Servicing Stop Still at it. (2025)

20 March 2024 at 6:27PM

20 March 2024 at 6:45PM

20 March 2024 at 6:52PM

Misubishi no longer have UK dealership presence, thats the problem.

Best you can do is find out which dealer used to sell them and see if they will still service the marque.

Bigwheels1111 Posts: 2,877 Forumite

20 March 2024 at 10:19PM

You caused the issue yourself, did you not look at reviews.
Same goes for kwikfit, National tyres etc.
Highway robbery is the general review I see.
Don’t get me wrong, I use Peugeot main dealers for my Peugeot 5008.
Even they try to rip you off, oil flush. Ha.
Does the service manual recommend it, No. Not mentioned at all.
Oil flush the same, if car is serviced as per mileage or term ie 12 months it should never be needed.
Most services state, check this, check that, change oil & filter, that’s it.
On my second service the main dealer did not change the pollen filters as are a pig to do.
I called them on it only for the department manager the swear blind it was done.
In front of the manager and fitter I removed the filter and said, you fitted the mann biofunctional cabin filters did you ?
Back the car went, complained and got £100.

These any good.
https://northampton.mitsubishi-motors.co.uk/

Mildly_Miffed Posts: 1,200 Forumite

21 March 2024 at 8:52AM

Servicing Stop is no more than a website that any garage can sign up to, which passes on leads.

https://www.servicingstop.co.uk/join_our_garage_network.html

So the question is why a garage would feel the need to sign up to such a marketing front-end, when most garages with a good local reputation are fully booked...?

There's one obvious answer. They're the ones that aren't busy, because they have a terrible local reputation.

26 October 2024 at 12:50PM

hydraman said:

This is the SAGA of failing to read reviews!!!
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.

I stupidly used Servicing Stop as i needed the convenience of a pick up and drop off
On return my car was damaged inside and out by the garage, they took photos prior to pick up so it was easy to prove
Servicing Stop have over charged me - as per the 'ransom note above' considerably according to the local garage
I have taken up the dispute with my credit card company which im so glad i used
So, as i paid Servicing Stop is my issue with them or with the garage?
What are my rights?
The garage promised to call me with a date for work to be done but i really dont want to let them have my car again, can i insist on a local body shop doing the repairs?
Feeling very stupid but determined to not allow them to get away with it!!!

26 October 2024 at 1:25PM

Sounds like a shoddy broker service (they nearly all are and should generally be avoided).

However, brake fluid should be changed every 2 years and clutch fluid every 4 years, so where these due and you have just ignored the service schedule?

Why didn't you just take it toClose Mitsubishi,https://www.closemotorcompany.co.uk/. They are the authorised Mitsubishi service centre near you.

jonathon Posts: 751 Forumite

26 October 2024 at 3:05PM

peter_batty Posts: 8 Forumite

7 February at 7:25PM

Some very interesting comments including scathing ones from those who are too clever to fall for a scam. Or are they? Not sure why they would search a site like this unless they have experience to pass on.
Anyway, the fact is that SS is a scam, that the "additional" work they imply is needed for safety, MOT or whatever other reason isn't really necessary at all and, as I've proven, isn't undertaken by the allotted garage (who are contractually forbidden by SS to discuss any work and only supply the MOT doc.) at all.
In my instance (aged 82) having discovered when checking my documents that my MOT was overdue. Being a law abiding citizen and not wanting to incur legal problems I immediately started the process of identifying and contacting local garages but, as it was after 6 PM my options were limited. SS was offering a 24 hour service and, I foolishly contacted them. the initial contact was smooth and simple and offered a speedy resolution to my problem.
The car was collected after 24 hours and returned on the same day. I received the "statutory" phone call advising me of work needed or recommended occurred within a couple of hours and (having noticed terms in SS's T's & C's that the garage had a legal responsibility not to allow the car to be driven away) I accepted the work and cost involved.
When the car was returned I asked the driver if everything had been done and the MOT passed.
He seemed bemused at the question so I advised him of the additional cost from SS ergo £320 which with the service and MOT original quote came to circa £500. Blimey, he said, we only charged them £190.
I don't take kindly to rip off Britain and immediately put a plan of action in place
The additionals, which hadn't been that clearly understood in the tel conversation, were for special oil, engine flush and full brake fluid service. On checking my previous service of 12 months earlier I noted the full brake fluid service had been done then. The manufacturers recommendation is every 2 years.
I contacted the Ford dealership where I had bought the car explaining my concerns and they offered a free health check. The outcome was that the brake fluid hadn't been changed or even topped up. The oil appeared to have been changed but there was no way in knowing what type had been used. Likewise, as the oil was new there was no way of determining that the engine had been flushed. Engine flushing, though desirable at some stage in the vehicles lifetime would only be necessary if the oil wasn't changed on an annual service allowing dirt ingress to build up.
The dealership provided detailed multipoint checklist (which demonstrated that a normal service had occurred) along with a video of the checks undertaken and demonstrated the bleed nipples hadn't been touched.
Armed with this information I contacted my bank to advise them of my fears SS were scamming and to raise other customers awareness by flagging SS's practices up.
In addition I informed the police, CAB/Trading standards and a fraud awareness agency referred by the bank.I also contacted HMRC in the event VAT (which I had been charged) was being avoided
I have no information as to what actions any of the above took other than the bank involving Mastercard to make a claim-back.
After 6 months I have just had the "additional" charges reimbursed into my account.
I fully endorse the comments with regard to checking reviews first but, as anybody looking on the browser which led to the MSE forum web page, there are also reviews purportedly highly recommending SS.
My error was not researching all reviews first. I did once the scam had unfolded and, surprise surprise the scam "additionals" was a reoccurring complaint.
Sadly, nobody else appears to have had my determination but I would strongly recommend they revisit.
I'm not as convinced as others that the garages are directly in collusion as much as they are tied to a contract of silence.The fact that SScall the customer within an hour or so of the collection giving the impressionthey are the garage calling with helpful - specialist advice and asking for aTrustpilot recommendation obviously cons more than it doesn’t.
I fell for it