Halfords broke my Roomster

[P6bJOHN]

Have you contacted the Citizens Advice help line regarding your consumer rights and possible onward reporting to Trading Standards?

[malbee]

Hi p6bJOHN,

No I have not, and I thank you for your positive and very helpful comment, I will do as you suggest after I have made a visit to the Halfords branch tomorrow and inspect my vehicle and go from there!

[tubbytommy]

16 days for a fuel pipe sounds a complete fabrication.

I'd want the car inspected before even driving it.

The morons that work in those places are unbelievable.

It's possible they have done anything like starting a car with no oil etc and are hunting around for a cheap second hand engine or like mentioned above crashed or badly damaged it.

There is a fine line from being understanding to being stupid and no offence intended I think you are being the latter.

[bobspark]

Along time ago I worked with someone ,who used to say he as a young lad was a grease monkey at Brooklands .Since then Ive often thought it dose not need someone skilled to service a car ,its so simple nowadays, apart from the safety inspection of the vehicle.

Following your tale , I've revised that ideal ,and you do need someone who knows what there doing! Funny enough the chap in his senior years used to have his car serviced by main dealers  ,but used to stick bits of cotton over various service parts to confirm they had been attended to,and then play merry hell when he found filters hadn,t been cleaned or tappets adjusted.Thought it all a bit strange as the time messing around sticking cotton in place he could have done the service himself,but there you go.

Anyway Ive rambled on a bit,good luck I hope it all works out all right for you ,after all this stress and bother.We have all been there at some time or other,and if it isn't cars it something else.

[Breezy_Pete]

So I guess the answer to my question is no, you haven't seen your car since you dropped it off?  It belongs to you, not them, remember. 

 

Last post in this thread for me, cheers and good luck.

[malcster]

I would ask them which dealer the part has been ordered with with a view to asking the dealer if the part is back ordered due to constantly breaking (very doubtful)

Or the simple fact they have never imported one as they as general rule do not break unless hamfisted ness has occurred

Ask them to see the car and also if they used the correct tool to remove the clips as per vag guidelines

You will probably find they will end up fitting a part from a breaker yard but the supplying part dealer will be able to confirm this after the car has been returned

I am amazed that curiosity in you has not asked to see the car I would call their bluff and ask to see the hose in particular with a view to locating your own hose

with out knowing more details I have a friend who works at a tps so we could tell straight away if they are pulling your plonker

Maybe some one of the suggestions is correct and more damage has been done I would suggest to the local halfords that upon completion the car will go to ŠKODA at their expense for a full inspection and prewarn the dealer of your choice

What has happened and you would like a compete inspection

Please please op nip down and see the car

[KenONeill]

Along time ago I worked with someone ,who used to say he as a young lad was a grease monkey at Brooklands .Since then Ive often thought it dose not need someone skilled to service a car ,its so simple nowadays, apart from the safety inspection of the vehicle.

Following your tale , I've revised that ideal ,and you do need someone who knows what there doing! Funny enough the chap in his senior years used to have his car serviced by main dealers  ,but used to stick bits of cotton over various service parts to confirm they had been attended to,and then play merry hell when he found filters hadn,t been cleaned or tappets adjusted.Thought it all a bit strange as the time messing around sticking cotton in place he could have done the service himself,but there you go.

Anyway Ive rambled on a bit,good luck I hope it all works out all right for you ,after all this stress and bother.We have all been there at some time or other,and if it isn't cars it something else.

I remember one of my mates servicing a car like that (but with dots of paint). With the garage owner's agreement, we replaced all the dots, and prepared a bill for the owner which included:-

"...

Item - To painting filters, spark plugs and leads as per original - 1hr @ £x

..."

[bobspark]

Yes this person was also known to go in the dealership showroom on a Saturday afternoon (when the service department was closed) shouting where can I get service for my car? 

Must have been a nightmare for the sales staff,and scary for customers.

[Ootohere]

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/225239-you-cant-get-ster-than-kwik-fit-fitter

While we wait for the outcome of the fiasco with the Great British institution of hopelessness, maybe we can remember the other shower of mainly hopeless and handless barstewards that are Fast Foot Dancers, chancers and Oil filter wipers and put a dirty mark on again ers.

(i am anti violence but when someone that risks your families life because the are a lazy muppet a punch in the face can be a wake up call for them, and if they want they can call the police about an assault, and also explain how they were caught out charging for work not carried out during safety checks & servicing including brakes..)

Edited 17 August, 2016 by GoneOffSKi

[malcster]

Edited 17 August, 2016 by malcster

[malbee]

Hi all!

Sorry been away for a few days----Halfords update---got a call,Monday 22 Aug--"cars reddy"

This must be a record--25 days for a MOT & Service.

Took the hire car back, went and picked up my car--handed the key--"we got there in the end"---I think that is a Halfords apology--I looked at the service book, nothing filled in---

"gisit here I'll do it now"

I said,in effect i have only got 11 Months MOT on this vehicle, wait for it,---he said, bring it back next year and you can have a free MOT!!!

I said, I would no more bring any vehicle that I owned within---(you can guess the rest)

Anyway, I have checked the car over and there seems nothing untoward wrong with the vehicle, I checked if the service items had been carried out --all filters,plugs,fluids,etc everything seem above board and there is no damage to the car.

I checked for the famous,extremely hard to source fuel connection---all you knowledgeable people out there will know which part I'am refering to---There are 2 small plastic elbow joints

on the pipes that come from the fuel tank, well 1 of them is brand new and shiny, so that is the offending part!!

I think it was a breakdown in communication between staff and Manager and the part was not ordered, (when I went down to the branch after week 2 the Manager had just come back from holiday and said he didn't know what had been happening?) 

I have written to the General Manager at Head Office and given him the whole sad story and my opinion of my local branch of Halfords, which he ultimately responsible for, so lets see the outcome!!         Will let you know later.       GO HALFORDS!!!!

[malcster]

well at least you got it sorted mate 

 

my thoughts in these situations is things do break or get broken by plonkers and generally go wrong

its what the company does afterwards to put it right with the least amount of stress to you 

 

you might get a free service voucher from the head office 

[malbee]

Like your sense of humor malcster,-- I was more looking for a P45 rather than any form of recompense from HQ

Thing is,where do you take your vehicle to be serviced and made how you would like it to be--a safe and reliable car for you and your family to travel in?

Is there such a place? or are they all scam merchants, just wanting to make money!

Think I'll buy a bike!---NOT FROM HALFORDS!

[alltorque]

Like your sense of humor malcster,-- I was more looking for a P45 rather than any form of recompense from HQ

Thing is,where do you take your vehicle to be serviced and made how you would like it to be--a safe and reliable car for you and your family to travel in?

Is there such a place? or are they all scam merchants, just wanting to make money!

Think I'll buy a bike!---NOT FROM HALFORDS!

You could always use your local Skoda dealer. Yes, I know, crazy idea.

[nbramwel]

Call me a cynic if you like but we seem to make most things difficult in this country.  I've lost count of the number of things I've bought over the years both car wise and non car wise that have been broken, didn't work, damaged or not delivered on time.  I once bought a basic brand new fiesta that didn't have a passenger mirror.  I asked the dealer to fit one for me and they fitted the mirror for the previous model.  I pointed this out to them and they did put it right.  But the holes they drilled in the passenger door for the mirror were in the wrong spot for the new mirror and to cap it all, they didn't bother to fit the securing plate inside the door to hold the mirror securely.

 

It's no wonder that customers get annoyed and have no faith in many commercial outlets now.  As has already been said elsewhere, businesses are simply interested in taking as much money from the customer for as little effort and expense as possible.  Moan over but the OP's experience has been a downright disgrace.

[malcster]

Depending on where you live most towns and cities have a vw specialist so to speak

Or an old established garage

Avoid the big fast fit centres

If you can't find one initially ask at a Gsf branch near by for a recommendation they usually supply most if there stock and usually have a good relationship with them