So you’re saying, it's ok to miss servicing....If something stuffs up, the manufacturer is at fault regardless because they haven't met their ACL requirements...
I’ve never said it’s ok to miss services and then blame Holden if/when something mechanical goes wrong.
I said that Holden won’t be aware of any services one may have don’t at a 3rd party business because that 3rd party business can’t link into Holden’s fixed price service portal to report the “service event”. (and it’s Holden’s choice not to open up such a service portal for 3rd parties but that’s a different can or worms that ACCC doesn't want to look into)…
(I’ve also said Holden and their dealer aren't flexible enough in how they service vehicles because in some instances dumping oil and filter after 200 km in 9 months is based on engineering, rather it’s just a profit grab)
So if the current owner can get records and receipts of the services that are missing their stamp in the service booklet, that should be sufficient to proved it was serviced by a 3rd party mechanic (presumably) to the level required in consumer law.
After all, performing a “book” service, as some people call it, via a 3rd party service provider isn’t something that Holden can hold against the vehicle owner. And our ACCC and state based consumer groups have gone to great pains to make it known that servicing at 3rd party providers is an acceptable choice and can’t be used as a reason for denying warranty...
Regardless of the above, if I was buying a used car and a few page stubs that contain the stamps are missing from the service booklet, such wouldn't be enough for me to walk away but it would definitely be enough for me to ask some questions and for copies of the service providers business receipts as proof of service.
After all, a missing stamp in isolation means nothing if the owner can provide a receipt for the scheduled service, especially if those receipts list the work that was done, the date it occurred and the kms on the odo when it occurred (which is what I’d expect of all service records, otherwise they are somewhat useless).
And I’d still be checking the work done by the 3rd party against Holden’s scheduled tasks for that service interval just to make sure all was done as required. It’s a bit more faffing about but shouldn’t mean missing out on an otherwise good car.
Heck, even if the service booklet was fully stamped, I’d still want the service receipts as they contain more info than the simple fact the service was done… Stuff like customer concerns, warranty work, recall work, etc. Service receipts are in my opinion much more valuable than a stamp and a signature that anyone can forge… Such makes it harder to buy used as most people can’t organise themselves to keep such stuff (unless they are car nuts)…
As is, if the OP can’t provide any proof of service, the assumption will be the vehicle wasn’t serviced and any further warranty claim will be denied (given he has the $4k payment from his insurance type warranty). So his out of pocket costs will remain.
PS: my pet hate is those stupid perforations on the service coupon pages that list the actual work required along with the fact the dealer then rips them out and stamps and signs the stub left behind.
I prefer the page is left in place as is and simply stamped and signed so you retain the history of what should get done within booklet. But I’ve been told they can’t leave the page in the booklet which sounds really stupid, so my service booklet isn’t stamped but I’ve got all the service receipts, warranty receipts and recall receipts. My cars being over serviced given the kms travelled but such is life. If I ever sell and someone doesn’t want to buy it because of missing stamps, so be it… their loss.
