I've run the Prius for almost 12 months and today it's had its 30K mile service.

No problems with the car at all and it does what is says on the tin, but there's one thing niggling me...

Including today, the car will have been serviced three times. The first two invoices for the work included a sum - albeit small - for screen-wash. I can't recall the situation at the first service, but at the second I know the washer was full as I had added the Rain-X additive and filled the screen-wash only the evening before the work at the dealer.

This morning I topped the washer bottle to the brim. I've just had the car returned and sure enough there's a charge on the invoice for screen-wash - the grand sum of 90p plus VAT. This nickel-and-dime attitude really pisses me off - and IMHO it's fraud.

It raises the question what else is charged for that isn't actually done...

 

I have asked a few dealers this and in one case I took pictures of the full washer bottle outside thier premises (with sign in background) before I handed over the keys and then produced this in evidence and queried the bill.

IIRR - the service schedule has predetermied items in it like oil, filter, washer stuff. However the disconnect comes from mechanic not stating "unused / unnecessary" and the tempalte being amended accordingly prior to invoice being issued.

I did point out that this caused me to query the work done and they looked quite bemused by this. However the next time there was a check done and the invoice was correct. Honda have tried this with me and I have pointed out the "customer provided own fluids" on the worksheet and the invoice template was amended there and then, but that was a fair bit more than £0.90.

Could be fraud but I am sure if you pointed it would be error on non-amends / cross checking of work expected versus actually done / miscommunication from mechanic pit to office which can be understandable. Be interesting to see what thier resposne would be to you though.

Or of course they ARE theiving so and so's who should be reported ....

 

I've just called the Service Manager (on my mobile, so the call cost will be more than the screen-wash charge...); apparently the mechanic managed to get some screen-wash into it after they tested the washers...

My feeling is it's systematic charging of minor incidentals which probably never hit the radar of most customers - but over a year, the small sums will mount-up quite nicely. It's only by chance I'd filled up the sreeen-wash prior to the previous service and looked at the invoice in more detail than usual.

I wonder what the £9.85 plus VAT 'Environmental Charge' is for...

 

Oil/other fluids disposal

 

you've reminded me that a dealer did exactly the same thing to me about three months ago

I meant to write and point out that

a) there was no room for any more fluid and
b) they must use the most expensive washer fluid on the planet

I guess their get out will be that they give the washers and wipers a thorough testing

but I can see that doing this to say 2,000 customers a year is a handy contribution to the Christmas party

 

arent fluids part of the service item anyway? ie: thats what your paying £120 for the X year service, and £400 for Y year service?

 

I wonder if my clients would be happy with a charge on their invoices for the disposal of the 'fluid' created by the guys in our studio who work on their projects...

The waste oil from garages is sold for a tidy-sum too of course.

 

I imagine it's already factored in to their bills

I imagine similar amounts of "fluid" are generated by car mechanics too, and even more from the sales staff...


Don't blame Toyota, blame the EU for these types of charge - similar to what you have to pay every time you change tyres.

 

The BMW 318d is more economical?

Don't worry, it bugs a lot of company car drivers in our fleet too.

 

Had the same at Howards Honda in Weston Super Mud.
They got both barrels from me too, cheecky gits

Excuse was that they 'test the washers' as part of the service so have to refil them after
Yeah right.
Its going to cost you more than a quid now though as I'll wait whilst you rework the bill and have another 'free' coffee.

Had a few services at VW and latterly BMW in the town, never had this happen.