FrankieKitt

Just to update all those who are following this thread. In January of this year I was awarded by an arbitrator the retail cost of 4 Proteus Alloy wheels, plus my costs of the arbitartion through Car Codes. It totalled £1046.00. A just result in the end. Thank you to all the other owners who provided me with additional evidence concerning the problems they had with their Proteus wheels. All the best Frank Kitt

What is this saying about how trustworthy VAG are? It is clearly apparent that there is a dishonest culture within the company that has a total disregard to ethical standards or for laws that protect the public. Consumers who made a concious decision to buy a VAG vehicle based upon the data supplied have been criminally deceived. Some of you may know that I have documented the fact that VAG and in particular Skoda UK flagrantly break consumer laws by stonewalling consumers through their unfair terms and conditions within their warranty to deny proper consumer entitlements. Interestly enough it seems VAG attempted to deny these recent allegations until they were presented with the undeniable evidence. This culture goes towards the very centre of the company where principles of due dilligence are clearly absent. Today CEO Martin Winterkorn fell on his sword in an attempt to appease the public disgust, yet he claims he was unaware of this criminal conduct. That raises the question who was sufficiently empowered to approve it AND that there was no-one within VAG management with sufficient honesty empowered enough to steer the company along the straight and narrow.

For all those who would like copies of old brochures please find. For pre facelift. http://web.archive.org/web/20071013192003/http://www.skoda.co.uk/skoda3g/content/whatsnew/Octavia_Scout.pdf All the best Frank

Nick From evidence provided from a coating company it seems a combination of poor key to the diamond cut surface and hard, brittle lacquer results in minute chipping from small particles of everyday road dust and/or chippings. A breach of the coating not noticeable to the eye results in moisture ingress and oxidisation and the tell tale 'white worm' as the lacquer starts to delaminate. It seems mileage plays a big part in obviously accelerating the rate of deterioration. My wheels started to show white worm at 20 months and about 16.5K. Plenty of people are now getting in touch with their stories, we'll see how things progress. Frank

Some customers attempting to make a warranty claim have incurred reluctance at the dealers. One being told that wheels are only covered for twelve months as they are regarded as 'items of trim'. Has anyone had similar problems?

Paddypaws / Sarge Thats true to some extent but forum/community members tend to have a high degree of customer loyalty and frequently tell of their satisfaction with most aspects of the car (talking of the Scout here) The majority of consumers don't venture near forums. I can't think of a particular reason why the forum members, many of whom were members before the problems arose don't depict a fair representation of the wider consumer experience. I have spoken to a number of people selling Scouts across the country, not one being a member of the forum. They all report problems, some dealers who are selling 2013 Scouts with wheels with blemishes apparent, so I think Silver1011's assertion that it a rarity to find one without problems appears to be correct and from reports coming in via emails the people who retain the car soon have a repeat of the problem. Nick_H has managed to retain his in good order but that appears to be down to a number of extraordinary measures, a separate winter wheels set and a fastidious cleaning and protection regime. It appears that Nick has been meticulous in his care as opposed to lucky. Thanks for your views Frank

Nick_H You must truly be the luckiest man alive. The men at Otto Fuchs must have put a special mix on. Look after them, they must be a particularly rare type. All the best Frank

Silver Thank you very much indeed for your advice with the Scout register, I'll get on it straight away. In discussions with staff at Car Codes they will not accept evidence from internet sources which have no way of being verified against individuals details or vehicle purchases. Hence I've been attempting to get emails from people, like yourself who have had to go through the inconvenience of many visits to the dealers, more often than not only to get the problem re-occur after warranty has expired. It shows that their warranty redress is ineffective and in breach of consumer law, in particular towards the latter years where a company practising due dilligence would interrogate their warranty data and identify an inherent weakness. Another issue I'm hearing is the lack of uniformity in response from the dealers, some customers are still being greeted with reluctance to deal with these issues under warranty and some like Aandareay (Andy Reay has been asked to pay up front or take the car to the original selling dealer. I think that reflects the 2+1 yr warranty arrangement with the dealer financing the last year. What ever the reason its the customer who ends up squeezed between Skoda & dealer. To date I've received a fair bit of support from Briskoda members who have emailed me their contact details including the registration number of their vehicle. Most are willing for it to be supplied to the Motor Manufacturers Regulatory Body. My email details are in my original post if you are prepared to supply such information. Another fact relevant in your previous posts is, like me I now look at all Scouts in car parks and examine their wheels. You have stated many Scouts you have seen older than 18 months have evidence of lacquer delamination. I'm hoping the vast experience held within Briskoda can be put to some use and encourage Customer Services to treat their customers with respect to their rights. Hope to hear from you again Frank

Alan Skoda are subscribers to New Car Codes, the self regulatory body. As you are aware, I am in the process of complaining to them about Scout wheels and Skoda's prolonged fitment of these wheels long after problems been reported. In your case perhaps you should ring Skoda's customer services at this stage. They will probably remind your original dealer of their obligations to Skoda under Chpt 3 para 4 of New Car Codes, Where repair work is required under the new car warranty it may be carried out by any dealer in the manufacturer's network. In regard to these circumstances I would be most grateful if you could copy & past your post in an email to me at [email protected]. At the head of your account please include the registration number of your Scout. I will submit this information to the New Car Codes. I hope to get as many supportive cases indicating that these wheels are not of satisfactory quality / fit for purpose. That determination may help some customers when their second set of alloys corrode out of warranty. Many thanks for the time taken to respond to me request. Frank

Thanks for the email contacts and the helpful information, please keep it coming.

I would also ask that you mention my request for support in this matter to any other owners of Octavia Scouts who are not Briskoda members and have experienced issues with proteus wheels. Many thanks

In March 2013 we purchased a new Octavia Scout. As a four wheel drive, raised ride height version, it sales represent a small percentage of overall sales of Octavias but like many other Scout purchasers between 2008-2013 the standard Proteus alloys started to show unsightly corrosion within the first two years. At service in February 2015 we were offered by Skoda replacement Proteus wheels. It is clear however from the speed of deterioration of the wheels and the accounts of other Scout owners that any replacement Proteus wheels would also prematurely corrode as did the original set. This form of redress is therefore ineffective and contravenes paragraph 4.1 of The Motor Industry’s Code of Practice which states; Where parts are supplied to dealers they will be of a satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose for which parts of that type are normally used. http://www.motorcodes.co.uk/motorist/the-codes/new-car-code.html My assertion that these wheels are not fit for purpose is based upon what the law describes as the expectations of a reasonable person, in that, having regard to their fitment to a 4x4 vehicle, equipped with additional body protection and raised ground clearance for light off road conditions, the reasonable expectation would be that the wheels would be correspondingly robust. Of course that is not the case because they have the most vulnerable of wheel coatings, of less durability than the powder coated wheels fitted to Skoda vehicles intended solely for use on the road. (As in many other Briskoda Scout users, my vehicle has never been used ‘off road’ so the wheels failed to survive a reasonable time in a road only environment) Skoda UK is a subscriber to New Car Codes which provides reassurance to customers a commitment to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute-approved codes of practice. That in turn places obligations upon Skoda UK to observe the requirements of all legislation and regulatory requirements, including: The Sale of Goods Act 1979 and The Supply of Goods, Services Act 1982 when goods must be; of satisfactory quality, free from defect, be safe to use and last for a reasonable length of time in a reasonable condition. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPR) 2008, applies to commercial practices, 'before, during and after a contract is made’ and includes ‘after-sales services’. That act further reinforces the New Car Codes by creating offences for failing to comply with, ‘a firm and verifiable commitment in that code’. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284442/oft1008.pdf Skoda’s warranty http://www.skoda.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Brochures/Warranty-Booklet-single.pdf and its application contravenes The New Car Codes, paragraphs 1.6 and 3 in that it appears to diminish a consumer’s rights and does not include a statement which makes it clear to consumers that the warranty is in addition to and does not affect a consumer’s rights. This omission forms part of a series of unfair commercial practices which contravenes the CPR 2008 in that it is likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer by withholding information concerning their broader consumer rights. This retains the consumer within the less favourable confines of the warranty process. (i.e. consumers eventually give up and as in the case of many Briskoda members such as silver1011 who after two sets of wheels resort to refurbishment after the expiration of warranty) Tyre fitters, wheel refurbishment specialists and many owners of Scouts tell of the poor durability of the Proteus alloys dating back over 7 years. At http://www.skodaparts.com/genuine-skoda-parts customers are assured components, 'have shown to be safer, longer lasting and more economical over time’. The Scout is one of the rarest of Skodas yet the Proteus issue is common knowledge at the dealers. In all my correspondence and discussions with Skoda Customers Services including an email to Skoda’s CEO Alaisdair Stewart there is a failure to respond with a rational explanation concerning the accounts of other Scout owners who tell of replacement wheels also suffering premature corrosion and I am confronted with an attitude that my only form of redress is within the confines of Skoda’s like for like warranty with total disregard to its ineffectiveness under UK consumer law. The Briskoda membership of Scout owners is only a small percentage of overall Scout ownership but I see no reason to suggest that member experiences are not representative of that wider consumer group. The Briskoda forum and community is extremely beneficial in the supply of ‘intelligence’ to its users but clearly from members stories, Skoda UK can still dismiss individual incidents as a ‘one off’ because consumers are alone without the benefit of supportive evidence that is available within their ‘community’. Hence complaints are still being made in 2015 concerning an issue which first came to light in 2008/9. I now ask Briskoda members (some I know who work for Skoda UK and their dealerships) who have experience or knowledge of Proteus wheel warranty claims or delamination, resulting in loss of tyre pressure to contact me either through the forum or via the details below. I am an ex-police officer, trained investigator and analyst which I only mention to reassure members that your personal details and information will not be disclosed further without consent, although it is hoped to provide evidence of members’ experiences to the regulatory body New Car Codes who understandably will not accept information from sources without it being able to be verified. Frank Kitt – Onen Fawr, Capel Isaac, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. SA19 7TR. Tel. 01558 685638 [email protected]

No Waiting / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDI PD / MY09 (Pre facelift) andyjl1968 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI PD / MY07 Nick_H / Arctic Green / 1.8Tsi MY11 / ( Delivery September 2010 ) dekka48, / black magic,/ 2.0 PD, / 2008 skodal, / Anthracite Grey, / 2.0 CR Diesel, / MY11 - hopefully september!!! foo / Anthracite / 1.8TSI / 2009 Stuart / Arctic Green / 2.0 PD / May 2010 NikNak/ Anthracite Grey/ 2.0 CR / MY11 - Delivery around August 2010 Constant / Brilliant Silver Metallic / 2.0 TDi / Jan 2008 Gaz196/ Black Magic / 1.8 TSi / MY11 Sept '10 GGG / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 PD / May 2010 Pedro Pete / Anthracite / 2.0 CR / . Arriving End Sept? Inego/Brilliant Silver/ 2.0 PD/ Jan 10 Kumquat/ Satin Grey/ 2.0 TDi/ Nov 2009 CEPi / Cappuccino / 1.8 TSi / Apr 2010 sparky2 / Satin Grey / 2ltr PD TDi / July 2009 FL Normcall/Red/1.8 TSI/2009 username taken/black/2ltr pd/june 2010 KayakJim /Brilliand Silver/ 2.0 PD TDi/ MY08 rkenny/Satin Grey/2.0 PD Tdi/March 08 GroundHog/Satin Grey/2.0 PD TDi/MY08 Captain Kremen/Satin Grey/2.0PD TD/2007 07 ralle / Cappuccino / 2.0PD / 2007 57 atkinsong/Candy White/1.8 TSI/May 2010 uscouter / Cappuccino / 2.0PD TDi/ March 2010 FrankieKitt / Brilliant Silver 2.0 CR TDi March 2013 Like This Quote MultiQuote

Skoda are denying that there is a problem with the Proteus wheels on the Scout. They are corroding after 2 years. Could anyone who has had problems with these wheels send me some info. Many thanks Frankie Kitt

Hello every one. I'm new to Briskoda and am awaiting delivery of a new Scout in March after a horrendous period of Vauxhall ownership. We live 5 miles from the main road and snow can cause us big problems. I tried to give my custom to local garage Sinclairs at Swansea but they would'nt even give me a quote. I'm travelling to Preston (Simpsons) and I will let you know how it goes.