Service record logging

[Manchesterme]

Hi,
Can anyone offer a solution to the following problem?

I have had my car serviced at a local garage who I have used for years but because they are not vat registered they can not log on to the Mercedes Service database to record the service. This married with the fact you can not get a service book anymore means I now have a 6-month-old car with an incomplete service record. The Dealer isn't being helpful either. Prior to purchasing the car I asked if I could get it serviced at my local garage and the salesman said that wasn't a problem.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[markjay]

Keep the garage receipt. Ideally it would list the part numbers to show that original Mercedes Benz filters were used, and that the the engine oil meets MB Spec Sheet 229.xx etc.

Also, it should state something like 'Service carried-out according to Mercedes Benz Service Schedule A'.

The above will be useful in the event of a warranty claim (this is because MB have to honor the new car warranty even if the services were carried-out by specialist, as long as the service was carried-out to MB's schedule and using original MB parts).

In addition, you can buy a blank service book off eBay - either an original MB service book or a generic one - and get it stamped like in the old days.

This will be useful when you sell the car as it will put the buyer's mind at ease.

 

[markjay]

E.g.:

Mercedes Service Book Not Duplicate All Models Geunuine All Models | eBay

MERCEDES SERVICE HISTORY BOOK, BRAND NEW & GENUINE, NOT DUPLICATE, ALL MODELS< | eBay

Etc.

 

[Manchesterme]

Keep the garage receipt. Ideally it would list the part numbers to show that original Mercedes Benz filters were used, and that the the engine oil meets MB Spec Sheet 229.xx etc.

Also, it should state something like 'Service carried-out according to Mercedes Benz Service Schedule A'.

The above will be useful in the event of a warranty claim (this is because MB have to honor the new car warranty even if the services were carried-out by specialist, as long as the service was carried-out to MB's schedule and using original MB parts).

In addition, you can buy a blank service book off eBay - either an original MB service book or a generic one - and get it stamped like in the old days.

This will be useful when you sell the car as it will put the buyer's mind at ease.

Thanks for that Markjay.

 

[James Copeland]

I always thought that garages had to be VAT registered for MB to honour warranty claims

 

[BlackC55]

I always thought that garages had to be VAT registered for MB to honour warranty claims

I thought the same as you to be honest but I've just had a really quick google and I cant see anything concrete that says that is the case.

I should think that as long as genuine parts have been used/serviced to manufacturer's schedule and that is stated on the invoice, that should be good enough you would like to think.

 

[James Copeland]

I thought that it was an EU ruling. Warrant Direct for example only deal with VAT registered businesses.
Can carry out more checks on VAT registered business and their accounts should be properly audited and
HMRC don't take many prisoners these days which in effect is another check.

 

[BlackC55]

Just copied and pasted a few bits here from what I had a read of. Its not totally clear but doesn't specifically say it HAS to be a vat registered business, when you are talking about keep the 3 year warranty up. We deal with a fair few aftermarket warranty companies here and they often do specify that it has to be done by a VAT registered business. strange one!

'Under EU Block Exemption legislation, which has been around for many years now, a manufacturer cannot force a buyer to have their car serviced by their official dealership network, and cannot refuse to honour a new car warranty simply because a car has been serviced elsewhere. However, a manufacturer does have the right to set a servicing schedule which must be adhered to.'

'As a car owner, you have the right to take your car to any licenced garage or mechanic for servicing, but you must ensure that the servicing is carried out exactly as per the manufacturer’s servicing schedule. This means servicing must be undertaken on time and must use any genuine parts or lubricants specified by the manufacturer.'

Natacha

 

[Deleted member 6183]

How can a 6 month old car have any service record?

 

[markjay]

Just copied and pasted a few bits here from what I had a read of. Its not totally clear but doesn't specifically say it HAS to be a vat registered business, when you are talking about keep the 3 year warranty up. We deal with a fair few aftermarket warranty companies here and they often do specify that it has to be done by a VAT registered business. strange one!

'Under EU Block Exemption legislation, which has been around for many years now, a manufacturer cannot force a buyer to have their car serviced by their official dealership network, and cannot refuse to honour a new car warranty simply because a car has been serviced elsewhere. However, a manufacturer does have the right to set a servicing schedule which must be adhered to.'

'As a car owner, you have the right to take your car to any licenced garage or mechanic for servicing, but you must ensure that the servicing is carried out exactly as per the manufacturer’s servicing schedule. This means servicing must be undertaken on time and must use any genuine parts or lubricants specified by the manufacturer.'

Natacha

Very vague indeed.

What's a 'licenced garage' anyway? I don't think car servicing is a regulated industry in the UK. Nor is there are particular license that is required to run a business in general. I do understand that they want to make a distinction between Trade and DIY, but I think there's no quick/easy way to do that.

Obviously being VAT registered puts the garage firmly in the Trade camp, but then again there are very many small businesses who are proper Trade and yet are not VAT registered.

 

[whitenemesis]

How can a 6 month old car have any service record?

It's covered the required mileage to the first service within the 6 months?

 

[Deleted member 6183]

It's covered the required mileage to the first service within the 6 months?

Good point.

 

[whitenemesis]

Just go through the site https://caranalytics.com, you will see plenty of information about your car

No need, I have all the information on my car thank you.

 

[Merc89]

VAT is related to turnover beyond which a company has to be registered. I think the current threshold is £85,000. It has nothing to do with technical skills or competency.

1989 SL 300
2015 SL 400

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Using VAT registration is a pretty blunt tool but there isn't much else available which is easily measured.

Nearly all moderately sized garages and above will be registered, those that are not will be 1 man bands.

 

[Merc89]

Agreed

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Using VAT registration is a pretty blunt tool but there isn't much else available which is easily measured.

Nearly all moderately sized garages and above will be registered, those that are not will be 1 man bands.

Yes, you can see why the do it.
It's easy to work out how quickly a small organisation would have to apply for registration.

In saying that though it would seem that not all manufacturers require the garage to be registered to allow them access to the correct service tools.

Very recently had an instance where this very thing was relevant.
Oil service on a 1~2 year old Fabia £174 at Skoda main dealer.
Asked a new garage (2 master techs from VW Audi who had setup) for a price and told £119.^
I asked plus or inc. VAT, they said inc. VAT.

Dropped car off, waited 20 minutes beyond their opening time for someone to turn up (09:20).
No apology from person on reception for being late, no sign of technicians at this time.

Picked car up in afternoon, invoiced £119, asked where VAT number is and told "we are not VAT registered".
So cost ended up 20% more, if I'd have known they were only £26 cheaper I'd have stuck with main dealer.
Needless to say I wont be back at these guys, gave them a go and they blew it in more ways than one.

 

[markjay]

The OP does not seem too bothered regarding the loss of the new car 3-year warranty (though personally I would be, if I were in his place).

He was asking only about the service record.

The simple answer is that not every non-franchised garage can add entries to the MB digital service book (not even VAT-registered ones), only MB independent specialists that signed-up to the scheme can do that.

So on the premise that the OP's garage does not have access to the MB computer system, then a good alternative option would be to have the services stamped in a paper service book (that can be purchased cheaply off eBay).

As for the warranty... without positive proof that the service was carried-out using original MB parts and to MB's service schedule, it may be difficult to claim on certain type of faults (i.e. anything that would have been checked during an A or B service), but the warranty should still be valid for other unrelated items e.g. (say) a keyfob that failed or a leaking windscreen etc.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Yes, you can see why the do it.
It's easy to work out how quickly a small organisation would have to apply for registration.

In saying that though it would seem that not all manufacturers require the garage to be registered to allow them access to the correct service tools.

Very recently had an instance where this very thing was relevant.
Oil service on a 1~2 year old Fabia £174 at Skoda main dealer.
Asked a new garage (2 master techs from VW Audi who had setup) for a price and told £119.^
I asked plus or inc. VAT, they said inc. VAT.

Dropped car off, waited 20 minutes beyond their opening time for someone to turn up (09:20).
No apology from person on reception for being late, no sign of technicians at this time.

Picked car up in afternoon, invoiced £119, asked where VAT number is and told "we are not VAT registered".
So cost ended up 20% more, if I'd have known they were only £26 cheaper I'd have stuck with main dealer.
Needless to say I wont be back at these guys, gave them a go and they blew it in more ways than one.

If they arent vat registerd where did the 20% more come from?

 

[pmcgsmurf]

If they arent vat registerd where did the 20% more come from?

They quoted me £119 inc. VAT which is a net cost to our company of £99.17.
Main dealer was £174 so £145 net, if they had told me "we are not VAT registered" I wouldn't have used them.
Instead they used the words "including VAT" instead of "we are not VAT registered".

Had a similar thing about a year ago where another place tried to tell us prices included VAT, trying to explain to them they can't charge VAT or claim to have prices including VAT when they are not registered was like talking to aliens.