Geraldine retiree forks out $1400 for 'sham' key

Geraldine retiree Dave Doy knew an extra key for his auto would be costly however he didn't hope to pay more than $1400.

That is the sum he was charged for an extra key for his 2009 Honda Fit - $1411.75 to be correct.

"I imagined that was somewhat over the top - somewhat of a sham," Doy said.

Having acquired the auto year and a half prior, Doy said he needed an extra key on the off chance that he lost the special case which accompanied the auto.



Doy, 73, said when he moved toward Armstrong Honda in Timaru, which shut in September 2016, he was told the key would be costly.

Having purchased remote get to auto keys in the past for about $300, and feeling that was costly, he said he chose to proceed with the request.

In any case, he was astonished to learn $300 would have been a deal in examination.

"I revealed to them it was a sham and all I got was a shrug of the shoulders," he said.

"I could have left and not had a key but rather I chose to have a key, so I paid the cash and took the key."

A receipt demonstrates the key itself, which opens the auto by closeness, cost $274.37 and the part which begins the auto cost $1137.38.

Armstrong Motor Group Christchurch general chief John McKenzie said he had oversight of Armstrong Honda, Timaru, before it shut.

Nonetheless, he said he had not been charge of the everyday running of the dealership.

"Fourteen hundred sounds unreasonable for a Honda key however you would need to run it by Honda," McKenzie said.

"It might be something else was required with the key to make it work. There are an excessive number of factors," he said.

Unless individuals had gadgets abilities, keys must be acquired through vehicle merchants and that was the same for any brand of vehicle, he said.

Honda New Zealand national administration supervisor Bryan Davis said he didn't know about any Honda keys which would cost the sum Doy had paid.

"Myself and the general chief for after deals observed valuing for keys. For the most part keys are about $250-$500. It is a case by case thing," Davis said.

He said $1400 seemed "somewhat inordinate" and offered to catch up with Doy.

Purchaser New Zealand inquire about author Jessica Wilson said the Consumer Guarantees Act required makers and merchants to have save parts sensibly accessible after an item was sold.

"In the event that an organization neglects to follow this commitment and parts aren't promptly accessible, the customer has reason for a claim," Wilson said.

"On account of a swap key for an as of late foreign made auto, most customers would hope to have the capacity to get an extra at an aggressive cost. In our view, a cost of $1400​ is unnecessary.

"When you have a question with a merchant, attempt to deal with it with the organization.

"On the off chance that you can't resolve things, you can hold up a claim in the Disputes Tribunal," she said.

Doy said he would take his case to the Disputes Tribunal as he had been incited to contact Fairfax subsequent to perusing about Auckland specialist Damian Funnell who took Armstrong Auckland to the Disputes Tribunal after it charged him $525 for a substitution remote for his Toyota.

The tribunal controlled the add up to be unnecessary and requested Toyota New Zealand to discount $325.62.