Car Service Damage and Delivery Receipt?
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:24 pm
Would you leave $1000 in cash at a business without getting a receipt? How about $20,000 to $50,000?
It has become normal for car service centers (Mitsubishi and other) to expect that you will simply leave your pride and joy without so much as a numbered docket to confirm you have left a car at all. Order fish and chips or leave your coat, and you get a docket, but not your car! Ask for a receipt for your car next time and see what sort of reaction you get.
The other problem, which members in ClubCJ have already reported, is that damage is sometimes done to your car when left for servicing, and it can be difficult to prove that the damage was in fact done at their premises. (Even worse, if your car was to be stolen while left with the service agent, what proof would you have that you left it with them at all?)
For my last two CJ services, I have pre-printed a delivery form/receipt that includes:
1. My name and address.
2. The name and address of the business at which you are leaving the vehicle.
3. The details of the vehicle being left (rego, manufacturer, model, colour, etc).
4. The condition in which the car has been left comprising an itemised list of any existing damage, and reference to the fact that these damages have been photographed, and a declaration that no other damage exists.
5. A place for the person receiving your vehicle to sign and print their name and date, confirming that the above car has been left at their premises in the above condition.
The person receiving your vehicle will need to inspect your vehicle and add any other defects to the list that he finds before signing your delivery form.
When picking up your vehicle, they may want you to inspect your vehicle and sign your own delivery form again confirming that you have collected your vehicle without any additional damage to it.
I find it helps a lot to thoroughly clean and even detail your vehicle before leaving it for a service. This makes it much easier to see any damage, and also demonstrates to them how much you care for and about your car (as does requiring that they sign the above delivery form).
It is also important to photograph your car well each time before leaving for a service - many CJ owners would probably photograph their car after doing a thorough clean and detail in any case.
Having done this twice now, I can confirm that my local Mitsubishi service agent has obliged my requirements without a second thought. I got the impression from him that I was not the first to do this, though I don't know anyone else who does.
Anyway, I thought that since most ClubCJ members care about their Lancer, that they might like to know about my experience.
It has become normal for car service centers (Mitsubishi and other) to expect that you will simply leave your pride and joy without so much as a numbered docket to confirm you have left a car at all. Order fish and chips or leave your coat, and you get a docket, but not your car! Ask for a receipt for your car next time and see what sort of reaction you get.
The other problem, which members in ClubCJ have already reported, is that damage is sometimes done to your car when left for servicing, and it can be difficult to prove that the damage was in fact done at their premises. (Even worse, if your car was to be stolen while left with the service agent, what proof would you have that you left it with them at all?)
For my last two CJ services, I have pre-printed a delivery form/receipt that includes:
1. My name and address.
2. The name and address of the business at which you are leaving the vehicle.
3. The details of the vehicle being left (rego, manufacturer, model, colour, etc).
4. The condition in which the car has been left comprising an itemised list of any existing damage, and reference to the fact that these damages have been photographed, and a declaration that no other damage exists.
5. A place for the person receiving your vehicle to sign and print their name and date, confirming that the above car has been left at their premises in the above condition.
The person receiving your vehicle will need to inspect your vehicle and add any other defects to the list that he finds before signing your delivery form.
When picking up your vehicle, they may want you to inspect your vehicle and sign your own delivery form again confirming that you have collected your vehicle without any additional damage to it.
I find it helps a lot to thoroughly clean and even detail your vehicle before leaving it for a service. This makes it much easier to see any damage, and also demonstrates to them how much you care for and about your car (as does requiring that they sign the above delivery form).
It is also important to photograph your car well each time before leaving for a service - many CJ owners would probably photograph their car after doing a thorough clean and detail in any case.
Having done this twice now, I can confirm that my local Mitsubishi service agent has obliged my requirements without a second thought. I got the impression from him that I was not the first to do this, though I don't know anyone else who does.
Anyway, I thought that since most ClubCJ members care about their Lancer, that they might like to know about my experience.