Benfield Skoda - Harrogate

[andy2407]

Benfield Skoda Harrogate

Knaresborough Road

Harrogate

HG2 7LU

(Shares premises with Benfield Ford)

Tel: 01423 818818

Fax: 01423 880822

New Car Sales

Authorised Repairer

Sales Opening Hours:

Monday-Friday: 09:00 - 19:00

Saturday: 09:00 - 17:00

Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00

Service Dept Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday: 07:30 - 18:00

Saturday: 08:30 - 12:30

[bennybee20]

I have used Benfield Harrogate for some warranty work involving engine diagnostics. They failed to fix the problem initially but were happy to put (a lot of) time into finding the fault and have now (hopefuly) sorted it. They provided a replacement Fabia without question and David who is in charge of skoda servicing was great. He kept me informed and even followed up with a phone call a week later to see if everything was fine.

I would recommend them and it was certainly convenient for me living in Harrogate as i would have had to take it to Pulleyns in York otherwise.

It would be good to hear from other members who have used them to decide if to use them for future servicing.

[andy2407]

I'm now spending two or three nights a week near Harrogate with my new job, so this is the closest dealer to where I work.

The dealer that I bought my Octy off forgot to re-set the service light so I took it in to Benfield to have it done.

As soon as they entered my reg number into the computer, it flagged up that the car hadn't been in for the dual mass flywheel recall.

:rant: Not sure how this could happen when it was bought from an approved used Skoda dealer, and the first owner was someone at Skoda UK - perhaps they prefer to spend their time spying on here and ignore their own recall notices :rant:

Anyway, the initial check showed that it needed to have the flywheel chnaged, so Benfield said they would order the parts and get back to me.

As soon as the parts came in, they called me and the car was booked in. They hoped to do it in a day, but booked it in for two just in case.

I was given an Octavia courtesy car while mine was in and the work was carried out without problems.

As mentioned above, David who runs the Skoda service department is extremely professional, and called to confirm everything was ready the day before I was due to drop the car off.

I'd also mentioned intermittent problems with my cruise control (another recognised fault that I'd read about on here) and he arranged to get the replacement stalk in assuming this was what would be needed, to save me having to make a further visit.

Finally, my car was washed and vacuumed prior to collection.

This dealer is highly recommended - many thanks!

['Little' John]

I'm assuming that their servicing department is better than their sales then.

Paul and John were very helpful in tracking down and obtaining one of the last remaining Fabia vRS Special Editions for me. Generally they managed to keep me in the picture with what was happening with the exception of one call "we'll call you before 6 o'clock tonight" which came through at 10 the next morning.

:thumbdwn: My experience as a customer was less good though. They tried every hackneyed last trick in the book, starting with bumping the starting price up by including GAP insurance (despite the fact that I wasn't taking finance) and 'stayBrite' treatment. That way they could come back with a 'new' cost-to-change which was in fact based on the RRP. They also did the old I'll have to check with the manager two-step aimed at spinning things out and making it look like they were trying really hard to make a deal. If it wasn't for the fact I was desperate to get the car (which they probably knew, hence their attitude), I'd have flipped them the bird and walked out. Two things are for certain though:

• I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
  
• I won't be going back there when it comes to the time to change my car again.

UPDATE: They've now managed to get my address wrong with the DVLA - muppets!

[auroan]

My Dad bought a new fabia estate from them last year (dealt with Keith from the ford side). His experience was good, so.....

I ordered my new L&K from George (Werner) last weekend. So far so good. George is a very bubbly character and did me a good deal. Looking forward to seeing how the purchase goes through.

[Auric Goldfinger]

Today Benfield Harrogate lost a customer. ME. Never again with any of our cars be touched by Benfield

See my latest Thread.

[yerrmann]

Second car I have bought from Benfield. It is fair dealership but this time around, after sales leaves a bit to be desired. I had courtesy follow up call and said that I felt pre-delivery Valet left bit to be desired. I also mentioned no Umbrella with the car.

The lady caller said she would contact sales person and get him to give me a call. Still waiting.

It's small things that make a difference and I fear I will go and spend my money elsewhere next time. If Benfield cannot give me a call after they have taken my money, it leaves me disappointed. Rev J Weir

[mark_b_uk]

I thought I would share this. I can now whole heatedly recommend that anyone on here- DO NOT DEAL WITH BENFIELD MOTORS.

I payed a deposit (at BENFIELD SKODA NEWCASTLE) to hold the last Blackline estate they had in group stock at their BENFIELD SKODA HARROGATE showroom. I payed the £500 deposit on 27/02/13 and arranged trade in value for current car and arranged finance through Skoda finance. Was given delivery date of 26th March to enable them to transport car from Harrogate to Newcastle and PDI, register, tax etc but was told I could have it earlier than this if I wanted.

I went in to BENFIELD SKODA NEWCASTLE last Friday 01/03/13 with my paper counterpart driving licence to photocopy for finance company and asked to have car on the 18th and was told they would do their best.

The next contact I had was a phone call on Monday 04/03/13 from BENFIELD SKODA NEWCASTLE saying SORRY YOU CAN'T HAVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE BENFIELD SKODA HARROGATE HAVE REGISTERED AND TAXED IT AS A DEMONSTRATOR FOR THEMSELVES.

Now somebody please correct me if I'm wrong but surely that car should not have been REGISTERED AS A DEMONSTRATOR TO THEMSELVES AFTER I PAYED A DEPOSIT AND ARRANGED FINANCE ETC AND WAS GIVEN MY DELIVERY DATE?

To say I'm really annoyed at the moment is an understatement and I'm currently trying to sort sort something out with them but not really getting anywhere. It comes down to either ordering a standard vRS for the same money, getting one with options but paying considerably more for it with them offering a few hundred pounds discount or waiting 3 months until the car I originally ordered has been a demonstrator for 3 months and then buying it as an ex demo car but they are wanting me to pay around the same amount as I would be paying new for it, the figure of maybe '£500 less but you won't get Skoda £500 deposit contribution as its not a new car now' was mentioned to me! Now that sounds like a rotten deal to me as BENFIELD SKODA HARROGATE REGISTERED THE CAR I ORDERED AND PAYED DEPOSIT ON, AS A DEMONSTRATOR FOR THEMSELVES!!!

If anyone has any advice or has been in this position before then I would love to hear from you!

[The Plumber]

Would take up the matter with Skoda Finance and Skoda UK.

Best of luck,

TP

[wendychrissam]

Judging by how efficient skoda uk are I wouldn't bother with them, I would ask for my £500 deposit back and go to a different dealer.

[Tonka972]

I've had loads of niggling issues with them over the years from poor servicing and customer satisfaction - to the point of buying my latest from Nottinghamshire. As far as servicing goes - VASSTECH Knaresborough or Northallerton every time. Can't praise VASSTECH enough.

[MGBen]

Now rebranded as Lookers after the Benfield Group was taken over by them.

[Auric Goldfinger]

Fully agree on Mike's Coments, the service side is excellent. Adam and Neil ( front of house ) are first class.

 

It's just a shame they don't really seem to be Intrested in selling cars.  I've/Mrs G have had a few new cars off them in the past but now I/Mrs G have to travel to a rival dealer in Mansfield.  Our cars travel to Lookers Harrogate for the servicing/warranty though.

[Auric Goldfinger]

When and how did things change for you Andy? Earlier in the thread you said that Lookers/Benfields would never touch any of your motors again? 

It was Adam that I dealt with for the booking and whilst in the dealer - as Andy says, first class service from someone who really does know his job.

 

Mike

 

They've had a sort out with staff. The Incident I had with them was when the Undertray of my Octavia PD 170 Vrs came detatch whilst travelling at motor way speeds. It had been in for a Service the day before, the undertray was slotted in at the front but not screwed down. Luckely it stayed under the car and was removed by the RAC. I don't think they really knew or understood how serious it was, just think what could have happened if it had come out of the back and hit something. As said the service department seem to now what there doing now.