Can dealer change your license-plate holder without permission?

[iradel]

I was at Autobarn of Evanston, IL, getting my power-seat switch fixed (replaced), as well as a fog-light bulb replaced.

First of all, they charged me for the bulb replacement, but didn't actually do the service, and were about to let me drive out -- good thing I flipped on the lights to check them!

When I had asked why the labor charge was so much on the power-seat switch replacement, I was told that the whole seat had to come out to get to that switch. As soon as I drove out of the dealership, I noticed really bad gouging and scratching in the plastic panels on the right side of the driver's seat. My guess is that they weren't careful when positioning the seat back into the car, and were slamming the rails of the seat pretty hard against the plastic...I can't imagine how much force it would take to _gouge_ the plastic like they had done.

When I brought the car back the next morning to show them, they tried to say that they made a mistake and the seat never actually came out for the switch replacement, so they weren't anywhere near that area that was scratched/gouged up. The floor manager came to take a look, and agreed to replace all those plastic panels free of charge to "make me happy", even though he also maintains that they didn't do the damage.

Another thing that happened sometime while my car was in their care, was that my license plate holders from the dealership where I had bought my car disappeared, and were replaced with their own dealership's holders. This was done without my permissions/authorization, and without even informing me that it was done. I am very angry about this, and when I asked the floor manager about it, he said, "If they're custom plates, we're not supposed to touch it, but if they're another dealership's plates, I have the right to replace them with my own." Is this true? Someone please tell me!

Thank you.

[RobMac]

The other dealer plate are in essence your property, what they did certainly not acceptable but not flagrant either.

They first said they removed your seat then all of a sudden they said they didn't when you pointed out they damaged your car.

I would not go there again.

[iradel]

I waited for over 3 hours while they worked on my car, replacing the damaged panel(s), and when they returned the car to me, I pointed out that they only partially fixed the damage. So they had to order another panel (which they didn't order the first time around), and I have to go back yet again.

After this, I will not be going back.

What can I do regarding my missing license-plate holders? My coworkers tell me that taking them without my authorization is technically theft. I know it seems petty, but I am very angry that they're modifying things on my car without my permission and without even informing me! What's next...should I be checking that all my documents are still in the glove box???

[DKano]

Can't blame you for being pissed. Dealer license plate holders are like advertisement, so they're just trying to use you to spread the word about their dealership. I don't think you want to be doing that after what they did to your car.

[paulie.]

If I were to take the plate frame off a car, and replace them with my dealerships plate frame, I'd be fired on the spot.

Contact the better business bureau or some place of the like.

[SPEEDO]

take a screw driver with you, take off their holders & fold them up & throw them in the trash.... then leave maybe they might get a clue...

[vrefron]

The plate-frame switch is semi-shady and fairly common. Most people don't notice and don't care about dealer plate frames, and they get switched more often than you'd think.

[SkunkWorks]

Dealer plates are lame anyway. Time for some custom ones.

[victor]

Like the vinyl stickers for the dealers. i've told dealers I want those off my car, or don't even put them off (if not on yet) as i'm not paying for their advertising on my car.

If its on, I remove it at home. First thing I do on all my cars if its on.

[ankit]

Originally Posted by victor

First thing I do on all my cars if its on.

That's what I did first and that is how I got my first scratch on the alti.

[iGROCK]

honestly and ill get serious here, its a ****ing DEALERSHIP license plate frame, its was NOT a custom one but another dealerships. grow up and go buy yourself a custom one.

CAN they change it? sure if they wanted to. WHY do you care so much about a DEALERSHIP plate its beyond me

[Habs11]

i suggest you get a tinted plate cover - those are SWEEEET