FTO AUSTRALIA

The interior door handle on my wifes 2005 XR6 Falcon came off in my hand the other month - all I did was try to shut the door not test it to destruction or anything (the connectors have snapped in about 4 places).
I only bought the car in March and paid for the extended premium warranty with the ford dealer (it's their own not fords extended warranty) so i've had the car into the dealer to check it out and they said a few things:
1) They won't fix it under warranty as it's not covered - I showed them the bit in the booklet where it says what's covered under body and interior 'Door Handles & Rods'
she said it's not a door handle it's 'trim'. My response to that was 'you get in a car and what do you shut the door with - the trim or the handle?' She called the manager over who said no it's not a handle it's trim and trim isn't covered, nothing we can do, we've had a few of these break and it's definately trim.
2) They said they can't fix it as the 'trim' item is obsolete, I will have to take it to a specialist trim place.

I thought no way is this trim, i'm going to phone Ford and see what they call it - they said 'trim', what the hell is going on???

So what's my options now, just take it on the chin and get the super glue out or do I have any rights to fight this?

Contact Dept of Fair Trading and register a complaint. Then call them back and give them one last opportunity to fix it. And never buy Ford again

Maybe contact the ACCC. I think I remember something a while back where they were looking to crack down on these dodgy in house warranty scams.

Shane001 wrote:Contact Dept of Fair Trading and register a complaint. Then call them back and give them one last opportunity to fix it. And never buy Ford again

Maybe contact the ACCC. I think I remember something a while back where they were looking to crack down on these dodgy in house warranty scams.

Thanks Shane, do I sound justified in being a bit peed off or am I just getting mixed up in terminology, I mean would you call it a handle or trim?

It's a handle

Maybe also contact Todat Tonight / ACA

A little bit of negative publicity for the fucks wouldn't hurt

Dept of Fair Trading. The cost of a door handle vs what Fair Trading can do to them is a no brainer, you'll get your handle. It's just a hassle it has to come to that.

Bennoz wrote:Dept of Fair Trading. The cost of a door handle vs what Fair Trading can do to them is a no brainer, you'll get your handle. It's just a hassle it has to come to that.

Proceed with the above as Shane and Bennoz have said.

They will 'handle' the process for you.

What a load of crock.

Yep, youll get your handle. One of my work colleagues had a bingle a month or so ago. He drove car home as it wasnt a bad accident and managed to blow the head gasket. Insurance company fixed the bodywork under claim but not engine. They said it wasnt part of the accident. He went fair trading and they have now done a complete about face. They said to take to the repairer of his choice for a full rebuild....

So it can work for you.

Thanks guys I shall do as you say, got nothing to lose.

Yep, as soon as they hear that you went to Fair Trading, they'll handle the situation (Pun intended).

You're too late sooty, I made that pun already.

Astron_Boy wrote:You're too late sooty, I made that pun already.

Don't be hatin' playa! You're just jealous of my superior level of skin pigmentation which renders me almost invulnerable to sunburns and white people jokes, admit it.

Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Game up sooty man.

IF you can't handle this competition, then I suggest you get a grip.
The situations needs a steady piece to ensure the door becomes closed on this case.

...... another bored night.

You should ask them where they have hidden the handle Rob, it must be there somewhere or you couldn't open the door

Astron_Boy wrote:
Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Game up sooty man.

IF you can't handle this competition, then I suggest you get a grip.
The situations needs a steady piece to ensure the door becomes closed on this case.

...... another bored night.

Go Team Rocket!!!

I went back to the dealers today and spoke to the service advisor that I saw before (previously thought he was the manager), he said it's not covered but I asked him to make sure so he phoned up headoffice.
He actually called it a handle this time!
They said yes it's covered, 'what the handle that attaches to the trim as i've been told it's not covered?', 'yes it's covered' they said so he said he will put a job ticket in.
Then there was a bit more discussion between him and headoffice and he went on the computer and said 'oh right, will have to speak to my DP then'.

He came off the phone and said my warranty is void as the conditions are that I have to have it serviced every 6 months with them (which I did only last month - only bought the car end of march) or every 10000kms which ever is sooner. I was 3000km's over when I had it serviced so he said the warranty policy is cancelled.
Said 'I will have to speak to my dealer principle and see if he will sign-off the warranty and reinstate it but even if he does I don't think he will then pay for a $1000 repair on your door handle, leave it with me and I will let you know.'

Shite, doesn't leave me with much room to manouver due to a bloody technicality but it's all there in small print (well not even that small):
'I/we also understand that failure to have the vehicle serviced by the dealer at six monthly intervals (or every 10,000 kilometres, whiver occurs first) during the term of the plan will void this plan)'

Bugger bugger bugger

Rob Furniss wrote:I went back to the dealers today and spoke to the service advisor that I saw before (previously thought he was the manager), he said it's not covered but I asked him to make sure so he phoned up headoffice.
He actually called it a handle this time!
They said yes it's covered, 'what the handle that attaches to the trim as i've been told it's not covered?', 'yes it's covered' they said so he said he will put a job ticket in.
Then there was a bit more discussion between him and headoffice and he went on the computer and said 'oh right, will have to speak to my DP then'.

He came off the phone and said my warranty is void as the conditions are that I have to have it serviced every 6 months with them (which I did only last month - only bought the car end of march) or every 10000kms which ever is sooner. I was 3000km's over when I had it serviced so he said the warranty policy is cancelled.
Said 'I will have to speak to my dealer principle and see if he will sign-off the warranty and reinstate it but even if he does I don't think he will then pay for a $1000 repair on your door handle, leave it with me and I will let you know.'

Shite, doesn't leave me with much room to manouver due to a bloody technicality but it's all there in small print (well not even that small):
'I/we also understand that failure to have the vehicle serviced by the dealer at six monthly intervals (or every 10,000 kilometres, whiver occurs first) during the term of the plan will void this plan)'

Bugger bugger bugger

Bastards!
Warranties are a bitch.

fine print is bs

Door handles have nothing to do with engine servicing.
They're clutching at straws to not pay out.

The door handle is a defect, and as such even if the car hadn't been driven in 6 months, that part alone is still under a clause warranty stating it must perform it's function for XX amount of time, should it not, then it must be replaced.
There are a million counter arguments to every contract as they can never cover themselves for everything.

Still take it up with fair trading mate, especially if they've said they will cover it *however we changed our mind, we found you missed a service* definite extortion.

Yeah I will do, just waiting for him to call me back first so I have something to go back to dept of fair trading with - i'm sure they wouldn't be too impressed with his answer of 'yes it's covered but....'