lionel a.

The Saga of using a Car Servicing Discount Web Site.
Now I live in a small rural village Near Kettering Northamptonshire and since my car, a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is no longer covered by Local Garages, I googled "Local PHEV Servicing Garages".
Google suggested I try Servicing Stop as a Booking Firm.
Their Website requested my Car Registration Number and correctly identified my make and model being an EV.
They Quoted for both Interim and Full Service and as an extra option also a MOT.
I opted for the Full Package of Service with MOT and being a disabled pensioner was pleased to accept that the "Local Garage" would arrange collection and delivery on the agreed day.
Now here is the first problem. The Garage that does the work is not disclosed until after you pay and a confirmation email sent.
The allocated garage for mine was in RUGBY Leicestershire. 50 miles away! Not exactly local! But the booking firm state in the small print that any cancellation will result in a charge?
So the CATCH is as follows.
The Booking Firm takes the money.
The allocated garage puts the car on the ramp and does some quick checks to fill in the Tick Boxes in accordance with the "Interim or FULL service agreement.
There is a clause that states there could be additional charges for "Special Oil" (low ash would be regarded as special).
The garage will then continue to do the MOT test if that is required?
Once the exercise has been completed by the Garage they send the results off to the Booking Firm.
The Booking Firm then get High Pressure Sales to ring the MARK (that's you) and nicely tell you that you car has/has not passed the MOT however "as per the contract" there are extra charges, ALWAYS because of the oil clause.
Now for the clever bit, "we also have some ADVISORY notices that we recommend be done now whilst the car is in the workshop"!
These will be worded carefully according to the well used script. In my case "a car of this age should have 1) brake fluid replaced. 2) anti freeze replaced 3) a full engine flush etc, plus any other options they can think up.
Now comes the RANSOM bit! Depending on how you hold out they send an email with a payment link to pay for the extras, and there are always at least one extra because of the oil! The link includes a short warning that any delay in payment may affect the timed return of the car (held until the funds are in their account).
Back to me having refused all but the "special oil" I waited the return of my car between the agreed CONTRACT time of 4 - 6PM. And waited, and waited etc. By 7:30 I was in a panic as none of the contact numbers were answering. Now the mind goes into every option case from they have crashed and burned on the M1 to it is already dismantled and shipped out.
Time to act with a few chosen words to every web site and email address that was available and no they were not complements. So with the new day comes the call from the Booking Firm manager explaining how there was no excuse why the Service Garage had failed to return the car last night and he would get it returned ASAP now.
Well 13:20 hrs it arrives. "Nothing to do with me mate I am only a contract driver they called me today" I restrain myself and enquire "have they reset the service light and stamped the book?" Yes all done! I check the dip stick and comment that whilst the level is correct I have no way of checking the quality? All other fluids are where they should be but then again they were before it went anyway.
I check my car computer which confirms the collection and delivery mileage and also that 3 gallons of fuel has been consumed.
Further checks of the on board computer show that whilst the Service Warning Light has been reset none of the other settings have been reprogrammed. My Dashboard Display keeps telling me that a Service will be required in 400 miles!
The paperwork required for my Service History consists of a Tatty Photocopy of an MOT certificate and some emailed PDF files listing the car as a Petrol Outlander and no mention of any EV checks or testing?
Gutted.