Because "WE" let them! It's our apathy that is the cause of our frustration. If you have it written " YOUR NEXT SERVICE IS FREE" then it will happen.. if it was verbal, then FORGET it.

Here's the eamil from Shubhra..

"Please note that the free service was offered as a goodwill gesture and an end was put on it for you to accept or reject it. As now we are way past the end date, I am unable to offer you the free service."

Looks like I didn't 'accept' in time. I didn't have a service due, so didn't take notice and just had the email from FCA saying free service...

How stupid am I to think that a 'good will gesture service' would have to be accepted and have a time frame/limit :confused:

Bit of a Piss Poor Effort from FCA. Dangle a Carrot ....with conditions & then leave you.... without a paddle.

FWIW, car serviced yesterday by my independent Jeep guy. I supplied the engine oil bought at Autobarn on one of their 30% discount sales (always buy it when on sale). He supplied everything else. Was a 90k km book service, not one of the biggies:

Labour: 132.00
Parts: 101.80
Loan car: free
My oil: 70.56 (8.4L)

Total cost: $304.36

I did put $12 fuel in the loaner as I had to do a few k's yesterday.

I need an a/c service including re-gas after Christmas, for which he's quoted $165 all up - labour, refrigerant, oil, etc.

Well worth putting in the effort to find guys like this as an alternative to dealers.

SouthernComfort your 2013 GC Laredo probably had a 3 year warranty.

Once a vehicle is out of warranty I recommend going elsewhere for the annual service.

I feel it is prudent once in a while going back to a dealer as they might have heard something from head office that should be looked at.

I have servicing done every 6 months regardless of k's, mainly because I frequently tow a caravan. At the prices I pay the two services per year usually work out less than just one at the dealer.

I've had the dealer do all the 'no cost' recall works. Other than that, I'm not interested in anything the dealer has to offer, including potentially unreliable updates. The specialist I use is a proper mechanic who works exclusively on GC WK2's and he's right across whatever needs to be done. Gives me more confidence than having it in the hands of apprentices that dealers let loose on your car.

I still send my oldie 2012 to the dealers, since the cost of a basic oil change service is only $340 using the correct oils. I only want that stamp so they dont cripple me if/when I go back to claim for a cylinder head recall up until 2022.

I could go to Automasters/Ultratune and gamble the oils used for $190. Which they did on my other car and clogged up the hydraulic lifters, leading to $1.2k repair.

Yeh sure, you can go to Third party servicing centers, and go by the book of ACCC stating you can go elsewhere. But if its anything FCA related, they will / do check your service history, and where you go. Been through it before.