According to Dewald Ranft, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), many elements can impact your car service experience. He highlights 10 points of importance that customers should be aware of.
- Booking and cancellations: Workshops may not be able to book your vehicle in on the same day and may require a few days’ notice. If you decide to go elsewhere, be courteous and cancel your booking to free up space for other customers.
- Service limitations: A service booking is specifically for routine maintenance and does not include additional repairs. Make separate bookings or discuss additional faults upfront to ensure enough time is allocated.
- Organisation and honesty: Arrive with all necessary paperwork, remove valuables from your car, and provide a complete history of the car’s issues, including previous repairs done by other workshops.
- Fuel level: It’s important to ensure your car has enough fuel for the workshop to properly diagnose any issues or conduct test drives.
- Battery requirement: If your car is not running, bring a working battery as workshops typically do not have spare ones available, and it is unethical to use another customer’s battery.
- Providing your own parts: Most workshops do not allow customers to bring their own parts due to liability and potential delays if incorrect parts are provided.
- Warranty claims: Familiarise yourself with the details of your aftermarket warranty policy, including coverage, claiming procedures, and provisions for parts. If your claim is rejected, you may be responsible for the expense of assessment.
- Anti-theft devices: Inform the workshop if your car has any aftermarket alarm systems, anti-hijack buttons, or anti-theft wheel nuts.
- Diagnostic testing and delays: Finding a problem can take time, and diagnostic testing may come with a cost unless otherwise specified. Reputable workshops will keep you informed of any delays.
- Prompt collection: Try to collect your car as soon as the service is complete, as not all workshops have overnight storage space and a storage fee may apply if available.
“As you can see, there are many ways customers can ensure their service goes smoothly. In a busy workshop environment, the more prepared you are for the day your car is booked in, the better for you, for the workshop and for other customers,” Ranft concludes.
Source: Cathy Findley PR
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