Ranty Friday 18 September

[GreenGiant 287]

I'm picking on the punters again this week. Especially this one...

Few weeks back, a guy rings us asking for prices to service and MOT his 2 cars (neither bought from us). All quoted and booked in. Collection and Delivery, swapping one for the other when completed over a couple of days. Simples.

First car collected; calling it a shed is doing a disservice to sheds. 7 year-old MPV, kids, dog, takeaways, last time it was cleaned was the day before it was registered.

Needless to say, the MOT doesn't go too well and the Failure list goes to 2 pages. Work required is explained and authorised. Bill of £900 paid over the phone next day and the swap is done for the second car.

This one makes the first one look like a minter. Seriously. Stig of the Dump would complain to the council if he had to live in it. Our driver brought it in and told the service guys that there was something wrong with the brakes and the steering was knocking. MOT confirmed: Brakes metal to metal, shockers leaking, suspension arm bushes perished. electronic parking brake inop, bulbs, wipers, emissions (EGR valve, obvs) etc, etc. Estimated £1400 for the repairs and fingers crossed the service didn't find anything else. Punter went into orbit. Couldn't believe we could do the same thing to him twice. How could his beloved cars both need so much work? They'd been meticulously maintained. We're obviously just finding work because he's a soft touch.., you know how it goes.

Didn't want any of the repair work done on this car as he was getting rid of it anyway, so we delivered it back.

Two weeks later we get the email about his CSI questionnaire.

Trashed us for appearance of premises (never set foot in the place), Comfort of Reception area (ditto), Clarity of Communication and Value for Money. Oh, and we didn't valet his car either.

Cheers mate.

[Phil H 124]

Does that bad CSi still cost you some of your back end money or have the manufactures abolished all that stupidity now?