Help Dealership shafting me over bill.....,

[S129]

I have a major issue with a car dealership (Robin and Day), I took my car in for MOT on the 12 January 2009 at an official Garage and as of the 14th march the garage called to say that the part arrived and the car passed its MOT, I am now being harassed for a balance to pay, however the shoe was on the other foot when I was without my car, they were not arsed.

I have raised a complaint and I am being passed from dealer back to manufacturer Peugeot UK and they are simply passing the buck while I stand here, total confused and pissed off. I personally want a little money of the bill because I have been fobbed of for 3 months, and incurred cost for transport along as well as loosing 3 mths road tax and insurance. I was then told by dealership (Robin and Day) they are not responsible and the Peugeot UK is denying responsibility because the car is 9yr old.

To cut the story shorter, the car has damages, the garage say the car was brought in that way, I argue different, the general manager said I was a liar, I replied and highlighted had the car been brought in with a smashed wing mirror and surely the MOT would have flagged this as needing repaired.

Does anybody have a similar experience and can anybody tell me if I have any rights here.

[steve_earwig]

So your car's been sitting in their workshop since January? The transport stuff I don't think will go as it's out of warrenty, what part were you waiting for? How much damage is there? I don't think they have a leg to stand on as far as the damage is concerned but you might need to take them to a small claims court.

[S129]

The car was fitted with a brand new Radiator, at which the botom radiator hose pipe was apparently coroded, so they were waiting for the part to come in from France, it was not available i was given 6 different dates of arrival in to the UK and guess what no part arrived. i was assured by a Customer Car Manager at Peugeot Uk the part was coming nothing arrived, now its arrived. Now the Garage are passing the buck, peugeot uk are passing the buck back and i am now expected to pay the bill without any deductions for what has gone on.

To top it of, the Service Department Manager said, "pop down to the local scrap yard as you can get a mirrior for a tenner"

i raised this with the GM of Garage and he did not care, you can only imagine him shrugging his sholders when i said this, he was very non committal at commenting, everything and every issue i brought to his attention he simple said "i dont have that information to hand"

i also asked him to write to me and highlight how much i owe, what i was charged for and and explanation as to why this whole process took so long he is now refusing to even do that, i dont know what to do.

I have even offered to pay 50% of bill, and take the car away from garage so it was not taking up space as they now threaten to charge storage fees, this was now denied.

He also told me that if this goes to court he will win and i will loose!!!!

[steve_earwig]

He can say whatever he likes, it was under his care and it got damaged. Did they fill out a damage inspection form of any sort when they accepted the car? Even if one does magically appear I don't suppose your signature will appear on it too. Unavailable parts have come up before, I think it was the same part on a 2.1. I'm not sure how you stand on that, although I have a suspicion it's down to Pug dragging their heals while they get enough orders to do a production run.

[S129]

Irronically, the garage filled out thier own sheet when the handover took place, and no i did not sign anything. And also finy enough the dealership and Peugeot Uk said the had half a dozen other 406`s waiting for the same Bottom Radiator Hose Pipe. Magically when i kicked enough fuss, the " Technical departmant decided to make the pipe" 3 months later. it absoloutly stinks. Hopefully my buyer want let me down, or i will have to take them via small claims and citizens beurau. but its going to get messy and i dont have the patients or fight anymore.

[teamster1975]

They're right about the bottom rad hose, I had to wait 6 weeks for one for my tubby

[Welly]

These places really piss me off

I had a cracking little 12 year old imported Honda Integra, really rare with a 1.6 158bhp vtec, LSD, etc.. I was really proud of it.

Cleaned it up really sparkling, took it to my local Honda dealer.....awaits parts....5 days etc etc .... when I collected it was covered in thick dust/hand marks and they has scratched the bonnet AND the boot - I'm talkng 3-foot long scratches from their air hoses or whatever

Cut a long story, I complained, they couldn't give a toss, the cars 'old', we hate you anyway, If you don't like it..., pay the bill sir, etc etc......

Sorry fella but to save your stress you might just have to chalk it up to experience

[Captain Jack]

I've found that you should never ever EVER take your car to your "official" stealership. They don't give a toss about you care even less about your car.

Take it to an independent - it'll be cheaper and the work will get done quicker, more efficiently and you won't have any scratches (my local Pug independent can even reprogram BSI's!).

As a side story, my Honda dealer was replacing a cracked exhaust manifold under warranty and in doing so, broke off the plastic tube bit going from the radiator meaning leakage everywhere Rather than arsing about complaining, I just stuck a metal tube inside for reinforcement and fitted together with epoxy.

[S129]

Well well folks, today i have escalated my case to the Director of Service and she has came back to me asking for a full evaluation of what has been said and done, or not done shall we say!

To day i have recieved a call from the dealership Robins and Day , who have magically reduced my bill from £527.00 to £389.00inc VAT, i also got a lovely email from the director stating that this has been highlighted to the regional sales manager and the after sales manager who, I amagine that after this i may get more satisfaction financially. watch this space, its amazing however when you get through to the right person at a company how things change, regarding the mirror, i have been told that if i accept the balance of £389.00 i am to get the wing mirror replaced independantly, as they tried to charge me £55 for the mirror and £105 for the whole wing mirror and housing unit, guess what they did not have them in stock so i will take the car as is, and continue to challange them over the mirror since the damages occured in thier custody, i think i have a very good case.

watch this post for updates as i collect the car Thursday Morning and will have feedback around lunch time. Any body having crap with Peugeot, mail me and ill supply the points of contact, 3 in total.

[teamster1975]

Nice one fella!

[Welly]

You're right though, it's all about getting the right person to make a decision - all the rest just bury their heads in the sand