange clutch and, if the problem is really no more than the fork, fit that as well and charge extra for it.

The Hidden Faults Hoax
Find things wrong that the punter can't see and check up on. Such as a broken engine mount, a duff tailgate strut, a faulty water pump, a fractured door hinge mounting, a noisy wheel bearing, a worn steering rack, etc., etc. The scope here is as wide as your imagination, but check the car's previous service sheets to make sure you haven't tried the same stunt with the same component before.

The Electronics Earner
If the car is not running properly, tell the customer you will perform a complete diagnostics check on it. This will usually isolate the true cause of the problem, but instead of fixing that replace one of the other components in the electronics or the fuel injection system. The customer will then come back and, after pleading 'trial and error', you will probably get the chance to rip him off for replacing something else which may or may not solve the problem.

The Loose Connector Con
Often, all that will be wrong is that a connector plug has come loose or got some moisture inside it. Never ever admit to this, especially if it's the multipoint connector to the ECU. Always diagnose that the ECU needs replacing at a cost of £500 plus.

The Lambda Laugh
If the diagnostic interrogator and an emissions test isolate the exhaust Lambda sensor as the source of the problem and simple cleaning would cure it, instruct your fitters to replace it. Though Halfords sell universal fit lambda sensors for £30, some manufacturer prices can be very high, especially for the more complex sensors in Toyota Carina E and Avensis models. Always go for the maximum obtainable revenue, never for the minimum needed to cure the problem.

The MOT Megablag
The most fertile area for unnecessary repairs is the MOT test, especially if your garage is an appointed MOT testing centre. Always give the car a cursory pre-test, find it needs a few bulbs replacing and phone the customer to get permission to replace them. Then, depending on the type of customer, in the test itself make sure the tester finds things like split driveshaft gaiters, worn suspension bushes, loose brake pipes, etc. But whatever you do when applying this blag, make sure the car has no genuine major fault which would lead it to fail the test. Punters will almost always be so relieved that their car has got through its MOT, they won't mind paying for £50 to £100 worth of repairs to get it through the test. But if the car needs major work, you won't get away with a package of minor add-ons.

The Indecent Incentive
Always incentivise your fitters with things like free holidays. You have to make them prizes for tax purposes, but sending a fitter and his family off to Bali for a fortnight costs a tiny percentage of what you're going to make from his ingenuity in finding lucrative non-existent faults. He'll be happy for six months working towards his holiday in Bali and you'll be raking it in without having to pay him expensive cash incentives.
Mups's Avatar
Mups
Chatterbox
Mups is offline
Northamptonshire
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 46,083
Mups is female  Mups has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-08-2019, 06:21 PM
10

Re: service and MOT

Good grief, Ray!

That makes me scared to take mine anywhere anymore!
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Thread Tools


© Copyright 2009, Over50sForum   Contact Us | Over 50s Forum! | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top

Powered by vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.