Peace of mind is all part of the service at NRMA MotorServe. Romaine Robshaw never has to worry about unscrupulous mechanics ripping her off – because she already knows her way around a car. As a Trainee Service Manager at NRMA MotorServe, Romaine wants to reassure anyone who feels anxious about being cheated when they get their car serviced. “Some service centres are just out to make money and, in my experience, women tend to be more vulnerable to being ripped off,” she says.

“Women should feel completely comfortable and confident in bringing their car to us, because at NRMA MotorServe we guarantee we’ll look after them, explain everything in detail and even show them the car and parts while we’re working on it. They can come right into the workshop and the mechanic will point out the problem.”

Having spent eight years as a service advisor and mechanic, Romaine has heard plenty of stories about mechanics charging for parts that didn’t need replacing, cutting corners to save time, or failing to spot something that needed repair. One safeguard she suggests would be to ask the mechanic for an itemised bill including labour costs, parts and prices. If there seems to be a lot of new parts on the bill, follow it up.

“A mechanic should not refuse to show customers the old parts that need replacing, if they ask,” says Romaine. “If customers don’t feel fully comfortable or feel they’re being told the truth, they could call the NRMA Technical Advice line. Or, they can get a second opinion somewhere else.

“You should always be contacted for authorisation if your car requires repairs or parts over and above the standard service charge. Make sure you ask for a detailed explanation of the problem and the cost to fix it before you give the go-ahead.”

At NRMA MotorServe, qualified mechanics discuss all repairs with the customer in advance, and there’s a guarantee of six months or 10,000km on parts and workmanship.

Cameras are located in the workshop so you can keep an eye on your car through monitors in the waiting room. You can make a coffee while you wait, surf the Internet, watch television, or read magazines, and the kids can watch the Wiggles, play Xbox games or colour in. MotorServe Liverpool is only 35 metres from Westfield Shopping Centre, so you can shop while waiting.

Since opening in May, NRMA MotorServe at Seven Hills has serviced more than 1000 vehicles and an online survey has shown that 95 per cent of customers would recommend MotorServe to other motorists and, according to Romaine, they like the honesty and enthusiasm of the staff.

As a woman working with a team of men, Romaine says she’s treated with great value. “I feel very proud to be working for NRMA and I look forward to a long career with MotorServe.” 

NRMA MotorServe Seven Hills
Unit 1, 167 Prospect Highway
Seven Hills NSW 2147

NRMA MotorServe Liverpool
46 Bathurst Street
Liverpool NSW 2170

Phone 1300 880 294 for bookings