Hey all, posted this in the Dealer reviews section as well, just wanted to let everyone know of my recentish trip to my local dealer for a little warrenty work:

When buying my car, they bent over backwards for me, servicing and other faults, they don't bother.

3 times it's been in and 3 times I've not had a courtesy car, always been told they're "Fully booked"

Also, the last time it went in (June I think) for an Exhaust and glow plug warning light activation I was asked to bring it in myself, got offered no courtesy car in exchange and when I asked for a courtesy lift off one of the staff to the nearest Metro station the receptionist said they were "Too busy" (Feet up on desks on a lazy Monday morning busy? yeah right) then to top it all off after receiving my receipt and walked half way through Newcastle City Centre I'd realised the stupid receptionist had given me a receipt to an entirely different car!

After ringing the lad up they said it wouldn't make a difference and to just present that after coming in.

Anyway booked it in at about 11ish and rang before I left Newcastle at half 3 to see if it would be ready, they told me no it wouldn't be ready today so as I got home (Using Public transport...*Shudders*) they rang me at 20 past 4 to tell me my car was ready to pick up. Got there at 10 to 5 after a courteous lift from my sister and got given my keys and maze well have been told to bugger off, no receipt, no papers telling me what was carried out or anything, also my car hadn't been cleaned at all and 12 miles had been put onto the clock, is a test drive needed for 12 miles long?

Anyway After sales this company is terrible in my opinion, stay away!

They obviously haven't changed then. Bought a Fabia 1.4 mpi when they first came out and mine had all the problems associated with that car (and I mean all). Aftersales service was shocking and after a year I just gave up and sold it. I would never use them again.

Their Harrogate branch isn't any better - see my comments on the dealers forum for what they did to me when I bought my car. Then last week I had a call from 'Benfield Ford' reminding me that my car was due a service. Even allowing for the fact it's a joint dealership you might think that they would have the intelligence to realise that if I bought a Skoda off them they might get a better reaction if they announced themselves as 'Benfield Skoda'. After what they did to me I have no intention of going back there, even if they were more local than they are.

This crowd of donkeys, ie Benfield, bought out a local reputable family owned VW dealership - and it certainly went down hill, in the end VW got the other local VW dealership to take it on because VW was going to remove their right to sell new VWs. I know you can't turn the clock back, but in this case this dealership is now seen and is second rate - hopefully any good mechanics escaped to the newish local VAG authorised repair facility. The worst thing is that the other dealership that VW got to take them on are really only a commercial operation that happens to sell and repair VWs.