Our iV Estate needs to have a software update at the dealer sometime in June. As this is a journey I wouldn't have done otherwise, I'll be asking Skoda for a contribution to the journey cost. Sometime ago, I received a very detailed questionnaire from some organisation working on behalf of Skoda and the questions were so intrusive (salary, age, health, sex, marital status and so on) I complained vociferously and received £50 in vouchers. So how much should I ask for a 60-mile round trip? Fuel will be around £4 and electricity £2. I could either be reasonable or rant on about the car being ill-prepared for release to customers with software glitches etc. Which approach works best? I've had considerable success in the past with other companies when I send e-mails headed 'Without Prejudice' and mention Which? legal services, but I'm fairly ceertain that Skoda is better approached by telephone, based on previous experiences. Thanks for the advice. Jim

3 minutes ago, Jim2015 said:

I'll be asking Skoda for a contribution to the journey cost.

Are those pigs aviating?  

I've decided to send an e-mail to Skoda after all, rather than telephone, as it's a bank holiday. I'll keep forum members informed about the response, but I did end by saying that a contribution towards costs in the form of vouchers would be acceptable.

If a Software Update required because Skoda / VW Group have not had their Franchised Dealership / Agents doing the job correctly or the Factory has not then Skoda UK could pay for a Trained & Qualified Technician to travel to you.

Or they can fairly recompense you for your expenses because of the incompetence of others.

 

Their only worry should be that your hourly rate is greater than that that Customers pay for the hourly rate to have work done at Dealerships.

 

Skoda / VW released vehicles not Fit for Purpose so that they had them First Registered & aiding them in achieving the Average C02 g/km required to save them paying the millions in penalties.

Good for the goose is good for the gander.   They need to pay for being chancers.

1 minute ago, e-Roottoot said:

If a Software Update required because Skoda / VW Group have not had their Franchised Dealership / Agents doing the job correctly or the Factory has not then Skoda UK could pay for a Trained & Qualified Technician to travel to you.

Or they can fairly recompense you for your expenses because of the incompetence of others.

 

Their only worry should be that your hourly rate is greater than that that Customers pay for the hourly rate to have work done at Dealerships.

 

Skoda / VW released vehicles not Fit for Purpose so that they had them First Registered & aiding them in achieving the Average C02 g/km required to save them paying the millions in penalties.

Good for the goose is good for the gander.   They need to pay for being chancers.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm not letting them get away with using paying customers to act as guinea pigs in driving what is in effect a black box full of software which has not been properly developed.

Interested to see how you get on.

 

With regard to the survey, was all of that information (and in fact completing the survey itself) mandatory and therefore could you not have made the decision not to complete it instead?

30 minutes ago, vfr said:

Interested to see how you get on.

 

With regard to the survey, was all of that information (and in fact completing the survey itself) mandatory and therefore could you not have made the decision not to complete it instead?

No it wasn't mandatory but I've filled in Skoda questionnaires in the past which were asking for comments on servicing, new car handover and so on, but this one was far more detailed, as I said, so I told Skoda it was none of their business and not to send such intrusive surveys again. It resulted in a £50 voucher, which bought a first aid kit, warning triangle and a his-vis jacket. So it was worth complaining and to their credit they took my complaint seriously.

Thanks for that, I was concerned that if I needed to activate some service with Skoda that they were asking for lots of unnecessary information. Good to know that this isn't the case.

VW group were using IPSOS to do Surveys, very intrusive questions and continuing to contact customers even when told to STOP.   It was a Micky take then IPSOS have some sort of award to VW for great customer services.   If everything in the world was run by VW it would be just like the UK,s handling of the pandemic where everyday some government minister says the UK is the best in the world at what it does.  Many many die but then that is really just a small percentage.

Here.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/471222-skodamori-poll-annoyed

£50 of your Great British Pounds in a voucher.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/168677-unwanted-calls-ipsos-mori

 

Edited 1 June, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

Hi Roottoot. I am that man! Wimmy was my previous forum name, well before we bought our iV, because the registration form would not accept my chosen name. Now we have the iV I'm registered as Jim

Edited 2 June, 20215 yr by Jim2015

Update: no reply from Skoda yet following my e-mail. I've sent an e-mail to my dealer headed 'without prejudice' listing the faults to date, namely the clock resets randomly to the wrong time, favourites cannot be saved to the satnav, the TPM gives a false warning, the rhd display (normally the speedo) changes the display at random, the vehicle data for short-term, medium term and long-term fuel/e-power usage has reset all data, a short-term failure of resistive braking and the lack of an option to display kph. I've said that I'll wait until Skoda has produced a software update to fix all the problems, but expressed my lack of confidence in the long-term for a car so dependent on the software and touchscreen to control most functions. My option to reject the car ends on June 9th and the update is likely to be beyond that date. If it is fixed, then I'm prepared to keep the iV. So far the faults are comparitively minor and just annoying, but I'm concerned in case the car has a more serious fault. In every other way, it's a brilliant car. Yesterday, for example we drove 83 miles and achieved 90mpg with 36 miles on e-power only as there was some regenerative charging. It's very comfortable and along a bumpy section of road, on which our Karoq and Yeti both produced a harsh ride, it was almost completely smooth. Such a shame after selecting the iV after reviewing all the PHEV's on the market, test-driving two and picking the Skoda as the best of a very impressive selection.

I've heard from Skoda UK today. They have confirmed that the car is booked in for its software update on June 17th and asked whether the case could be closed. I said that I was unhappy that I was making a 60-mile journey that I wouldn't have done otherwise and could they make a goodwill gesture. I was told to take it up with the dealer. I'll ask the dealer to charge the battery as I'm getting around 36 miles on a full charge, which will get me home. I'm annoyed that a new car with a problem has to be driven to the dealer at the owner's expense, but I suspect that a voucher would set a precedent for all warranty claims.

I raised a phone complaint yesterday with Skoda UK on the various software issues , multiple trips to the dealer. I told them i was about to reject the car but would wait to see if the 1803 SW done the job. The car has been off the road a toral of 10 days since i got her start of Feb this year

I asked for my first service to be paid for. Is this fair , should i have asked for more.? What s the likely outcome. 

Promised a call back within 48hrs

Good luck Greezy as I fully agree with your attitude. My request for a goodwill contribution from Skoda UK was refused and I was told to approach the dealer. I'm reluctant to be more forceful as the car is so good and I don't want to reject it, as long as the software update fixes the minor glitches. In previous disputes, I've headed my e-mail  'without prejudice' which hints at legal action and I also find a mention of Which? legal services helps. Please keep me updated.

I am collecting my car tomorrow 50 miles away with a replacement sunroof cover, done under warranty at a VAG authorised body shop,  so that will be 200 miles of my fuel in total. To be honest I am just pleased that it’s been fixed at no cost other than some fuel. The hybrid Suzuki Swift courtesy car does 70 Mpg so it’s not too bad, you just can’t overtake on single track A roads. I will reserve judgement until I see that it’s well repaired and the repair has not caused any damage or rattles. I understand the frustrations of the Octavia IV community. Nice cars, silly glitches. 

Hi Redboy. I'm pleased to read about your repair at no cost to you, other than fuel. Does anyone else think that if a car is being repaired under warranty, thet the loan car should be at least the same or better model than your own?

12 minutes ago, Jim2015 said:

Hi Redboy. I'm pleased to read about your repair at no cost to you, other than fuel. Does anyone else think that if a car is being repaired under warranty, thet the loan car should be at least the same or better model than your own?

 

Nope.  It should fit the requirements I need from the car.  So if i use it to cart around bulky items for work, don’t give me a Citigo.  If I just use the car to get myself from A to B, then the Citigo does that just fine.  There is no need to be handing out top spec models as courtesy cars.

Dealership staff depending on seniority are driving nice Fully Loaded Demonstrators for a minimum of 3 months / 3,000 miles with the Dealership getting a nice profit with the sale of these as Used /Ex Management cars.

No wonder they do not want many plebs that are possible customers taking them out for a hoon and taking the newness off them.

It matters not that is why the HMRC so the general public are assisting them in getting a better profit.

 

No point these cars being given willingly to those that have actually spent their hard earned money by buying a vehicle (a faulty vehicle) and helping Skoda UK & Dealerships stay in business.

My POV may come from the fact I live in walking distance to my dealer and more often than not, i turn down a courtesy car.  It’s just going to sit on my drive way the entire time it’s with me, so why bother even taking it.  So it makes even less sense for it to be some fully loaded model.

On 10/06/2021 at 12:44, Jim2015 said:

I've heard from Skoda UK today. They have confirmed that the car is booked in for its software update on June 17th and asked whether the case could be closed. I said that I was unhappy that I was making a 60-mile journey that I wouldn't have done otherwise and could they make a goodwill gesture. I was told to take it up with the dealer. I'll ask the dealer to charge the battery as I'm getting around 36 miles on a full charge, which will get me home. I'm annoyed that a new car with a problem has to be driven to the dealer at the owner's expense, but I suspect that a voucher would set a precedent for all warranty claims.

Understand where you are coming from, however cant you just take the misses our for the day, drop the car off, enjoy the day out with out moaning or will that cost you money?

I waited three hours for the work to be done as because of Covid restrictions they couldn't give me a lift into town and I wasn't prepared to pay for a taxi. We have a greyhound, so it wasn't feasible to go into town with her.

6 hours ago, Jim2015 said:

We have a greyhound, so it wasn't feasible to go into town with her.

Completely off topic, We had a greyhound until 6 weeks ago, before she sadly passed away.  Love them to bits so volunteering at the greyhound trust till we’re ready to get another one.  The Octavia was bought as it was perfect for her.  Good to hear that a greyhound fits in an iV with a slightly smaller boot!  

23 hours ago, Chrisg2021 said:

Understand where you are coming from, however cant you just take the misses our for the day, drop the car off, enjoy the day out with out moaning or will that cost you money?

I can see an oxymoron there

15 hours ago, Ajdude said:

Completely off topic, We had a greyhound until 6 weeks ago, before she sadly passed away.  Love them to bits so volunteering at the greyhound trust till we’re ready to get another one.  The Octavia was bought as it was perfect for her.  Good to hear that a greyhound fits in an iV with a slightly smaller boot!  

Great to hear you volunteeer for the greyhound trust. They are wonderful, loving dogs and make great pets. They are ideal for older people as  greys don't need much exercise, sleep a lot when there's nothing better to do and respond to affection by returning their love with licks and a certain look in their eyes.