So last week I got a new iphone with a wireless charger feature. I went to try it out in my Karoq SEL but couldn't figure out how to connect it. I contacted Skoda and my salesman (who was rubbish by the way) for assistance and he called me back and told me flatly in a 30 second conversation obviously i didn't have it! No apology, good bye.

 

I was sure the car had it advertised on the SEL sepc when I ordered the car in Feb, so I checked my order form, sure enough it is listed "Amundsen sat nav system with 8" touch screen and integrated Wi-Fi and Phonebox with wireless charging", I escalated this to the sales manager and he told me," it was a mistake on the order form and that it was a no-cost option, and it was my responsibility to check this at the point of sale. No cost options can change apparently according to Skoda terms and conditions?!!?" No apology from him either. I couldn't believe this, I had this spec in writing, why would I then confirm it verbally?

 

So I escalated this to the business manager who has told me the exact same thing!! Still no apology or even a hint that they have got this wrong.

 

So I contacted Skoda UK and they have told me something rather different. They told me that the Spec for the Karoq was changed on the 19th April relating to the wireless charging....... and because I have it listed on my order I have a good case.

 

So where does this leave me, I ordered a car with wireless charging included as "standard spec" as per my order form, the dealership tells me it is listed as a no-cost option to me, (even though they also claim it was a cost option at the same time which I didn't pay for?) and because I didn't pay for it, I can't claim to have it?

 

Not very happy with the dealership, and not sure what I should do next.

Edited 2 July, 20187 yr by MattSu

Try contacting the motor trade ombudsmen for advice, hopefully they might be more helpful.

The feature was pulled on 19th April from a few Skoda models as well as some SEAT's too.   Official bulletin to dealers: 

 

"Delivery stop for vehicles fitted with wireless smartphone charger, advanced telephone connection and business mobile phone interface
Retailers are to stop delivery of all new vehicles containing certain optional phone preparations to customers with immediate effect.
These phone preparation options normally include a component which amplifies mobile phone signals. Regrettably, due to technical and regulatory constraints, we are unable to provide this function at this moment in time.
All other functions of these options, such as wireless charging and dual phone Bluetooth connection will continue to be fully operational without any restrictions."

 

More info here: 

 

 

 

Except this happened before the 19th April. I’d already taken delivery of the car by then, it was one of the first Karoqs in the country I believe. I have the wireless charger spec’d on the order form and in the brochure. But they still claim it is an extra I didn’t pay for! 

 

 

3 hours ago, MattSu said:

So last week I got a new iphone with a wireless charger feature. I went to try it out in my Karoq SEL but couldn't figure out how to connect it. I contacted Skoda and my salesman (who was rubbish by the way) for assistance and he called me back and told me flatly in a 30 second conversation obviously i didn't have it! No apology, good bye.

 

I was sure the car had it advertised on the SEL sepc when I ordered the car in Feb, so I checked my order form, sure enough it is listed "Amundsen sat nav system with 8" touch screen and integrated Wi-Fi and Phonebox with wireless charging", I escalated this to the sales manager and he told me," it was a mistake on the order form and that it was a no-cost option, and it was my responsibility to check this at the point of sale. No cost options can change apparently according to Skoda terms and conditions?!!?" No apology from him either. I couldn't believe this, I had this spec in writing, why would I then confirm it verbally?

 

So I escalated this to the business manager who has told me the exact same thing!! Still no apology or even a hint that they have got this wrong.

 

So I contacted Skoda UK and they have told me something rather different. They told me that the Spec for the Karoq was changed on the 19th April relating to the wireless charging....... and because I have it listed on my order I have a good case.

 

So where does this leave me, I ordered a car with wireless charging included as "standard spec" as per my order form, the dealership tells me it is listed as a no-cost option to me, (even though they also claim it was a cost option at the same time which I didn't pay for?) and because I didn't pay for it, I can't claim to have it?

 

Not very happy with the dealership, and not sure what I should do next.

 

"I really can't understand why this punter is making a fuss.  They have a car (possibly a Karoq which he thought he was going to get, possibly some other model, let's not be sidetracked by details).  It has an engine of some sort, possibly what the customer initially wanted.  I've seen it has four of those rubbery things at each corner and at the time of sale I recall it also had five doors.  Now the fellow is getting all miffed because it doesn't have an insignificant feature which was on the order form and he was expecting it to have.  Give me strength.  Well I'm not wasting my time trying to sort him out.  If he's unhappy, tough.  We have plenty of other fish in the sea to catch.  Now how's our weekly/monthly/quarterly sales totals going"  -- Imaginary thought process of your dealer's business manager/salesman/business owner?

 

Appalling treatment you have received MattSu.

 

As Gaz1985 has said, follow it up with the motor trade ombudsman and/or Consumer helpline (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/).

 

Don't let these individuals of doubtful parentage get away with it.

@MattSu 

My original order form (dated 19/1/18) shows the same, namely ....Phonebox with wireless charging £0 price.

It was part of the spec on an SE L. Costing  £583.33 +VAT as an extra on the SE.

So I assume the SE L has a "package price" to include this and all the other "extras".

I tried building an SE to my exact spec and found it cost much more than the SE L - even though I did not want LED headlights, or the 18" wheels, it was cheaper to take the SE L and add a few more extras.

My phone can charge wirelessly, but like yours not with the SE L. I keep a little USB lead in the glove box for emergencies, but for me its not a huge problem.

From the start, I looked on the wireless charging feature as a bonus but not a game changer. I was a little disappointed at first, but I love the car.

 

Like you found, dealer salespeople were and are rubbish.

 

I presume the Karok purchase contract completed upon payment, so does your / our case  hinge on the Vehicle Order Form, which is just that I would expect.

 

What I think im trying to say is that the SE L is a package, a fixed price assortment of goodies not available on the SE. They dreamed up a price, LESS  than the total cost of the individual parts. So its difficult to provide  a monetary value on a particular feature, like the phonebox with wireless charging.

 

I have an Edition delivered to me on June 19th, I was advised that the Charging function would still work prior to delivery on June 15th, on June 19th and again on June 25th.  Today I tried to charge a Samsung Galaxy S7 (purchased today) and it does not charge.

 

I've contacted Skoda Chat this evening and the response was:  I can see that when your vehicle was built this feature had been removed as an option and therefore will not be in your vehicle. I would advise speaking to the selling Retailer as they should have informed you of this, this applies to vehicles with production after April.

I'm going to speak with Trading Standards before I go back to the dealer.

Not going to just accept the lack of service from the dealer.

I collected my Edition at the end of May and noted straight away that the phone box was not fitted as specified when I ordered it. (I had seen posts that said there was an issue). I asked the dealer to take this up with Skoda and I was refunded £280. 

I can do without it but it would have been useful as I have a phone that charges wirelessly.

19 hours ago, MattSu said:

 

I think the little black dot on the spec says alot 'Standard' NOT 'Optional', or would they argue these were all no cost options and supply you a Karoq without KESSY, rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors etc. and say this is OK as they are no cost options and therefore you haven't paid for them ??

Quite frankly given the fact I have provided the Simpson's dealership in Preston with both the original order form and this brochure, both detailing the standard wireless charging spec, I am at a loss as to why they are even bothering to refute this. It beggars belief that they can bury their heads in the sand like this!

 

I have just again been on the phone to Skoda UK and they have a person designated to deal with my case and to deal with the known phone box issues, so why the dealer claims to know nothing of the phone box issues is very questionable. Hopefully the dealership will come to their senses soon enough and I won't be compelled to drop the keys back off with them. It's appalling customer care.

 

 

Edited 3 July, 20187 yr by MattSu

My experience was slightly different to the others here.

 

I got a call from the dealer 2 weeks before my Edition was to be built and they volunteered a refund of £275 due to this phone-box and wireless charging feature not being available.

 

I then contacted Skoda UK who surprisingly told me the opposite - that the phone box feature only was affected and wireless charging would work and that they are not offering any refunds !!

 

As I had my mind set on the Karoq and spent almost 3 months waiting, I decided to take the refund offered by my dealer who promptly sent me an updated order form showing the reduced price. 

 

 

On 03/07/2018 at 13:42, MattSu said:

Quite frankly given the fact I have provided the Simpson's dealership in Preston with both the original order form and this brochure, both detailing the standard wireless charging spec, I am at a loss as to why they are even bothering to refute this. It beggars belief that they can bury their heads in the sand like this!

 

I have just again been on the phone to Skoda UK and they have a person designated to deal with my case and to deal with the known phone box issues, so why the dealer claims to know nothing of the phone box issues is very questionable. Hopefully the dealership will come to their senses soon enough and I won't be compelled to drop the keys back off with them. It's appalling customer care.

 

 

I’ve ordered my Karoq from Simpson’s in Preston. Never dealt with such a poor dealership before, and won’t be again when this one’s 2 year lease ends. Assuming the car eventually turns up. Who knows, they never tell me what is going on and won’t take any responsibility or recognise that my contract is with them not Skoda.

Check out my thread with regards to the wireless charging. 

Slightly different circumstances but same issues with it not being delivered as specified. 

 

Anyhow, tell the dealer that the car was not delivered as expected. I would contact the ombudsman for advice but from experience they can’t do anything further until 8 weeks after you made the complaint to the dealer. Just keep it to e-mails so you have a paper trail, it’s very hard to prove anything over the phone. Also give them a deadline to get back to you and warn that you will contact the ombudsman is nothing progresses. 

 

Hope it works out for you. 

Just to add, keep all details of who you spoke to, when (time and date) and their position, further down the line if it goes as far as small claims you would have all the required information. 

13 hours ago, MarcusKaroq said:

Check out my thread with regards to the wireless charging. 

Slightly different circumstances but same issues with it not being delivered as specified. 

 

A link to 'said thread' would help...

I don't understand why people keep using Preston Skoda, otherwise known as Simpsons Skoda, their reputation precedes them wherever you look.

 

Be sure you write a short note on your experience here, then send the link to Simpson's email address...

 

 

On 03/07/2018 at 13:42, MattSu said:

I have just again been on the phone to Skoda UK and they have a person designated to deal with my case and to deal with the known phone box issues, so why the dealer claims to know nothing of the phone box issues is very questionable.

 

This is the way to do it, it's an issue Skoda UK need to take up with one of their franchised dealers.

 

Let them have the conversation with Simpson's and get back to you with a resolution.

On 06/07/2018 at 13:55, silver1011 said:

 

A link to 'said thread' would help...

 

Sorry not sure on how to link on here...newbie issue lol. 

So the conclusion to this thread.... about a month and a half ago I got a very unapologetic email from Simpsons Skoda, stating that they were not at fault, the wireless charger was not something which was supposed to be fitted as standard, however there was a misprint in the sale brochure and the order form (presumably that must have been my fault then!! ha!)

 

They said they would pay me £280 pound as way of compensation (funny that compensating me for something which is not their fault) which would be sent in two cheques, one from them one from Skoda UK. The cheque from Simpsons arrived about 3 days later (with a blank compliments slip, no note, apology or acknowledgement that this was a massive pain in the arse for me), the Cheque from Skoda took 6 weeks to turn up after lots of chasing up.

 

So the lesson learned, Skoda customer services is pretty rubbish, but if you persist (a lot) you might at least get some money for your trouble.

 

The bottom line is, they should have held their hands up straight away, sent the cheque with a letter of apology and that would have settled the situation nicely. Instead, I feel like I had to battle them tooth and nail to get compensation, made to feel like this was my mistake and even at the end no apology happened. 

 

As a result I wouldn't buy another Skoda.

 

 

Edited 5 September, 20187 yr by MattSu

Funny as well is that the compensation is the same as others have received i.e. £275/£280! So the problem had been considered before and the amount set and so should have been forthcoming without the hassle.

Yes its a pain - I want it in mi Oct 3 (and at first thought I had it).  I'm looking at buying a wireless charger and putting it in the holder where the phone goes to charge it wireless.  I believe others have done similar.

I had orderd edition on  27th March and received on 3rd August without wireless charger, that time it was under cofiguration, Raised offical complaint with Skoda uK, they came back after five working days and offered refund of £280 through daeler. I t was ok for me