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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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19-08-2011, 09:57 AM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,199
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well yesterday i fitted an earls replacement oil line as i figured the car was getting to an age were those little safety measures are a good idea.with out a hoist i couldn't get it fully tightened an the ford dealer being the closest place figured i would just drop past pay 50 bucks or something they could throw it up on a hoist and it would be done. How wrong i was. I returned to pick up the car to a bill of $216! They decided that due to the age of the car to replace the stock oil filter, which i had taken out of the fitting. So i got charged 81 for the filter, 98 for labour and 16 for 2 washers when i questioned it they said its in there now the old one is in the bin not much you can do then went on to tell me that now i just have 2 filters... Gee thanks for making my other purchase useless after arguing for about 20min they turned around and said bring it back tomoro and well pull the filter out of the line. At the cost of another hours labour.
The thing that got me is wouldn't they have thought they should maybe call when they decided to replace a part? I thought that was standard practise? Long story short i will not be taking any car to ford service. I will stil buy ford but I'll be taking even a new car somewhere else and making sure my partner her family, my family and my friends(there is 6 of us with falcons). I'll be making sure i do my best that no one i know returns to this dealer for service reasons
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Now Ford-less But good things are coming in 6 months
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19-08-2011, 01:48 PM | #2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 838
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So did you give the service guys clear instructions on what you wanted them to do?
And did you aks about labour costs before leaving the car there? Surely you didn't think they would charge $50 an hour? My dealer charges $110 an hour. I recently needed window reg pop rivets and only Ford sold them (at $4.50 each!), trick is you cannot use the standard size riveter to pop them on, so I asked at the service department if they can just pop them on for me using their machine and was told minimum charge was $110, I said no thanks and went and bought the machine instead for $95. |
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19-08-2011, 03:21 PM | #3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,199
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told them what i had done and what i needed to do that it needed tightening as it was leaking. Its a job i could have done in 5 min with a hoist, maybe they go by a minimum hours labour? If that was the only cost i would have got over it. It the fact they put the stock filter back on after i explained id removed it. Then after pointing out they did work i didn't want the offered to take it off at an hours labour. Am i over reacting? Probably but now Ive paid for all that im goin to have to pay someone else to take it off again as im not taking it back to ford. So in the end i would have paid another 100 for labour and 80 for the flippin filter that i didn't ask for or get notified that they wanted to put it on.
I called the ford customer complaint line sat on hold for almost an hour and stil got nowhere as i had to get back to work. Ive sent through an email but highly doubt I'll hear back
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Now Ford-less But good things are coming in 6 months
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19-08-2011, 04:04 PM | #4 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,922
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My xr8 had the brake lights not working. I also noticed my cruise control was not working. Drove to ford,
The service department guy come over with saliva coming from his mouthN frothing at the mouth and was ready to hit Me for a home run. We gotta do a diagnostics test, it would be this, it could be that. Mininimum charge $90 plus parts etc etc,likely brake booster, brake switch etc etc. I thought I'd have no choice so booked it in and had to come back. On the way out stopped at auto electrician and told him the story. He dropped what he was doing and pulled my fuse cover off, plugged in a fuse and finished. Worked perfectly. He said the cruise and brake lights work off same circuit and it was a no brainer. I said how much do I owe you, he laughed and said nothing mate. Imagine what the ford bill would have been??? |
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21-08-2011, 09:37 AM | #5 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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Quote:
I was on holiday in Ballarat a few months ago when the ciggy lighter stopped working. We were relying on the GPS to get us around and had no road maps or local directory with us. Pull out the log book... "The fuse box is in a compartment under the glovebox" or words to that effect. No pictures showing exactly where. So, after a bit of looking around I couldn't find it and decided to call the local Ford dealer. I asked if I could drive it in and can someone show me where the box is so I can change the fuse. "Ohhh we are fully booked mate, can't do it till possibly 3pm. Yeah those fuses... seen it happen all the time, we get people plugging in double adapters into em with phone charges and GPS units and blow em caus it can't handle all the current. You see mate.. phone charges and GPS chargers are rated at 15-20 Amps and the fuse is 5 Amps.. so you see how easy they are to blow?? Should really only plug in 1 thing at a time mate". At no time did I say I was using a double adapter lol, I did say we had been using it to charge the phone and to get around with the GPS (you know... using it how it was designed to be used)... Anyway... I explained that the issue wasn't that I needed the fuse changed, the issue was that I COULDN'T FIND where the hell the fuses were hidden. I read back the books 'location instructions'... and his reply: "Yeah mate, you need to remove the plastic trim in the footwell, then you need to open the glove box, there are 2 screws there... but you see mate, they are torx screws, so you need a special tool for that, but no worries mate.. like I said, bring it in around 3pm and we may have time to have a squiz" (I called at 9am).... So what will the charge be I asked? "We got to charge minimum labour mate, looking at $70 to $90 depending on how long it takes"... to change a fuse, or to show me where the box is I questioned? "Both mate, by the time we show you we may as well change it". I hung up the phone scratching my head. I have changed enough fuses in enough cars to know that it CAN'T be that hard a bloody process. The other problem was that it was raining and had no undercover area at the hotel to tinker with the car. Anyway after enough digging around, wet knees and swearing at how bad the design of the book and fuse box was I found it. No need to remove any panels, no need for a torx screw driver....... Found it was a 20amp fuse and changed it for the cost of a packet of fuses $5. Yup, the guy had NFI what the hell he was on about, and he was the SERVICE MANAGER lol....... |
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21-08-2011, 10:38 PM | #6 | |||
OzFalcon.com.au
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wallan, Vic
Posts: 610
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21-08-2011, 11:06 PM | #7 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,922
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19-08-2011, 04:59 PM | #8 | ||
The Experience...
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,017
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Mate I made an earlier thread about my experience with my Bosses XR50. I just got my XR8 back from Autotech now and they found 2 faults in 2 weeks of it being there. Both had been replaced at time of build, everything done free of charge including labour as it was under warrenty.
Several personal experiences with Ford plus friends aswel which has helped me decide to not go through them again.
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Her Daily: BF XR6T ZF
His Daily: FGX XR8 ZF Their Pride: T3 TE50 Manual |
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19-08-2011, 05:22 PM | #9 | |||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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19-08-2011, 05:23 PM | #10 | ||
Donating Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,861
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i cant believe people still chose to go to fraud even after all the horror story's that get told on here
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20-08-2011, 12:03 AM | #11 | |||
Regulator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,168
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Regards Bobby Current Cars: 2000 AU2 Fairmont (2019-current) 2003 BA1 Falcon Divvy Van (2017-current) 2009 VW Mk6 Golf 118TSi (2020-current) Previous Cars: 2003 MCX10R Avalon VXi (2017-2020) 1995 EF1 Falcon GLi (2016-2019) 1997 XH2 Falcon Van OPT20 (2016-2019) 2006 BF Fairlane Ghia (2013-2018) 2001 AU3 Futura (2010-2013) 1996 EL Fairmont (2008-2010) 2004 BA XR6 (2005-2008) 2001 AU2 Forte (2005-2006) 1988 EA Fairmont Ghia (2003-2005) 1984 AR Telstar TX5 Ghia (2001-2005) |
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21-08-2011, 02:19 AM | #12 | |||
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,759
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i also find that often, the attitude of the customer can play a big part. |
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23-08-2011, 12:04 AM | #13 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yass River, NSW
Posts: 253
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19-08-2011, 05:37 PM | #14 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SA
Posts: 5,213
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Hoist for a oil line replacement,am I missing something here?
What made you go to a dealer to fix your problem? |
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19-08-2011, 07:11 PM | #15 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,199
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Quote:
if i had any other choice i would have taken it somewhere else but it was 3 on a Thursday arvo and i was working all day Friday so i just had to get it done as no one else could fit me in.
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Now Ford-less But good things are coming in 6 months
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19-08-2011, 06:13 PM | #16 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sidonee
Posts: 1,062
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THIS is what NSW Fair trading says about it
They should not have done any work outside of what you specified. I had a delaer try to charge me $45 for wiper blades and $30 labour to fit it. I did not pay as I told them it was not requested.
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Fordless..... |
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19-08-2011, 07:17 PM | #17 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,580
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As GT-E pointed out if they perform extra services that you have not requested then do not pay for it.
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21-08-2011, 12:21 AM | #18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,083
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21-08-2011, 02:32 AM | #19 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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Quote:
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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21-08-2011, 11:27 AM | #20 | |||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,083
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21-08-2011, 09:44 PM | #21 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,861
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19-08-2011, 07:39 PM | #22 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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not only do you have a claim with fair trading for the work they shouldn't have performed you have a claim for fixing their stuff up.
I see negativity to all ford service departments but this is a bit unfair. we have a few ford workshops around here ( all the one company though) and all are shoddy except one they are professional they listen to you and they doo small stuff for free ( I needed them to pop my stereo out recently and couldn't find my tools , no charge) funny thing is they are their smallest yard
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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20-08-2011, 02:14 AM | #23 | ||
E-series fan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Brisbane, Qld
Posts: 280
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I always take the precaution and clearly state that I want a call if there will be any surprise expenses. Shouldn't need to be said though really.
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E39 523i EF Fairmont |
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21-08-2011, 07:53 AM | #24 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North Coast, NSW
Posts: 4,012
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When I get work done on my car, I give the mechanic a written list
of what I want. My phone number is also on the page with a note asking to be called if there are any issues. I've never had any problems with this method, but I do use an independent mechanic and steer well clear of the local Ford dealer.
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21-08-2011, 09:14 PM | #25 | ||
Blue ~oval~ Blooded!!!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wondai QLD
Posts: 775
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at the risk of receiving death threats, here goes.....
i am a service adviser at my local ford dealership, and while a minimum rate may apply for diagnosis and repairs (it is upto the individual workshops), it is entirely unacceptable to be charged for unaurthorized work. at the time of delivering the vehicle you should have been presented with a Repair Order. essentially it is a document with your details, the vehicle dtails and an outline of all work to be arried out on the vehicle. you should have been asked to sign the RO, this gives them the authority to perform the work, and covers the workers in the case of accidents. this then forms the official contract to perform the job, and receive payment for the work performed. if you didn't sign it, technically you haven't authorized ANY work to be done. now, technically if all you wanted done was tighten oil line, that's what the RO should have stated...(can you recall what the RO had on it by any chance?? if they gave you an invoice -it is illegal not to- it should also have a summary of the work performed.), and that is all they have been authorized to do, anything further requires you to be contacted, the additional work explained, cost quoted, and permission to go ahead to be obtained. basically, if you didn't sign for it or give additional permission- you don't pay for it. furthermore if you didn't authorize it, you don't pay for it to be returned to how you left it. i would request a copy of the original Repair Order, they have to keep them on file for 5 years, so don't accept the old "it's already been filed" BS. check exactly what you have signed for, you may have a case to take it further. at the very least i would lodge a complaint with ford CRC (13FORD) so there is a process started, maybe others have lodged similar concerns. now that i'm outed, i'll be over here with all my friends.....
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Give me fuel, give me fire! 50th Anniv G6E Turbo in Sensation Cobalt blue 94 ED XR8 Sprint- resto/ project
Last edited by v8falconsrule; 21-08-2011 at 09:21 PM. |
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21-08-2011, 10:16 PM | #26 | ||
Blue ~oval~ Blooded!!!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wondai QLD
Posts: 775
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one of 2 things are likely happening here-
1- the dealer/ service department is a rogue and is trying to screw you for more money or 2- the dealer/service department doesn't have the necessary processes in place. i can assure you if this happened in my department and the boss got wind of it, he'd be on the phone within 2 minutes wanting an explaination- and not much gets past the boss. maybe a meeting with the dealer principal could be in order?
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Give me fuel, give me fire! 50th Anniv G6E Turbo in Sensation Cobalt blue 94 ED XR8 Sprint- resto/ project
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23-08-2011, 02:51 AM | #27 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,078
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Absolute joke some of these guys. Several phone calls and nearly 2 months later, I'm still waiting on Ford to fix the damage they did to my sunroof. Apparently " parts have been order " I bet if I was a paying customer, and it wasn't being fixed at their cost, the parts would be here, at no more than a weeks wait.
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23-08-2011, 09:12 AM | #28 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cattai, Sydney
Posts: 7,701
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For all you know the part could actually be coming from Japan or somewhere in a similar situation. I've had to deal with a similar problem on the dealer side of things where a part couldn't be found for 6 months!
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1992 EBII Fairmont Ghia 4.0l <---Click for the Gallery! Insta@mooneye_ghia White on bright red smoothies with thick whitewalls. Cruising around to some rockabilly |
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24-08-2011, 01:17 AM | #29 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,078
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26-08-2011, 09:23 PM | #30 | |||
Blue ~oval~ Blooded!!!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wondai QLD
Posts: 775
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you've clearly never worked for ford spare parts. the amount of NLA or ONR parts is incredible. irs bushes for au- obsolete, power steer hoses for ea- ed obsolete, heater tap assy for certain 06 bf 6cyl- obsolete.......... conversly i had a customer enquire about a roof vent for a 85 nissan caball...available AND a choice of colours. the lack of early model support from ford is one of the most frustrating parts of my job.
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Give me fuel, give me fire! 50th Anniv G6E Turbo in Sensation Cobalt blue 94 ED XR8 Sprint- resto/ project
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