Car Repairs

[R32UK]

Well... where do I start?? 

Car went in for repair on the 26/5/2009. Was told the job to replace the drivers door should take 5 days, maybe 6 days at the most. So I was looking to have the car back on the 1st or 2nd of June!!

Called them on the 5th asking them what the hell was going on.. apparently they got the colour match wrong! WRONG? on a feckin black car?? 

Finally got the call on Friday saying the car was ready for collection. Followed by a swift call from the accident management company who said the hire car would have to be returned immediately. Giving me approximately 30mins to go and collect my car from VW. Bit out of order I thought so managed to put it off until Monday (yesterday). Was told by the management company that the car would have to be returned to them on Monday without fail or I would get charged for the car. £200 per day by the way 


So.... 5pm yesterday I go to collect my car, even stopping to fill the hire car to the right amount of petrol I got it with. Get to the dealership, expecting the hire car rep to be there to collect, but he wasnt, so would have to leave the keys with the dealership. Something I really didnt want to do.

Anyway.. go out to inspect my car. From almost 10m away it is clear to see that the drivers door and rear door dont even line up at all. Not even close!!! I travel all that feckin way and some tw4t hasnt even had courtesy to check the car over. So the body shop take the car back and adjust the door which mean me waiting around for another 20mins. Considering they have had the car for 3 weeks you would think that they could get a job that takes 20mins right from the start??


Anyway.. so go out to inspect the car for the second time. Doors are now flush and look like they should do. So I take a walk around to the other side only to find the whole of the car covered in scratches  From the rear quarter through to the front wing! not to mention two chips out of the tail gate!! wtf!!!

So now VW have the car STILL, and I willl have to wait until Thursday to collect. Also now will be driving around the hire car which I am told is no longer insured.


VW dealerships seriously need to get it together. Was talking with a mate yesterday who told me they had given him his GTTDi back from a service with no oil in!!! Seriously put off getting another VW now... this really looks like it could be the last straw :embarassed:

*rant over

[Jkctr]

Gutted for you mate, hope it gets sorted. Always best to use a Dealership that sources out a garage as they do better work!

[R32UK]

Gutted for you mate, hope it gets sorted. Always best to use a Dealership that sources out a garage as they do better work!

I always thought the opposite.... but think you may be right now. How can a dealership be so incompetent and still survive?? Any other business would just go straight down the pan!!

[Jkctr]

Exactly. I used a garage that all the other garages used (mercedes, audi etc) when i needed work done and it was flawless! Cost less than going through the dealer as well but they buy all there parts from them so its an A1 job

Win Win mate 

[ifti]

Tell you what, when I take my car in for its service in August, I'll be getting the manager to come out and inspect my car and note anything down BEFORE I give them the key. That way if there are any marks on it when I get it back they cant state it wasnt down to them - which they have done to me before!

At least they took the car back and will sort out the scratches I guess, but thats no excuse for the poor service you've received. Lets just hope they get the colour match right when sorting out the marks!

[neo66]

That really sucks R32UK!!
Thats stress you dont need after whats happened. Hope they get it sorted.
Ive gone thru loads of body shops as theres so many bodgers.
I had a fiesta years ago and to get it back I had to sign a document of satisfation (in the dark :embarassed:). I needed the car back tho and he was even more adamant/rude he needed the space that evening after the call, only for the daylight next day it had runs. You get a bad vibe when they try to rush you or just throw you the keys and say ''over in the corner mate''.

[Hurdy]

Sorry to hear about your futile plight to get decent customer service from a VW dealership

It seems to be par for the course at the moment. You would think that they would make even more of an effort in light of the current economic climate, so they keep existing customers happy.

[chrissyr32]

 Seriously put off getting another VW now... this really looks like it could be the last straw :embarassed:

*rant over


Mmmmmmmmmmmm.....perhaps its time to move on to that beast AKA RS4...  

[Cass]

Photograph all the issues and give the car back to them to sort. Get a courtesy car.

Is an insurance company or solicitors involved (no win, no fee) ? If so, tell them you are not happy with the repair and want an assessor/engineer to inspect the car before any claim is settled.

Speak to the Dealer Principle/Body Shop Manager and tell them you will go to VW Customer Services unless the car is returned to in a satisfactory condition. Tell them you want the best body shop employee to do the work and if it ain't up to standard you will find a professional detailer to carry out paintwork correction to put the car right and send them the bill (conservative estimate for detailing a GTI is in the region of £250 - £300).

Sad story but not that uncommon I'm afraid

Cass

[jaydubveedub]

This is why I hate using maindealers. I currently need some minor stuff doing under warranty but can't face the prospect of taking it in and then going through the pain of getting it back with damage on it.

Good luck getting it sorted out.

Really, VW should be taking more care of customers given how much they want to charge for the cars these days.........