VW Dealers Damaged My Car!

[Georrge]

Evening all,

I'm not normally one to complain, but I believe this is something worth sharing.
I picked my car up today from the VW dealers in St. Albans after having a minor service. It needed new pads and discs on the front, as well as both draft shafts replacing, so it's safe to say they took some money from me; which is fine. Cars cost money.

I paid an extra £20 for the firmware on my RNS 510 to be updated, and the first thing I checked when I got home was what firmware they updated me too. Originally it was 0900, and guess what it's on now? It's still on 0900.. Very strange. But this is the least of my concerns at the moment.

As I walked from my car to my front door, I noticed a white mark on my car door which wasn't there before hand (photo A). After inspecting it, it is damaged done by I'm assuming, another car's door. Now it's hard to say if this was them or someone else getting into their car, but having checked for more damage, I saw more damage, also white, on the edge of my door (photo B & C), which could only have been done from opening my door.

I continued to inspect the car, and then noticed that there was a small chip on my front wheel on the let hand side (photo D), which again wasn't there before hand. I had only had these wheels put on a week a go and they were mint, and still were when I cleaned the car on Wednesday.

I rung up the dealers, and they said they are taking this matter extremely seriously, because the mechanic that worked on my car actually told them himself that my car was literally immaculate!

So I'm feeling quite confident this will be sorted out, they've asked me to go back on Monday so I can speak with the manager, I will update then. Really not happy at all though 

Photo A


Photo B


Photo C


Photo D


Chances are the damage to the door will polish out, but the fact that a proper dealership has let this happen is outrageous. Plus, some other customer's car must have also been damaged!

I never ever park my car in a car park, and as soon as I parked up in their car park and handed over my keys, I had a feeling something was going to happen. Car parks are evil places 

[AndyBrown]

Since getting my ED30 I park like what I used to describe as a dick head, right at the back across 2 spaces.
Me and my girlfriend went to the cinema tonight and I parked in the overflow car park despite there being spaces, she doesn't understand and thinks it's weird lol.

Hope they get it sorted, you'd expect them to treat it with a bit of care and respect.

[Georrge]

Since getting my ED30 I park like what I used to describe as a dick head, right at the back across 2 spaces.
Me and my girlfriend went to the cinema tonight and I parked in the overflow car park despite there being spaces, she doesn't understand and thinks it's weird lol.

Hope they get it sorted, you'd expect them to treat it with a bit of care and respect.

Haha, I'm always tempted to do that but never do! I'll drive else where and park on the street and walk the distance, at least that illimantes doors hitting you. But it doesn't stop people reversing into you haha, had that done too and marked my number plate 

Yeah fingers crossed! I know, terrible service!

[th3_f15t]

Thing with dealers, they're fitters on a salary and not mechanics who have to work for their hourly rate. I don't use dealers at all.

[Georrge]

Thing with dealers, they're fitters on a salary and not mechanics who have to work for their hourly rate. I don't use dealers at all.

That is a very good point.. ah :(

[Frenzy]

Since getting my ED30 I park like what I used to describe as a dick head, right at the back across 2 spaces.
Me and my girlfriend went to the cinema tonight and I parked in the overflow car park despite there being spaces, she doesn't understand and thinks it's weird lol.

Hope they get it sorted, you'd expect them to treat it with a bit of care and respect.

I used to think that when we had a battered old Punto but when we got the GTI i soon found myself frequently parking like a dickhead, it's the only way to ward off the khunts 

I always look for the parts of the car park furthest away from the venue, generally there's usually loads of space but i always say to the Mrs, i bet there's some prat who parks up right next to us - when we get back to the car, invariably there is - bonkers! 

[Horatio]

I live in Hertfordshire and have used most of the VW dealers in Herts over the years and have always found damage after picking up the car either from a service or having corrective work done through their fault. It really is obtuse how their attitude is. I think johnnym had alot of issues with these guys. VW over in Buntingford have been pretty good the last few years, but another member on here said he touch them with a barge pole.

It really is a lottery unfortunately, hope you get it sorted 

[lukemk5gti]

Since getting my ED30 I park like what I used to describe as a dick head, right at the back across 2 spaces.
Me and my girlfriend went to the cinema tonight and I parked in the overflow car park despite there being spaces, she doesn't understand and thinks it's weird lol.

Hope they get it sorted, you'd expect them to treat it with a bit of care and respect.

I do the exact same! Today I parked 10 minutes outside of town and made my gf walk in because I was worried about it being scratched.

I didn't tell her that, I told her the walk would be nice!! Sucker

If I didn't have a conscience I'd be parking in the mother and child spots.

[biffobear]

I park in the mother and child spaces, hey, I pay the same as them

[B1NCC 1.8T]

No one would take their pride and joy to a dealership if they knew how dealerships after sales work.
Theres very rarely anyone in a dealership after sales these days who actually know the Vw product or have any enthusiasm towards cars They are mostly just fitters.
(There is the odd exception to this) 
They are allocated 0.6 of an hour to carry out a small service. Now how the hell is that service going to be carried out even half correct in that time.

[Andy]

Thing with dealers, they're fitters on a salary and not mechanics who have to work for their hourly rate. I don't use dealers at all.

At our garage (main dealer) we walk round there car when the customer drops and returns or there car for damage

[andy7ven]

Good luck on trying to get this sorted... They'll more than likely want proof that it wasn't like this before you handed the car to them.

2 years ago I had my car serviced at a VW Dealership. After which they washed the car - I think we know whats coming!  The next day the sun was out and I noticed scratches along the passenger wing and on the bonnet definately from a drying blade...

I went back and told them, I got the manager to come out he looked at my car which is pretty immaculate other than a few stone chips he just said at the end of the day your cars 7 years old!!!  I told them it was unacceptable they backed down and got a maniac (who looked like Hank Marvin) to go over the bonnet and wing with a rotary!!! 

The wing and bonnet are still marked to this day and have mega hologramming... And to top it off the guy that did it rubbed bird sh*t off the rear quarter in front of me and scratched that as well! I said is he taking the p*ss he just scratched the rear quarter he proceeded to rub it was G3! 

I just said forget it and came home before they damaged my car anymore...

[JoeDarKa]

Im that sad i know at work which spaces are the biggest. There are only 3 spaces that i will park in. My favourite is one so wide i can open my door fully and it still doesnt reach the white line to one side. The other side of the space is a kerb with a grass verge

[Monkey10]

Thing with dealers, they're fitters on a salary and not mechanics who have to work for their hourly rate. I don't use dealers at all.

At the main dealers I work at I personally treat customers cars as I treat mine be it an abused unloved car or an immaculate example it doesn't matter. As with anywhere unfortunately you'll get idiots. As also mentioned the customer and service advisor should walk around the car when dropped off to eliminate any problems. We have had cars damaged in the car park by customers who just don't care about other peoples cars (usually opening doors into them but also gone to bring cars into the workshop to find parked on the car in front/behind)  I have a passion for cars, have worked for VW for over 13 years and pride myself on doing the job to a top level. I don't do much service and repairs anymore as mainly diagnostics but feel that unfortunately some mechanics/dealers are giving us all a bad name. As for washing cars when in for repair I'd just say thanks but no thanks and do it myself.   Thanks

[dazza]

You guys should try parking in Barcelona. My wife also thinks i'm weird as i refuse to park outside our house.

I take our other car if i know parking will be tight problem is its always tight.

People think its ok to bump other cars when you park i dread the day i have to confront someone as its totally normal to them.