<snip> - stay away

shark86

I got duped by <snip> - bought a VW Polo and my steering literally gave out and I went into oncoming traffic - 10 days after I bought the car. Paid towing to take it over to them, as they claimed I couldn't be making wild accusations without them seeing the car. In the end he didn't even replace the burst steering rack (kind of obvious they should've covered it). but he 'waived' his labour fee - how generous of him.

I've now got an estimate of repairs which surpasses the cost of the car. They won't even so much as entertain a conversation.

The radiator has a crack and that is clearly on the warranty, but since its not leaking (YET) they won't fix it.

These people should be put in jail.

Stay clear of them -they seem to crop up under different names and are currently on <snip>.

shark86

Anyone know a good reliable garage in Dublin - I need a good set of repairs (including repairing a cracked radiator) to my '03 VW Polo - so want somewhere that does a good job but doesn't inflat their prices.

Anan1

Try Niall in ISA Autos in Blackrock, he's honest and good.

biko

I understand you are angry but I have removed the name of the selling garage to protect boards.
If you need help with your rights after buying this we can give suggestions but please refrain from naming the garage.

Moocow100

Hi in one way you are Lucky. Why you might ask ,well you bought the car from a garage this immediately give you lots of RIGHT's consumer rights if you bought the car privately you would have these so go to citizens advice ring them it may take time but you will get reimbursed .

biko

Yes, I suppose the general "fit for purpose" will come into play here (I assume OP didn't bother with a warranty).

shark86

Yes I've tried - there is no one to 'enforce' the rights. NCA does not get involved - they just empower the consumer.
The Small Claims Court or District Court process takes quite some time to sort out.

And in most cases, by the time its resolved, the garage will be out of business.

The warranty was for a month, but he claimed 'steering' wasnt covered - quite basic.
and cause the radiator wasnt leaking yet - nothing to fix.

Now who can actually enforce my rights - exactly why these guys have no fear to sell you anything.

Anan1

My advice would be to file a claim online with the small claims court - costs €20 and the garage will probably try to sort things out before it goes to court.

corktina

I can't get my head round the radiator cracked but not leaking thing.

shark86

Yes corktina - it gets my blood boiling. ALl i wanted to do was get my car off his property. I didnt care to discuss with the sleazy salesperson any longer.

They have no conscience - selling an unsafe car. Which is a criminal offense- definitely contemplating the gards as a next step

yop

corktina wrote: »

I can't get my head round the radiator cracked but not leaking thing.

If its cracked and not leaking then why replace it? Its not necessarily going to leak is it?

shark86

yop wrote: »

If its cracked and not leaking then why replace it? Its not necessarily going to leak is it?

I think the point is it will leak eventually. And its dangerous. If the engine gets damaged then I'm sunk even more....if I have that correct.

I'll let the auto experts maybe shed more light?

keithsfleet

Keep at them.
Ring daily and if possible drop into them as much as possible, make sure you are overheard by other potential customers (don't say anything directly to a potential customer)
They'll soon relent and do it.

yop

shark86 wrote: »

I think the point is it will leak eventually. And its dangerous. If the engine gets damaged then I'm sunk even more....if I have that correct.

I'll let the auto experts maybe shed more light?

Who said it would leak eventually?
When did you discover the radiator?
How long is your warranty for and how long do you have the car.


If you have a fix cost over and above the cost of the cost car then why are you persisting with getting it fixed?

Because they won't fix a radiator means they should be put in jail?

shark86

yop wrote: »

Who said it would leak eventually?
When did you discover the radiator?
How long is your warranty for and how long do you have the car.


If you have a fix cost over and above the cost of the cost car then why are you persisting with getting it fixed?

Because they won't fix a radiator means they should be put in jail?

No mechanic so far has recommended i ignore it....so I assumed it should be fixed.
Warranty is 1 month. It just expired.
All these issues cropped up 10 days into owning it.

I am not persisting to fix it. I am just stating the issue.

No they should be put in jail for selling a car with unsafe steering.

yop

shark86 wrote: »

No mechanic so far has recommended i ignore it....so I assumed it should be fixed.
Warranty is 1 month. It just expired.
All these issues cropped up 10 days into owning it.

I am not persisting to fix it. I am just stating the issue.

No they should be put in jail for selling a car with unsafe steering.

So they haven't said "Fix it"? Cars have been known to have a pin leak which can be topped up and then fixed or I THINK there is a solution to fixing a leak, but if they won't fix it until its actual has a leak its not that major, its not as if the rad is going to explode and cause engine failure.

So they have the car now since day 10 when the rack went? What labour fee have they waived? Is it that they fixed the steering rack and its fixed.
Then why is it still on his property? The car is driveable at this stage.

If its under warranty when the steering rack issues occurred then he has to fix it, cover all costs and towing and stop messing about.

Ring them up and tell them you are getting legal advice and that should help them work.

Coming onto boards and posting in multiple forums and asking for jail term for a mechanical fail is not going to help and could leave boards in legal issues.

shark86

2 mechanics told me to fix it - so I will have to , and then seem compensation for all the expenses incurred under warranty that were not covered.

Does anyone have experience with Small Claims?

The car had to be towed to him, and is not on his property now as he replaced the steering rack after I paid for it. It was the only option at the time, as the car wasn't driveable.
The unfortunate part is I cant compel him to pay for anything. Warranty or not. He just argues his way out of it.

We went over and even quoted the legal action we are taking, but still no luck.
I think we will ask a solicitor to send a letter over.

I think lesson learned to really really go over a used car many times over, because recourse against a dealer takes months to get anywhere.

yop

shark86 wrote: »

2 mechanics told me to fix it - so I will have to , and then seem compensation for all the expenses incurred under warranty that were not covered.

Does anyone have experience with Small Claims?

The car had to be towed to him, and is not on his property now as he replaced the steering rack after I paid for it. It was the only option at the time, as the car wasn't driveable.
The unfortunate part is I cant compel him to pay for anything. Warranty or not. He just argues his way out of it.

We went over and even quoted the legal action we are taking, but still no luck.
I think we will ask a solicitor to send a letter over.

I think lesson learned to really really go over a used car many times over, because recourse against a dealer takes months to get anywhere.

Well it sounds like you have ever right to go legal on him.
Get legal advice on it and if they are with SIMI then also lodge a complaint there also.

As said though keep their name off the websites as it MAY not help your case.

Good luck with it

BMJD

don't mind the 1 month thing, they are obliged to cover you for 3 months - obviously they won't admit to that

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055738926

Kenny Logins

shark86 wrote: »

No mechanic so far has recommended i ignore it....so I assumed it should be fixed.
Warranty is 1 month. It just expired.
All these issues cropped up 10 days into owning it.

I am not persisting to fix it. I am just stating the issue.

No they should be put in jail for selling a car with unsafe steering.

What happened to the steering, and how did they know this would happen, yet your mechanic didn't when you viewed the car?

delthedriver

yop wrote: »

Well it sounds like you have ever right to go legal on him.
Get legal advice on it and if they are with SIMI then also lodge a complaint there also.

As said though keep their name off the websites as it MAY not help your case.

Good luck with it

What will lodging a complaint with SIMI achieve?

The only language dealers understand is a solicitors letter, though for some it would be like stock in trade.

Small Claims Court are very effective provided the Dealer remains in business.

yop

delthedriver wrote: »

What will lodging a complaint with SIMI achieve?

The only language dealers understand is a solicitors letter, though for some it would be like stock in trade.

Small Claims Court are very effective provided the Dealer remains in business.

Are SIMI not their badge of "approval".... Some buyers might see SIMI as they do RECI and think, ah these must be approved. Probably still wouldn't stop them!

delthedriver

yop wrote: »

Are SIMI not their badge of "approval".... Some buyers might see SIMI as they do RECI and think, ah these must be approved. Probably still wouldn't stop them!

Badge of approval is right. Members pay an annual fee to SIMI who represent the Interests of the Motor Industry. It has nothing to do with regulation, standards etc.

There are plenty of Dealers who are not SIMI members. This does not mean they are any worse or any better.:)

SIMI are essentially a lobby group who represent the Motor Industry, their most recent suggestion to Government was to introduce a discount for people trading in second hand cars. I guess they were fighting their corner to be fair, hoping it would generate activity in the car business and help protect jobs.

As regards Industry standards , they dont give a ....!:)

shark86

Thanks very much all - I think Small Courts might be the way to go, and I will try to get a solicitor letter through to them first, as a last effort.

username123

SIMI means nothing, I was stiffed by a SIMI dealership and it took a solicitors letter and then a court date to get the money back off him. I did get it back in the end though but he made it as painful as possible.

GTE

A VW garage gave my car a check over and gave it a 10,000 mile clean bill of heath.
When getting tyres done in a separate place the next week they told me my brakes were unsafe looking.

After emailing them and getting similar attitudes the OP is talking about, I contacted VW Europe who said my pictures of the brakes do show that they were unsafe and wouldn't last much longer. They contacted the VW dealer and I had admission of fault later that day from the dealer.

OP, just out of curiosity can you PM me the VW garage in question?

fartman

its a really shame you can`t name the garage these cowboys are scum of the earth ..i had the same thing happening to me ,i would not let them away with it i was like a dog with a bone ,in the end i got my full money back and they got there heap of dirt back,stay with it op and if your going to the garage bring someone with you as a witness ,they can be very intimating..

delthedriver

bbk wrote: »

A VW garage gave my car a check over and gave it a 10,000 mile clean bill of heath.
When getting tyres done in a separate place the next week they told me my brakes were unsafe looking.

After emailing them and getting similar attitudes the OP is talking about, I contacted VW Europe who said my pictures of the brakes do show that they were unsafe and wouldn't last much longer. They contacted the VW dealer and I had admission of fault later that day from the dealer.

OP, just out of curiosity can you PM me the VW garage in question?

Absolutely shocking! I think most people would expect greater professionalism from a VW Dealer. VW Europe take a very dim view to that sort of behaviour, it will be interesting to see if the Dealer retains his VW agency.:)

delthedriver

fartman wrote: »

its a really shame you can`t name the garage these cowboys are scum of the earth ..i had the same thing happening to me ,i would not let them away with it i was like a dog with a bone ,in the end i got my full money back and they got there heap of dirt back,stay with it op and if your going to the garage bring someone with you as a witness ,they can be very intimating..

Fair play to you for having time and resources to see the matter through to the end. I guess many people simply get fobbed off by scumbags who simply sneer at their customers.

I would recommend to anyone who finds themselves in this situation, to get the best legal advice possible and follow up your case to the very end.

The more people who stand up to these bullies and conmen the sooner the better.

There must be an opportunity for Government licensing and regulation of Motor Traders . It would tidy up the Industry, bearing in mind some of the pop up shops are merely fronts for other illegal activities.

This would assist the genuine Dealer who is trying to make a living in difficult economic times, look after his clients and give a very professional service.

JohnBoy26

yop wrote: »

If its cracked and not leaking then why replace it? Its not necessarily going to leak is it?

If the rad is in bad shape it's more than likely going to leak sooner rather than later. There is a risk of overheating if this happens.

djimi

shark86 wrote: »

Thanks very much all - I think Small Courts might be the way to go, and I will try to get a solicitor letter through to them first, as a last effort.

Just bear in mind that small claims court has a limit of €2000 for a claim.

slimjimmc

BMJD wrote: »

don't mind the 1 month thing, they are obliged to cover you for 3 months - obviously they won't admit to that

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055738926

I still wonder why people propagate this "a dealer must give at least 3 months warranty" myth. No business, including the motor trade, is obliged to give any warranty at all. If the dealer wants to sell a car with 0 warranty he is free to do so. As a consumer you have statutory rights. Warranties are merely an optional addition to those rights. However one of those rights is that if a business chooses to offer a warranty then they must honour it in accordance with the T&Cs of the warranty.

PS: I'm not a dealer or linked to the motor trade.