Parts are high price in Calais
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Robin Meczes • The problem of UK operators being overcharged following breakdowns in Europe has been highlighted by a Plymouth haulier who was charged twice the list price for a startermotor in Calais.
Owner-driver Peter Orr of Plymouth, trading as PF Orr Haulage, could not start his Scania 143-540 after arriving on a ferry in Calais. There was no time to get the vehicle towed off and the ship had to sail to Dover.
From the ferry, Orr arranged with Scania's Lifeline emergency service for an engineer to be waiting there, but no such engineer appeared, he says.
Orr and his truck subsequently returned to Calais where it was towed off the ship and fitted with a new starter motor by local Scania agent Channel Poids Lourds. But the bill for the starter motor, forwarded to Orr via his local UK dealer, costed the motor at FFr6,213 (£650).
Last week an anonymous call from CM to the French garage confirmed that the price for a starter motor of this type should be FFr3,600.
Orr has also received a bill for £305 from Essexbased Scania agent Scantruck for an engineer call-out to Dover, Scania's general service manager Paul Fisher claims the starter motor's price differential is caused by the fact that Scania France halved the cost of some of its parts in February—including the one concerned. He adds that the Lifeline engineer failed to get to the ferry in time because of road closures in Dover.
Scania has promised to discuss the case with Orr.