For the Russian car market, 2022 was marked by the departure of most official dealers, the rise of parallel imports and a shift from a more transparent primary to a less organized secondary market. Contacting an unofficial service and repair service has remained for many the only real chance to ensure the performance of their car.
Here’s what a motorist should know and consider when communicating with workshop specialists, and what to look out for so as not to waste time and money.
Expert advice
Alexander Prikhodko, Development Director at CardanBalance:
– There are two documents that today help to regulate the relationship between the customer and service employees – Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 290 of 04/11/2001 and Law of the Russian Federation “On Protection of Consumer Rights” No. 2300 – I of 02/07/1992. Focusing on these two documents will help you track the integrity of the organization as well as the quality and process of the repair itself.
Having arrived at the car service, identified and described a specific problem, specialists must diagnose the car system, where the possible problem is located. break. This will help confirm or disprove guesses about the cause of the failure. If the check requires the installation or dismantling of additional structural elements, specialists can give a personal discount on them as a bonus, subject to subsequent repairs in the same service.
Many car owners believe that car repairs should be done solely under their personal control. By law, customers can actually be on the territory of the service. However, they have no right to intervene. in the work of employees of the company, and must comply without fail with safety regulations. In production workshops, for example, in rooms with turning, milling, balancing and other types of machines, they have the right not to let you in, as this is a direct violation of safety regulations.
Additional Warranties
However, it is not always convenient to be present at the service, especially if the work is expected to be large-scale and lengthy. In this case, the guarantee of peace of mind can be the preparation, in addition to the work order, of a certificate of acceptance. Many car owners ignore this document. And in vain!
It describes the completeness of the vehicle sent for repair, all external damage and defects it has. It is important to include in the law a list of spare parts and consumables that the car owner provides to repairers.
How to pick up a car after repair
The completion of the repair in the service is optionally accompanied by the issuance of an acceptance certificate. It indicates the actual volume of services performed by specialists, all damage to the vehicle incurred during the repair is recorded.
Often car owners neglect the preparation of this document. However, it is he who can really help to prove in court the fact of poor quality car maintenance services by the service.
If the repair is of poor quality
Knowledge of art. 28 of the Consumer Protection Act will help you solve the problem of delaying repairs. You can safely assign service specialists a new deadline for the performance of services, while reasonably demanding a reduction in their costs, and collect a fine from them for every day and even an hour of delay. In some cases, you can even achieve a refusal to fulfill the contract and refund the full amount paid under the contract.
Helpful advice
In order for the car repair to be successful, it is not enough just to choose the right service. It is imperative that you know and be able to defend your rights as a consumer at every stage of the work carried out by specialists, and in some situations, including being flexible and waiting a little longer than usual for the car to move again.