22 November 2011
I use this story each time I present MyCarBudget. It is a real story and shows just how difficult and expensive it can be to manage your car expenses. About a month ago, a taxi driver friend of mine picked me up from the airport. I was returning late at night from a trip to Gladstone after presenting to Queensland Alumina employees.
After we caught up on what each other had been doing (it had been months since I had seen him), he told me about his recent experience in buying a new (used) car. You see Peter (not his real name) is a bit of an impulsive buyer, if he likes something he buys it. He was in the market for a car and in his travels passed a Mitsubishi Verada in a local car yard. After talking to the car salesman and few personal inspections, he purchased it. He loved how clean it was inside.
Upon purchasing it, he did all the right things in terms of getting car insurance. In fact the company that he went through (not named) was offering complimentary "free" roadside assistance. Yep he was safe should the car break down, until it did.
Peter works night shift and at about 3 am one morning after his shift was done, he went to start his car but it wouldn't start. After several attempts he called his insurance company (roadside assistance provider) to have his car towed. At 3 am it just rang out. With nowhere to turn to he called RACV, signed up on the spot and had the car towed home. It cost him $220 or so to do this. Peter did actually try to get compensated from his "complimentary roadside provider" but all they did was have him complete the paper work and nothing came of it.
So Peter now has the car in the drive way. He calls a big brand mobile mechanic to come out and take a look at it. The mobile mechanic arrives and after inspecting the vehicle states that it is an electrical fault and that an auto-electrician is needed, then charges him $150 for the call out and advice.
Peter calls a local auto-electrician to come out and inspect the vehicle. The prognosis is a blown head gasket and nothing electrical. A further $150 is paid to the auto-electrician.
Peter has spent over $500 on his "new" car and it is still sitting in his driveway unrepaired. So much for the protection of the roadside and the advice the experts game him. The actual repairs will be well over $1000 for the head gasket. In the mean time Peter is riding his bike to work in order to save the money for the major repairs.
We would all love a mechanic in the family, unfortunately we don't all have one. Peter did everything right, and yet he now feels totally ripped off. Had he had MyCarBudget, his car would have been towed by RACV for free and he would have had the inspection done at the mechanics where the right prognosis would have been given the first time (for free). The cost of the repairs would still be there but the $500 spent on getting the prognosis would have gone into the actual repairs.
Whilst it is too late for Peter, with no lock-in contract you would be crazy not to give MyCarBudget a go.