The small dealer incompetence is quite funny
Discussion
Friday last week I put a deposit down on an Audi A4 Avant (B6) from a small car dealership, not mega miles, nice and tidy and with the promise of a new MOT and cambelt thrown in. I noticed the rear offside tyre was flat so asked them to look at that, of which they said they'd oblige.
Peddled over to pick up the car on Tuesday this week, bring it back home happy .. excellent.
Wake up in the morning to find the tyre I flagged up as being flat as a pancake, I think bugger, need to take the missus to a course shortly but manage to limp over to a tyre place near by and get a couple new tyres stuck on the back.
So a bit of a pain so far but nothing to really worry about too much, I call the dealer, make that quite a few calls to seek at least a bit of good will payment towards the tyre as they did say they'd sort it.
But the real fun started today when I took it into my trusted VAG indie here in Bristol to have the tracking done. No problem with that but they do notice one of the driveshaft CVs is split so I ask them to replace. Sorted.
I did think this is strange though as the car only had a new MOT put on it on Monday this week and i've only done a small handful of miles since Tuesday, particularly as the split CV would have been a failure.
Next I think why not check the Directgov website to double double check the MOT was actually done ... oh, what's this, no it wasn't!
So back on the phone just now with the dealer to get them to first of all actually put on the MOT they promised and then lied about. The constant comments of "oh, we'll post the certificate to you", was obviously a load of tosh. And secondly look to get a fair chunk of money back my way to cover the costs of the CV repair etc.
Fortunately i'm not getting too het up about it, just finding it quite impressive at the sheer audacious incompetence of it all!! It will get sorted out one way or another soon but still, a bit of a pain in the arse (that's what she said).
Happy Friday
Peddled over to pick up the car on Tuesday this week, bring it back home happy .. excellent.
Wake up in the morning to find the tyre I flagged up as being flat as a pancake, I think bugger, need to take the missus to a course shortly but manage to limp over to a tyre place near by and get a couple new tyres stuck on the back.
So a bit of a pain so far but nothing to really worry about too much, I call the dealer, make that quite a few calls to seek at least a bit of good will payment towards the tyre as they did say they'd sort it.
But the real fun started today when I took it into my trusted VAG indie here in Bristol to have the tracking done. No problem with that but they do notice one of the driveshaft CVs is split so I ask them to replace. Sorted.
I did think this is strange though as the car only had a new MOT put on it on Monday this week and i've only done a small handful of miles since Tuesday, particularly as the split CV would have been a failure.
Next I think why not check the Directgov website to double double check the MOT was actually done ... oh, what's this, no it wasn't!
So back on the phone just now with the dealer to get them to first of all actually put on the MOT they promised and then lied about. The constant comments of "oh, we'll post the certificate to you", was obviously a load of tosh. And secondly look to get a fair chunk of money back my way to cover the costs of the CV repair etc.
Fortunately i'm not getting too het up about it, just finding it quite impressive at the sheer audacious incompetence of it all!! It will get sorted out one way or another soon but still, a bit of a pain in the arse (that's what she said).
Happy Friday
It's laziness. When I bought my car they said they'd remove some stickers from the boot, which they made a hash of, damaging the paint, and service it, which they didn't. so they had it back the next week to do it and they didn't even change the spark plugs or reset the service indicator (not that important)
Just been through precisely this with a car for my younger brother. The silly twit paid upfront for the car (and left the part ex) with mr dodgy garage on the 16th August - collection was agreed for the 1st September - this was suggested by Mr Garage Man because my brother mentioned he was out of the country until then anyway.
The deal was:
Cambelt kit change,
Full service,
New advisory free MOT
6 months tax
a set of wheel trims as the current ones had discoloured
So I give MGM a call on the morning of the 1st September to ensure everything is ok, and to tell him that we'd be picking my brother up from the station at 15:00 and coming straight for the car. Guess how much of the work he had completed? None.
2nd September : Was told the car was ready to pick up. Arrived at agreed time. Found nice receipt for full service & cambelt change, but the MOT had 9 advisories on it. Nothing particularly bad - but we had specifically agreed an advisory free MOT. Checked oil - clearly not new. Cambelt cover bolts didn't look like they'd been disturbed. Refused to take car.
3rd September : "Yeah mate, car is in the workshop now, it'll be ready tomorrow for you.
4th September : "Haven't even had it in the workshop yet - my fitter has gone off sick. We'll have it ready for you tomorrow.
5th September : Paid him a visit 9am. Car was up on the ramps and being worked on. Promised it would be ready for collection 16:00. As added insurance I arranged for a local trusted mechanic to accompany us at 16:00 who would check to his best ability that the work had been carried out. He did just that and found everything to be satisfactory. So we took the car.
Only sight concern is that the clean, advisory free MOT we were given is dated the 3rd September - same MOT tester as the one with 9 advisories. I suppose they give them a clean sheet provided they then carry the work out?
Anyway, I fear that had we have taken the car as was on Tuesday, we wouldn't have got everything done that was promised.
The deal was:
Cambelt kit change,
Full service,
New advisory free MOT
6 months tax
a set of wheel trims as the current ones had discoloured
So I give MGM a call on the morning of the 1st September to ensure everything is ok, and to tell him that we'd be picking my brother up from the station at 15:00 and coming straight for the car. Guess how much of the work he had completed? None.
2nd September : Was told the car was ready to pick up. Arrived at agreed time. Found nice receipt for full service & cambelt change, but the MOT had 9 advisories on it. Nothing particularly bad - but we had specifically agreed an advisory free MOT. Checked oil - clearly not new. Cambelt cover bolts didn't look like they'd been disturbed. Refused to take car.
3rd September : "Yeah mate, car is in the workshop now, it'll be ready tomorrow for you.
4th September : "Haven't even had it in the workshop yet - my fitter has gone off sick. We'll have it ready for you tomorrow.
5th September : Paid him a visit 9am. Car was up on the ramps and being worked on. Promised it would be ready for collection 16:00. As added insurance I arranged for a local trusted mechanic to accompany us at 16:00 who would check to his best ability that the work had been carried out. He did just that and found everything to be satisfactory. So we took the car.
Only sight concern is that the clean, advisory free MOT we were given is dated the 3rd September - same MOT tester as the one with 9 advisories. I suppose they give them a clean sheet provided they then carry the work out?
Anyway, I fear that had we have taken the car as was on Tuesday, we wouldn't have got everything done that was promised.
SebastienClement said:
Only sight concern is that the clean, advisory free MOT we were given is dated the 3rd September - same MOT tester as the one with 9 advisories. I suppose they give them a clean sheet provided they then carry the work out?
Anyway, I fear that had we have taken the car as was on Tuesday, we wouldn't have got everything done that was promised.
I stand ready to be corrected, but I bet there's no actual VOSA requirement for advisories to be listed, and also bet that the re-test was nothing of the sort...Anyway, I fear that had we have taken the car as was on Tuesday, we wouldn't have got everything done that was promised.
hornetrider said:
I wouldn't say it's incompetence...
Indeed. I had a similar experience with my old Accord. The MOT carried out prior to collection was a box ticking exercise confirmed by the split wiper blade on collection. I doubt the car even saw the inside of the workshop.Still, it was cheap compared to equivalent cars at franchised dealers.
carreauchompeur said:
I stand ready to be corrected, but I bet there's no actual VOSA requirement for advisories to be listed, and also bet that the re-test was nothing of the sort...
I completely agree. Which was why I got a friendly mechanic to come along too. The work has at least been done!Matt UK said:
Why would you buy it without checking they had down what you had asked?
I had checked in so much as saw paperwork for cambelt parts and labour. When I asked to view the MOT certificate they said they collected them in baulk a couple times a week and then posted them off, I thought i'd give them the benefit of the doubt.Been on the phone to them and it looks like it will all get sorted with some of my costs being covered, so happy enough over that.
Crafty_ said:
Was the cambelt paperwork for that car though?
MOT certificates are no longer issued, its all computerised, so they were blagging it from the start with the "its in the post" thing.
The cambelt is for the car, the parts are correct and dates add up, save me dismantling the engine to check myself i'm certain that's been done. MOT certificates are no longer issued, its all computerised, so they were blagging it from the start with the "its in the post" thing.
I know MOTs are computerised, have been for a while but i've always had a paper counterpart and i'd continue to expect to see one myself for any car that's had one issued.
danj3000 said:
The cambelt is for the car, the parts are correct and dates add up, save me dismantling the engine to check myself i'm certain that's been done.
I know MOTs are computerised, have been for a while but i've always had a paper counterpart and i'd continue to expect to see one myself for any car that's had one issued.
I still got got a print out for the MOT too. Don't know if you legally have to have it though.I know MOTs are computerised, have been for a while but i've always had a paper counterpart and i'd continue to expect to see one myself for any car that's had one issued.
I bought my abarth used from a large dealership up my way... that rhymes with shark. Car was approaching 4 years old but only had 17,000 miles on it. Mileage checked out, but I wanted timing belt done owing to the age. Also the MOT was up at the end of the month. They said they'd do that too. They did the timing belt, but alas no MOT. This was all sorted by a swift phone call through to the service department, and what do you know but they did it... with the car parked out the front and in under 5 minutes. You'd guarantee that is all the garage would do anyway.
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