I've just found a scratch on my interior that must have been there when I collected the vrs last saturday but wasn't noticed prior to signing for the car.

It's about six inches long and on the top of the dash (directly above the dials etc), so not in the line of sight when driving. However, now I've noticed the bloody thing I can't stop looking at it.

There's no chance that I could have caused it as nothing has been in contact with that surface.

How do you rate my chances of getting something done about it knowing that I 'accepted' the car???

Is the top of the dash one part or is the little overhang that goes over the dials etc a seperate part???

Not sure how much to try and pressure the dealer into doing something or how much just to accept that it was my mistake in not giving it a further going over (I didn't expect a scratch on the top of the dash )

Any advice appreciated!

sound like someones caught it when they cleaned the interior , all you can do is go and see the salesman/woman and tell them ,do not leave it too long though ,they should be able to get something sorted , iirc the whole of the dash top is in one piece

Yeh, I thought it must be from the cleaning.

I'm taking it in one friday as it's having a new ash tray lid (i did notice a scratch on that when i inspected!)

There going to swap the part from the display model. Perhaps I could get them to do the same with the dash???

A polite mention of all the servicing money that they are potentially going to earn from me might help talk them into it I guess!

Aye Aye! Tis but a Scratch!

i would also agree it will be from when it was valeted.

i'm a valeter myself and it probably happened when they used a blade to remove stickers from the inside of the window and maybe caught or dropped the blade onto the surface

Cheers for the advice.

I'm going to exlpain that it was almost certainly caused by them and ask them to sort it as a good will gesture (as I said, they could probaby easily swap the dash over form their display model) given that I currently intend to take the car to them for all of its services.

I know they technically don't have to do anything, but if they are able to sort it without having to order parts then it shouldn't give them too much of a problem.

Dont beat around the bush (aye aye...) if you havent been lugging stuff around in your car it was NOT you. It cant have been, you've had the car for a week and wuld have remembered if something was there that should have been... Dont say it may have been you, any weakness and they may say no!

You shouldn't have to accept a scratch, even if it is just a scratch...

Rant over and good luck!

yeh, if fully understand what you're saying and that's why I think that they should sort it out for me.

However, I'm also aware that it's technically my responsibility to declare anything I'm unhappy with at time of collection. Mind you, contrary to that, aren't you able to reject a car even once you've accepted it if you find something wrong on it that the dealers aren't willing to put right?

I've no intention of rejecting it, it's just that these sort of loop holes will obviously help my position when it comes to getting something done about it.

I'm going to call the dealer later on and take it up with him prior to going there tomorrow (tried him now but his direct dial line is not answer so must be at lunch)

However, I'm also aware that it's technically my responsibility to declare anything I'm unhappy with at time of collection. Mind you, contrary to that, aren't you able to reject a car even once you've accepted it if you find something wrong on it that the dealers aren't willing to put right?

The only problem I can see with this is it's a cosmetic problem which you could have easily caused in the week you've owned it. The biggest problem in rejecting it, would be proving that it was like that when you bought it, especially considering you signed a bit of paper saying you were happy with the condition of the car on pick-up.

Definitely worth taking up with the dealer, but I'd personally talk straight about it and not threaten them with rejection, or anything which is likely to get ugly and go against you.....

Chris

The only problem I can see with this is it's a cosmetic problem which you could have easily caused in the week you've owned it. The biggest problem in rejecting it' date=' would be proving that it was like that when you bought it, especially considering you signed a bit of paper saying you were happy with the condition of the car on pick-up.

Definitely worth taking up with the dealer, but I'd personally talk straight about it and not threaten them with rejection, or anything which is likely to get ugly and go against you.....

Chris[/quote']

No , ihaven't any intention of threatening with rejection because of the reasons highlight by both yourself and I. I know that technically I could have caused but I'm appelaing to their common sense and good customer service. :scared:

Sorry to here of your prob but would think that swapping a full dash out is a big job, hope you get some joy tho.

yeh, i agree with you there. It does look like the dash is one whole part as well.

I spoke to the dealer and he said he would have a look at it. I'm pretty sure that their response will be that it's a 'lot of work' for one scratch etc and therefore they'll try and make me live with it. It depends how customer orientated they are i guess!

Update!!!

was at dealer to try and sort this this morning.

No surprises really, the guy towed the party line saying that none of us could prove when it occurred, and that seeing as it wasn't flagged up upon collection, he doens't have the authority to authorise such significant repairs (the whole dash would be have to be swapped).

I didn't back down though and fully explained my case and how it was nighon impossible for it to have been caused by me seeing as it looks like it's been done with a sharp knife etc.

He is going to speak to the dealership manager about it who was unavailable at the time and has asked me to put my case in writing for the dealership manager. It will then be taken up by him and we'll see what he can do.

I explained that he could just swap the dash with the one or their new demonstrator (on which I have already had the ashtray lid as this was scratched too) so as to save money on parts. IMO they could then sell the demonstrator with this scratch on it as it will technically be a used vehicle thus saving them the parts bill and meaning they only have to worry about the labour.

Anyhow, letter is in the post so we'll see.

One question which I'd be grateful for an answer on....

Should I be logging this issue with anyone at Skoda themselves to help my plea if I don't succeed with the dealership guy in the first instance??? Is it worth a submitting a copy of my letter to their customer services etc so they have some advance notice of my case. I wouldn't want to have to contact them a few weeks down the line only to be told "you should have let us know about this sooner"!!!

thanks.

pic taken today of aforementioned scratch...

Does anyone have a postal address or email address for skoda customer services? I may drop them a copy of my letter.

Hoping to hear back from the dealer soon!

Quite an ugly mark, unfortunately I doubt if the dealer will swap the dash, but agree it would totaly p1$$ me off and I would notice it all the time. Only solution I could see if dealer doesn't play ball would be to cover the dash pod, maybe in a carbon fibre lookalike fablon/ veneer, but this would have to be done to an immpecable standard and may look really chavtastic.

There is another option, and the dealer may play ball here: if you have a local franchise of Plastic Surgeon or Dent Master or similar, they can invisibly repair interior plastics. This would have the benefit of being cheap, and won't involve a lot of labour and the associated squeaks and rattles of having had a dashboard removed and replaced. Only takes a few minutes too.

See if the stealer is willing to cough up over that one...?

There is another option' date=' and the dealer may play ball here: if you have a local franchise of Plastic Surgeon or Dent Master or similar, they can invisibly repair interior plastics. This would have the benefit of being cheap, and won't involve a lot of labour and the associated squeaks and rattles of having had a dashboard removed and replaced. Only takes a few minutes too.

See if the stealer is willing to cough up over that one...? [/quote']

Ah,that's an interesting idea ... thanks. I wasn't sure if there would a company that offer that sort of facility. Time to have a look on yell.com and a flick through the yellow pages I think!

Interesting that you mentioned squeaks and rattles after a change. I don't have any squeaks and rattles at the mo and it has crossed my mind that they could swap my dash and then the new one could rattle loads and cause me another pain in the neck!!!

Thanks!

Quite an ugly mark, unfortunately I doubt if the dealer will swap the dash, but agree it would totaly p1$$ me off and I would notice it all the time. Only solution I could see if dealer doesn't play ball would be to cover the dash pod, maybe in a carbon fibre lookalike fablon/ veneer, but this would have to be done to an immpecable standard and may look really chavtastic.

Thanks for the sympathy!!! Whilst it doesn't impede the functionality of the car, you're right that it catches the eye and causes a lot of frustration ... especially when you want your new car to be perfect!!!

Update!!!

Just had a call from the person at the dealers who the letter was addressed to.

Said it was just to confirm that he had recived the letter and was in the process of trying to sort something out.

He said that he is going to ask a company that do 'invisible repairs' to come and inspect the vehicle whilst it's having its seats done and see if it's something that they can do.

We're going to take it from there.

Could be promising if it's something that the interior people beleive is fixable!

fingers crossed

yeh ... cheers!!!

TBH I'm a little intrigued as to how these sort of companies are able to repair things like this!?!?!?!

yeh ... cheers!!!

TBH I'm a little intrigued as to how these sort of companies are able to repair things like this!?!?!?!

Basically they heat and shape the plastic.

They can also use this to repair bumper scuffs and even fag burns in certain fabrics.

Oh and also plastic weld holes caused by mobile phone installations on dashboards etc. The trade use these franchises all the time to disguise the abuse ex company cars get when the ask full price for them on their forecourts!

ANOTHER UPDATE....

I went to the dealers today to collect my car after having its wrinkled seats looked at only to find that the scratch had disappeared completely.

After having a word with the sales people that were dealing with things it transpired that the nterior repair company had come and sorted it for me today. The sales manager thought it would be a nice 'surprise' for me.

I can honestly say that the quality of repair is astounding. You wouldn't notice a difference. It must have been achieved in the way that was described above.

I now have a perfect looking dash that still dowsn't squeak or rattle.

A big well done to freeborn in southampton for sorting it once a letter had been written to the person in charge as well!

I'll post a pic later!

nice to hear of a conscientious dealer for a change.

And the wrinkled seats?