Service Contract - a rip off?

[Jimbob]

I have a service contract and pay monthly. I took it out at my last service. I went in today to book a service and they told me it was too early according to their computer??? (they knew my previous mileage records).

They want me to pay £88 towards the service because it's early. I thought I paid monthly for a fixed number of services so any discrepancy comes out in the wash! But no, they want more money now and will presumably knock it off at the end. They never told me that when I signed!!!

So......they want to be permanently in funds gaining interest and I have to be permanently in credit with them!

Seems to me this is win win for them - holding money and captive business.
Lose lose for me - always out of pocket and can't go elsewhere.

Am I wrong in thinking this is a con?

Jimbob

[gar074]

It only works financially if the total value of the servicing you receive exceeds the total amount you pay under the contract, allowing for the fact that you are effectively using them as a savings bank at 0% interest for the duration of the contract (and of course, unlike a bank, you're unable to access your 'savings').

Just you try getting a refund at the end of the contract for services that you've paid for but haven't in fact used (eg because you paid extra for an 'early' service). I reckon they'll tell you to go whistle, and point to some small print that says that the instalments are not refundable, and that you should have claimed your services at the specified service intervals.

It's how they make their money.

[Jimbob]

Thanks Gar

Suspect you are right there. So it's not just me who doesn't like it?

Jimbob

[Tony DS3]

Why don't you just take it back at a later date and save your self £88 ........Let them tell you when it needs a service

[Jimbob]

Why don't you just take it back at a later date and save your self £88 ........Let them tell you when it needs a service

like to get it done on the mileage when due rather than when their computer thinks I should have covered the mileage!

Jimbob

[Dangerousfish]

like to get it done on the mileage when due rather than when their computer thinks I should have covered the mileage!

Jimbob

Never had a problem with BCC in Bolton Jim, get yourself down there and try and book it in with them.

[Bigfeet]

like to get it done on the mileage when due rather than when their computer thinks I should have covered the mileage!

Jimbob

For the warranty it needs to be done within the mileage parameters, so remind them of that!

[tez]

Like all service rules it's done by milage or date which ever comes first and as you've done the milage before the due date they have to do it or your warranty will be void.