$720 bill for service

GTENVY · 10-12-2011, 12:08 AM

Hey guys, just had a good friend of mine take her 2008 Ford Fiesta into a dealership for the 60,000 kms service. When she picked it up she was charged a whooping $720!!!

Is this ridiculous or are we both missing something.

I told her to contact Ford customer service and ask about the excessive cost of the service.

She has always had Fords but she is so so ****ed atm I doubt she'll probably buy the Ranger she was looking to upgrade too. Maybe she will when she calms down........

Dave_Obsession · 10-12-2011, 12:14 AM

A little more information about exactly what was done would be slightly helpful, otherwise who are we to judge whether it was worth it or not?? ie was it just the standard stuff or was there extra work performed...

MelsGolf · 10-12-2011, 12:14 AM

Well probably the first thing id do before getting all worked up and irrational about it is actually look at the bill, find out where the money was spent and establish if it was justified, maybe there were things needed that were unavoidable.
No point getting worked up over a number unless you understand what its made up of and if its unavoidable, even less rational to change a future purchase decision just on the cost of a service!!!!

Windsor342ci · 10-12-2011, 12:15 AM

In about 2004 I got quoted $800 for a service on my EF XR6. Inflation hasnt been to bad it appears

Donny · 10-12-2011, 12:20 AM

Anyone who takes their Fords to a Ford dealership for servicing that dosent have to (aka for leases, fleet or even warranty) gets what they deserve.

Sorry thats no help to her, but I used to work in a few dealerships for other brands and know the shennanigans that go on in a lot of them..

Her best bet if the cars out of warranty is to find a good mechanical place and go there, in the long run it will save her $$ and if she gets onto a good place she wont get a nasty surprise bill like that, the better places would phone her first an tell her whats up and go from there.

GTENVY · 10-12-2011, 12:25 AM

Well the issue is for any service dealer that they only complete the work requested and any work outside that scope the customer should be contacted. She only requested the 60,000 km service, that's it. She wasnt contacted or advised of anything extra.

I'll get a look at the receipt on sunday after my last night shift but it just seems to be getting more and more common. Especially if extra work besided the 60,000 kms service was needing to be done she should have definitely been contacted prior. I also cant imagine what extra work would need to be done on a car that is still under its new car warranty with only 60,000 kms on the clock.

Sunday will tell.

mik · 10-12-2011, 12:40 AM

guilty until proven innocent?

MelsGolf · 10-12-2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

guilty until proven innocent?

Sounds like it doesnt it, possibly a better option might be wait and see before condemming Ford or the Dealer without even knowing any details.
As much as people think us girls are a bit silly id rather get facts right first.

gcg2503 · 10-12-2011, 12:44 AM

Never had ANY issues with my Ford Dealership

I wont judge until I hear exactly what was done to her car

The lynch mobs are already out without any info.....

csv8 · 10-12-2011, 01:16 AM

The 60,000km service for a Fiesta is a B Service. The spark plugs, air and fuel filter are replaced. Southside have quoted me that for my Fez's next service, which is the 60,000km service. From Fords website...
Fords Capped Price service. Program covers all vehicles built since 2007 and up to 6 years old or 105,000 km whichever occurs first
Fiesta WQ All 1.6L Petrol
interval: 60,000km or 12 months from last service
myFord Maximum Capped Price = $495*
Added Bonus: Includes 12 mths myFord Standard Roadside Assistance (RRP $90)
Every retail or small business vehicle serviced under the my Ford Capped Price Servicing Program is covered
by a 12 months renewal of myFord Standard Roadside Assistance from your logbook service date.
* In the event that brake fluid needs to be replaced (every two years) an additional charge of $100 will apply or if the radiator coolant
needs to be replaced (between every 3 - 10 years depending on the model) an additional charge of $185 will apply.* Prices include GST.
Refer to terms and conditions at ford.com.au/myfordcps for full program details.
Published Quote Valid Until: 9/01/2012

I will ask Southside why they quoted me $720 when the Cap is $495 ?? interesting!!!

Justinxr6 · 10-12-2011, 01:19 AM

I had a 94 Honda that was quoted $2k for a service, lucky the xr6 has capped service ;)

**Mechan1k** · 10-12-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

The 60,000km service for a Fiesta is a B Service. The spark plugs, air and fuel filter are replaced. Southside have quoted me that for my Fez's next service, which is the 60,000km service. From Fords website...
Fords Capped Price service. Program covers all vehicles built since 2007 and up to 6 years old or 105,000 km whichever occurs first
Fiesta WQ All 1.6L Petrol
interval: 60,000km or 12 months from last service
myFord Maximum Capped Price = $495*
Added Bonus: Includes 12 mths myFord Standard Roadside Assistance (RRP $90)
Every retail or small business vehicle serviced under the my Ford Capped Price Servicing Program is covered
by a 12 months renewal of myFord Standard Roadside Assistance from your logbook service date.
* In the event that brake fluid needs to be replaced (every two years) an additional charge of $100 will apply or if the radiator coolant
needs to be replaced (between every 3 - 10 years depending on the model) an additional charge of $185 will apply.* Prices include GST.
Refer to terms and conditions at ford.com.au/myfordcps for full program details.
Published Quote Valid Until: 9/01/2012

I will ask Southside why they quoted me $720 when the Cap is $495 ?? interesting!!!

That's why there is a "*" next to the cap price ... there are additional fees if they see the need to replace the coolant and/or brake fluid ... hence the additional costs.

60,000km is probably a major service interval ... and other things were probably found that needed doing (brake rotors/pads ... or other ancilliaries).

2011G6E · 10-12-2011, 02:47 AM

Coming up soon on the 30,000km service for our G6E...I'll be interested to see if this time the dealership knows anything about the fixed price servicing, as last time (even though there was an advertising card on the front desk spruiking it) they didn't seem to know anything about it...

Either that or I'll just take it out to Emerald and go to Ultratune...

Rodge · 10-12-2011, 09:09 AM

Could easily be brake pads or rotors, coolant change, brake fluid change or any combination of the above as well as spark plugs, air and fuel filters e.t.c.

Thread should have started with a copy of the invoice to have any initial validity.

edwin · 10-12-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

Could easily be brake pads or rotors, coolant change, brake fluid change or any combination of the above as well as spark plugs, air and fuel filters e.t.c.

Thread should have started with a copy of the invoice to have any initial validity.

I agree, our 'third' car, a crappy on 1997 Mazda MX-6 was taken to our local trusty mechanic to service. It was $900 or so dollar. Major service plus the brakes and rotors had to be changed.

Brakes and rotors are massive killers. On my WRX it set me back $900 but on the BF2 GT it was $1500.

**Dave R** · 10-12-2011, 09:16 AM

If they didn't ring to ask for permission, surely she would have given them permission when the car was originally dropped in (perhaps accidentally?) to complete anything else that needed to be done?

KPCresta · 10-12-2011, 09:17 AM

Mechan1k & Rodge are spot on.

No use speculating about the service when none of us have even sighted the invoice.

And it's not as if it were in the four digit region either...

jrfttf · 10-12-2011, 09:26 AM

any further info on what was done on the service?????

AWD Chaser · 10-12-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTENVY

I also cant imagine what extra work would need to be done on a car that is still under its new car warranty with only 60,000 kms on the clock.

bwahahahahahaha

jpd80 · 10-12-2011, 10:06 AM

Here's an interesting exercise for new car buyers:
The sales person will often not take a prospective buyer around and introduce them to the service manager,
this is the perfect time to ask about the costs of servicing the car at the prescribed intervals, ask the question
and then roll your eves back when they let the cat out of the bag, you're joking, I'm not paying that much.
See what happens, you might just get guaranteed low cost services for the first three years.
We did with my wife's previous Rav4, IIRC $159 capped services for firsst 3 years.

csv8 · 10-12-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Coming up soon on the 30,000km service for our G6E...I'll be interested to see if this time the dealership knows anything about the fixed price servicing, as last time (even though there was an advertising card on the front desk spruiking it) they didn't seem to know anything about it...

Either that or I'll just take it out to Emerald and go to Ultratune...

Don't go to Ultratune !!! past experiences aren't good.

Cheech · 10-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Need to see the invoice before lynching dealer.

FYI try owning an Alfa. 120k service = $2200. And thats from an independant specialist.

Justinxr6 · 10-12-2011, 11:21 AM

Mental note, don't buy an Alfa!

MelsGolf · 10-12-2011, 11:34 AM

60,000k service on Golf $890.00, which included pollen filter, fluid flush treatment, disc machine and pads.

ratter · 10-12-2011, 11:49 AM

many capped price services can vary to the scheduled services in the book, so ask before hand what you are getting. It is not uncommon that some cars will require a service that may cost over $1000 to be done by the book with no extras added.

05_ENFORCER · 10-12-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justinxr6

Mental note, don't buy an Alfa!

BMW 5 series services hurt too

MelsGolf · 10-12-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratter

many capped price services can vary to the scheduled services in the book, so ask before hand what you are getting. It is not uncommon that some cars will require a service that may cost over $1000 to be done by the book with no extras added.

Thats correct, fixed price only covers the basics, also you cant expect wear and tear items to be covered under the fixed price quote.

malazn mafia · 10-12-2011, 12:20 PM

Hmm.. I requested a diff oil change at ford with LSD friction modifier. My service bill suddenly became $800. When I asked why, the bloke pointed to the $450 diff oil change on the invoice. Is this normal or was I taken for a ride? I'm hoping this 'special Ford diff oil' is better than the off the shelf stuff where I get diff chatter after 6000kms.

thommy33 · 10-12-2011, 12:24 PM

It pays to shop around phone few dealers and get quotes they change from dealer to dealer or a good local mech

BA-XT · 10-12-2011, 12:41 PM

I second the remark about Ultra Tune. Worst service ever. It was my wifes VT. missed out on leaky radiator, warped disks and worn pads (I found these after the pads went down to bare metal after 5,000km and the leak got worse).

Took it to my mechanic. much better.