Aston DB7 - Warranty issues and shocking dealer continued

[NotDave]

Some of you will recall I started another topic over a month ago, detailing the issues my father had with the DB7 him and my mother purchased from a "specialist".


Well now things have got worse as:

i) The dealer supplied new seat belts and cheque to cover fitting (WAHEY) but they were cheap belts off of an auction site and were completely the wrong fitment (DOH) - The company cannot provide the right ones, want P&P paying to send them back AND will refund the dealer. Plus there is now the cost spent at a local place finding all this out.

ii) The paperwork STILL has not appeared from the DVLA some 2months in, so the car has NO TAX DISC, NO LOG BOOK due to the dealers incompetence.

it gets worse as today we discover

iii) They have sold the xk8 traded in, COMPLETE WITH THE PRIVATE PLATE STILL ON IT.... Thus meaning that 2x cars are now running around on 1x private plate.

The dealer is still full of promises, and pathetic apologies.

Legal action, involvement of trading standards, and liasing with the DVLA now appears to be the only option.

Name & shame rules obviously mean I cannot say who/where, BUT those who helped last time, will know.

[drofnavi]

I think I would have returned the car and taken this route from the get go.

[NotDave]

It was considered, and in some ways preferred. But due to the dealer being a 5+ hour journey away & work commitments, the decision was made to try the remedial approach.

This evidently has not worked.

[michael gould]

Although I have some sympathy for your predicament I can't help but comment that your father has handled this whole matter in an incredibly naive fashion .........I'm afraid you have acted up to now like a doormat and the dealer has walked all over you.

[NotDave]

Indeed. My hands are tied, I must admit my actions would've been a great deal less sedate.

But I guess at their age I may be different?

[yeti]

Everyone handles things differently - whereas Michael would have charged in (and he would too!), I would probably have waited around and had some faith... And been let down. I sincerely hope for a resolution but I can't see what it is.

I'd pay for repairs myself and then seek the money back in small claims, at least they then have a lovely car to try and enjoy. These guys have given you the (A)run around for too long now... They are protected by that 5hr distance, just like the dealer who ripped me on my DB7.

It's pathetically sad that these people think this is OK. And they'll do it again to the next people who buy from afar or who trust in human nature

[Slarti]

If your parents have been dealing with this then I would do a Michael Gould and just charge in. I've learnt that the louder you shout and the more discomfort you cause to them, the faster you're going to see satisfaction.

[NotDave]

Mr Gould: as stated, I am straight down your way of thinking, if it's a £1k snotter or a £30k+ Aston, dealer service is what you pay for. BUT the time to get there, work commitments and a level of naivety have all played a part.

The dealer in question has been attending various classic car events for years, and has been seen by my parents for at least 3-4 years at the same event, always with a good range of quality cars and with strong levels of business. This was what made them purchase from so far away, after-all we as a consumer put faith in specialists whether self endorsed or otherwise.

Admittedly, if they had slowed the pace and told myself, a spot of Googling and an "ask the audience" on PH etc could well have saved hassle.

Yeti: Once again, as with yours distance plays a massive part. But also repeated "it's in the post" type remarks.

Faith was somewhat restored when 2x new seat belts and a cheque for fitting arrived, but then on investigation by a trusted local garage the fact that the supplied belts were massively incorrect (No pre-tensioners or electric connections for safety systems).

Was then that the dealer was contacted AGAIN and suddenly one of their team informs us that the private plate on the XK8 has been sold with the XK8 despite the fact that they agreed to transfer it, sent the log book to the DVLA, and have taxed the DB7 all with the private plate on it.

My mother by now has taken over as my father is busy at work, one gathers her patience is somewhat........... GONE......... So was far less succint.

Suddenly assistant magically finds all DVLA paperwork that has been missing for 8 weeks, then low-and-behold the precious service history appears on his desk......... Then an hour later he's phoning her (there's a first, one of this lot actually know how to dial outwards new to us) and they've realised they "haven't sold the car with the plate on after-all".

Deliverables of tommorrow have been placed on all documents and the confirmation of ownership for the plate. Deliverable for a week tomorrow for the CORRECT seat belts was suggested, after all if the dealer will stop dicking about with eBay sellers and pay for them properly, our local AM dealer in Leeds can have them to us in 72hours maximum.... So why can't this set of comedians?

[NotDave]

Slarti said:

If your parents have been dealing with this then I would do a Michael Gould and just charge in. I've learnt that the louder you shout and the more discomfort you cause to them, the faster you're going to see satisfaction.

Has crossed my mind

[NotDave]

Low & behold Friday all relevant DVLA papers appeared including tax disc and confirmation of private plate ownership.

Correct seat belts and service history are now the issue AGAIN.

Wrong book and belts being held hostage until correct ones arrive.

Vehicle not turned a wheel in weeks

[michael gould]

Your parents are old so you sort it out like the dutiful son.......Give the dealer 7 days to put right the faults after which time have the fking car repaired for God sake and take the tt to the small claims court......it's not rocket science.

[NotDave]

Already under progress sir

[michael gould]

Good man

[NotDave]

Was waiting for DVLA paperwork before time/money invested