Balaam Ford

I took my MK1 Ford Focus in for a cambelt change and service. A new pollen filter was recommended which I agreed to as it would only add £15 to the bill. I was called during the day to advise me that the pollen filter housing had 'deteriorated' and would need replacing. After doing some brief research on this it became apparent that when the housing seal fails, rain water will ingress into the passenger footwell. I can categorically state that no rain water was getting onto the the footwell before I took it in to Balaam Ford (and it has been raining quite a bit lately). The windows were not steaming up... no evidence of unwanted water ANYWHERE. I reluctantly agreed to a replacement housing after being told the car could now start leaking but asked the person I spoke to on the phone to keep the old part so I could have a look. When I went to collect the car, I had quite a lengthy discussion with the manager who explained that because the pollen filter housing is plastic and lives under the bonnet, it gets brittle and 'deteriorates' with age. Looking at the replaced part however it is not brittle at all... still very flexible infact. The top part has however been sheared away from the bottom... looks like the plastic rivets have been forced (when it was carelessly removed I imagine. I could quite happily have done without a new 15 GBP pollen filter... only got the flippin thing done because they suggested it... never mind the extra 38 GBP for a new housing that was doing its job very nicely before they touched it. I managed to get £10 off the 477 GBP bill but made it clear I would not be going back in future. Apparently I am the first person to take issue with this kind of thing... Balaam Ford apparently replace these parts 'all the time'. All a bit suspicious if you ask me.