Pricey parts in France '
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• Scania France has come under fire for the second time in as many weeks for overcharging British operators for parts on the Continent.
Somerset haulier Nigel Dorothy Transport was quoted £1,200 for fitting a replacement starter motor after one of its Scania 113R tractors broke down in Cherbourg on 2 February. "We phoned Scania Lifeline around lOpm and asked them to send a fitter with a starter motor," says Dorothy. But he arrived empty-handed at 7am and said he couldn't get the part until 2pm and that it would cost £1,200."
Dorothy turned down the offer, branding Scania France "rip-off merchants" and sent out his own fitter with a starter motor bought at Westrucks of Bridgwater for £300.
John Gillard, manager of Westrucks of Bridgwater says it is having problems with overcharging in France. He advises hauliers stranded abroad to phone their local UK dealership for impartial advice.
Scania UK general service manager Paul Fisher says: "Hauliers are often unhappy with repair bills abroad, but they must remember the charge doesn't always relate simply to labour and parts—there's also the cost of sending out the engineer."
In January Scania's Calais agent charged owner-driver Peter Orr £650 to supply and fit a starter motor (CM 19-25 March).