New Car Trouble with Dealer

CookieLady

Hi All,

I am new to the forum but wanted to get a bit of advice about the new car I got.

Went to a big dealer around Palmerstown and the car looked OK, few scratches etc, it was NCT 2 days before i bought it, paid a decent price for it and 3 months warranty on engine and gearbox.

Then the day after I bought it, my engine light came on, so I called and brought it back to the dealer (because of the warranty).

They looked at it last saturday, said it was just a bit of dirt interfering, and told me I'd be grand. No sooner I got on the motorway that my car started losing power and engine light flashing like crazy (very scary).

I brought it back again right away, really angry, and they told me that they have to replace a part, they need to order it and it'd be there on monday. I called and they told me that it'd be another 2 days. I called today and they said that the shop sent them the wrong part so it probably won't be there until next week.

I'm just wondering if anybody has had a similar experience and if it's because I have some kind of refusal period when I can bring them back the car and get my money back or if they are trying to stall for time so that if there are further problems they won't show up until after the warranty?

Maybe it's just bad customer service, but I'd like an opinion

Thanks!!

Golfgorfield

CookieLady wrote: »

Hi All,

I am new to the forum but wanted to get a bit of advice about the new car I got.

Went to a big dealer around Palmerstown and the car looked OK, few scratches etc, it was NCT 2 days before i bought it, paid a decent price for it and 3 months warranty on engine and gearbox.

Then the day after I bought it, my engine light came on, so I called and brought it back to the dealer (because of the warranty).

They looked at it last saturday, said it was just a bit of dirt interfering, and told me I'd be grand. No sooner I got on the motorway that my car started losing power and engine light flashing like crazy (very scary).

I brought it back again right away, really angry, and they told me that they have to replace a part, they need to order it and it'd be there on monday. I called and they told me that it'd be another 2 days. I called today and they said that the shop sent them the wrong part so it probably won't be there until next week.

I'm just wondering if anybody has had a similar experience and if it's because I have some kind of refusal period when I can bring them back the car and get my money back or if they are trying to stall for time so that if there are further problems they won't show up until after the warranty?

Maybe it's just bad customer service, but I'd like an opinion

Thanks!!

Name and shame.

Alanstrainor

Golfgorfield wrote: »

Name and shame.

Do not.

Stallingrad

When you say big dealer do you mean a franchised dealer? Or a big Independent?

CookieLady

Stallingrad wrote: »

When you say big dealer do you mean a franchised dealer? Or a big Independent?

I think it is just a big independent one, I just meant they have lots of cars. I'm just worried at them telling me that the part will get there the next day and then saying they ordered the wrong part... It looks like a stalling technique, but I can't figure out why they'd be stalling?

TallGlass

CookieLady wrote: »

I think it is just a big independent one, I just meant they have lots of cars. I'm just worried at them telling me that the part will get there the next day and then saying they ordered the wrong part... It looks like a stalling technique, but I can't figure out why they'd be stalling?

Small claims court should start getting them moving.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Ask them what the specific problem is and the exact part needed. Tell them
If they don't fix your car by xxx date you are returning the car and want s full refund. IF it were me I'd have left the car back already.

airuser

Would suggest you put everything in writing. Copies for yourself.

As you said be polite and say exactly what you want.

Find out what the problem is. If is the management light. That could be a problem.

LordNorbury

They are hardly planning on holding onto your car for 1, 2 or 3 months so that they can run down your warranty ffs, that's just being paranoid, if they have given you a courtesy car while they sort your car out then there shouldn't be an issue here.

elastico

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Ask them what the specific problem is and the exact part needed. Tell them
If they don't fix your car by xxx date you are returning the car and want s full refund. IF it were me I'd have left the car back already.

Its easy leave the car back but I doubt you would be leaving with your pocket full of cash.

3 months engine and gearbox warranty. If its a filter they may not have to cover it.

StereoSound

Is this dealership a big yard with loads of cars in it or does it have a proper showroom? Is it a main dealer that sells exclusively one brand or any random make and model?

3 month engine gearbox would probably tell me its not a main dealer, that's more of an operating from a yard kinda warranty.

coylemj

CookieLady wrote: »

I think it is just a big independent one, I just meant they have lots of cars. I'm just worried at them telling me that the part will get there the next day and then saying they ordered the wrong part... It looks like a stalling technique, but I can't figure out why they'd be stalling?

It's the standard response - continually fob you off with BS excuses and maybe you'll just give up. You need to start getting assertive to convince them that you're not going to go away and putting your demands (to get it fixed ASAP) in writing would be a start.

Have you checked that the NCT cert is genuine?

A lot of indie dealers sell dodgy cars and have no intention of honouring the warranty which is usually not worth the paper it's written on. There are dozens if not hundreds of threads similar to yours on Motors and Legal.

LordNorbury

coylemj wrote: »

It's the standard response - continually fob you off with BS excuses and maybe you'll just give up. You need to start getting assertive to convince them that you're not going to go away and putting your demands (to get it fixed ASAP) in writing would be a start.

Have you checked that the NCT cert is genuine?

A lot of indie dealers sell dodgy cars and have no intention of honouring the warranty which is usually not worth the paper it's written on. There are dozens if not hundreds of threads similar to yours on Motors and Legal.

More ridiculous paranoia, what on earth is so unusual about a particular part taking a few days to arrive in? Not everything is available off the shelf or overnight, if they have given the OP a courtesy car while they are remedying whatever issue has arisen with the car that she bought, (and I hope that they have), then what is the problem? You sound like the customer from hell to be honest, not everything is down to a big conspiracy theory involving people and businesses conspiring against you to fúck you over. Most businesses, specifically the area of car sales, need a solid reputation, sadly with the amount of paranoia and downright thickness out there when it comes to how Joe Public operates and conducts himself these days, this kind of rampant paranoia is often the order of the day when it comes to sorting out a simple problem when one might arise, with Joe public imagining that everyone is out to fúck him over and screw him. Most businesses actually want to have a good reputation and will strive to protect that.

coylemj

LordNorbury wrote: »

More ridiculous paranoia, what on earth is so unusual about a particular part taking a few days to arrive in? Not everything is available off the shelf or overnight, if they have given the OP a courtesy car while they are remedying whatever issue has arisen with the car that she bought, (and I hope that they have), then what is the problem?

You're the only poster who mentioned a courtesy car, the OP never said they gave her one.

LordNorbury

coylemj wrote: »

You're the only poster who mentioned a courtesy car, the OP never said they gave her one.

And they never said they didn't provide a courtesy car. I think it's fairly reasonable to assume that a sales outlet that is fixing a car you just bought, under warranty, will provide you with a courtesy car in the meantime.

I'm just saying that the level of silly paranoia from some people will not help the OP. Cars as we all know well are complicated devices these days, parts fail, but the starting assumption that the sales outlet at hand here are cowboys is just wrong and unhelpful I think.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

I don't think the bunch of cowboys (if my suspicions are correct) the OP bought the car from would provide a courtesy phone call let alone a courtesy car.

In fact, perhaps they could not spell courtesy.

Dartz

CookieLady wrote: »

Hi All,

I am new to the forum but wanted to get a bit of advice about the new car I got.

Went to a big dealer around Palmerstown and the car looked OK, few scratches etc, it was NCT 2 days before i bought it, paid a decent price for it and 3 months warranty on engine and gearbox.

Then the day after I bought it, my engine light came on, so I called and brought it back to the dealer (because of the warranty).

They looked at it last saturday, said it was just a bit of dirt interfering, and told me I'd be grand. No sooner I got on the motorway that my car started losing power and engine light flashing like crazy (very scary).

I brought it back again right away, really angry, and they told me that they have to replace a part, they need to order it and it'd be there on monday. I called and they told me that it'd be another 2 days. I called today and they said that the shop sent them the wrong part so it probably won't be there until next week.

I'm just wondering if anybody has had a similar experience and if it's because I have some kind of refusal period when I can bring them back the car and get my money back or if they are trying to stall for time so that if there are further problems they won't show up until after the warranty?

Maybe it's just bad customer service, but I'd like an opinion

Thanks!!

Flashing Engine light is a misfire.

What model car is it, if you don't mind me asking?

I think I've a suspicion of where you bought your car from. I test drove a car they had on sale there months ago, which clearly had a blown engine - which the saleseman insisted was just a starter problem. It was also in far poorer condition than the ad had led me to believe.

coylemj

LordNorbury wrote: »

And they never said they didn't provide a courtesy car. I think it's fairly reasonable to assume that a sales outlet that is fixing a car you just bought, under warranty, will provide you with a courtesy car in the meantime.

They are not 'fixing' her car, they are fobbing her off with a string of pathetic excuses - first the fault was caused by a piece of dirt (I'd love to know the ECU error code that that one), then they said the part was delayed, then that the wrong part was shipped - and you think they gave her a courtesy car?

You're living in fantasyland.

ScouseMouse

Be advised folks that if its a big yard full of cars, there are actually TWO different car dealers there, so be sure you know who you are on about.
Or if they have a glass showroom and yard, then its another dealer altogether.

Kalel

Get a cheap little ecu reader and run a quick scan before you leave the garage with the car.. (you can get a bluetooth one and download an app to any smartphone) will show you if the problem was fixed or if just the error was cleared. If not fixed I would be looking for a full refund but it can be a pain in the ass dealing with dodgy dealers.