Expensive First Service?!

[cuke2u]

I cannot explain how this has happened, true. But there was no offer and no trickery. So would I look a gift horse in the mouth?
I guess the dealership will groan, roll their eyes and say not him again when I book the car in for it's second service in October..

 

[S32B]

I'd be looking further out for a cheaper dealer, if I could save over a hundred quid I'd rather drive an hour and just use a courtesy car to get back!

Or an indy..

Just use the independent. Owners need to stand up to dealers taking the you know what.

If people stop paying their laughable prices they'll be forced to change.

Unlikely. For everyone one of us that goes independent there’s at least 10 paying normal dealer rates.
I think the worse part is the fixed price servicing they have for 3 year+ old cars.
Same parts and oil as a 1 year old car but half the price.

Fully understand your thoughts on using an indy and I agree with you all, you may remember I used an indy when I had the S3?!? I sold that before the PCP ended to a sports car specialist and he was fine with the history it had. However, after today's a$$ing about back and too between Audi dealerships, Audi UK and an indy about which oil type I should use in my A5, I found out something rather shocking!!!

If you are on a PCP and you intend to hand the car back at the end because the value of the car is less than the GFV, you could come unstuck!
We all know that Audi may or may not give you more for your px if it has a full Audi dealership service history, BUT if you are handing the car back and even if you are buying another car you may get hit with a bill, as the GFV Audi finance gave you is based on you having a full Audi history! Unless specifically stated in your agreement!

For me I'm expecting to hand my car back and have no equity at the end of 3 years, as the GFV for my car/spec dropped even before I collected the car, but I stayed on the first deal I'd signed up on as the GFV was higher = payments lower (If I'd switched deals and the GFV on the new deal stayed the same I'd be about £200 better off, so not worth the risk of the extra 36 higher payments).
So in a nutshell, if I use an indy now for servicing, when I take it back after the 3 years they could say my car is worth less than the GFV they gave me when I bought it because it's not been serviced by Audi, which means I'd have to pay the difference between the value of the car at the time without a full Audi service history and their value of the car with a full Audi history, then they'd pay the difference between that and the GFV that they gave me when I bought it, as that price was based on a full Audi history.....Sneaky!

EG:
1) I use Audi for all service: My GFV is 18k, at the end of the PCP they say it's worth 17k, it's their problem and I walk away owing nothing.

2) I use an indy: My GFV is 18k, at the end of the PCP they say it's worth £16.5k as it's not got Audi main dealer history, they could make me pay the difference between the two values = £500.

 

[KenL]

I'd imagine it is against consumer law to say a car is not meeting the gfv is it was not serviced at a dealer.

 

[Matt Titanium]

I'd imagine it is against consumer law to say a car is not meeting the gfv is it was not serviced at a dealer.

Since the car belongs to whoever finances it, can they not dictate terms as to who services it to protect its value and ensure the GFV figure? That would seem reasonable to me.

 

[AlS3BE]

I think in pcp contract it states must be serviced according to manufacturers requirements. Doesn’t exactly say it has to be at a franchised dealer.
This is only a problem if you do a voluntary termination or hand car back at end of term, usually they will find something else to screw you like a marked wheel or stone chip etc.

 

[S32B]

I'd imagine it is against consumer law to say a car is not meeting the gfv is it was not serviced at a dealer.

Like I say the small print may say the GFV is based on a full main dealer history!

Since the car belongs to whoever finances it, can they not dictate terms as to who services it to protect its value and ensure the GFV figure? That would seem reasonable to me.

Exactly.

I think in pcp contract it states must be serviced according to manufacturers requirements. Doesn’t exactly say it has to be at a franchised dealer.
This is only a problem if you do a voluntary termination or hand car back at end of term, usually they will find something else to screw you like a marked wheel or stone chip etc.

Again you are correct, if they can get you to take some of the hit if you are just handing it back, they will! They will just say a used Audi with indy service is worth less than one with a full Audi history...you pay the difference.

 

[KenL]

Have you actually seen it written that you must use dealer servicing or are you just surmising?

 

[traindweller]

That would not surprise me if they did have it written into the PCP contracts as Audi dealerships seem to have a very strange business model which tries to adapt their systems to force customers to remain with them. It would be better if they offered an after sales service as good as the car so we wanted to use them rather than look for better alternatives.

 

[S32B]

Have you actually seen it written that you must use dealer servicing or are you just surmising?

A friend of mine works as a sales guy for Audi and he gave me the heads up the other day, hence why it's important to read the small print. He said their dealership will not sell a used Audi unless they can see a full service history online, so they then send the car to auction and give you the BCA price for it, which is fine if you have equity in the car, as it just means you get less towards the next one, but if you are in negative equity they will not take all of the hit!!!

I also found this on the internet: