SpencerUk
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I assume Fiat is regulated by an ombudsman. Does anyone know who it is?
General Highly Annoyed With Fiat Customer Relations
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General Highly Annoyed With Fiat Customer Relations
PROV
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I wouldnt say an ombudsman, but if you are financially worse off there is the small claims court. Whats up?
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SpencerUk
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Where Do I Start
My Indicator Stalk doesnt stay on when indicating right...They said this was a feature of the car?..Yet it stays on all the time when indicating left.
Recently when taking my car down the M1, I hear a rattling sound..Turns out Front passenger Caliper has welded itself onto my brake discs so it needs new Caliper/Brake Disc/Pads.
I've had my case open since Monday with Fiat who said they would get back in touch with me today..They called in and said I need to take it to my dealer, Ted Johnsons to fix.
Ted Johnsons says my 2 year warranty has now expired out by a day...I have the extended 3 year however!...But Ted Johnson's say the Caliper isn't covered by it and they can't even look at it until now 14.04.2010.
I called back into Fiat Relations to advise this, They said ah well, Thats just tough luck and left it at that.
I've not even had the car 3 months and now im getting problems.
At the moment i am financially worse off as Fiat won't organise for a curtorsey car, Nor will they re-imburse for my cost of travel which will be double!.
Advice anyone??
My Indicator Stalk doesnt stay on when indicating right...They said this was a feature of the car?..Yet it stays on all the time when indicating left.
Recently when taking my car down the M1, I hear a rattling sound..Turns out Front passenger Caliper has welded itself onto my brake discs so it needs new Caliper/Brake Disc/Pads.
I've had my case open since Monday with Fiat who said they would get back in touch with me today..They called in and said I need to take it to my dealer, Ted Johnsons to fix.
Ted Johnsons says my 2 year warranty has now expired out by a day...I have the extended 3 year however!...But Ted Johnson's say the Caliper isn't covered by it and they can't even look at it until now 14.04.2010.
I called back into Fiat Relations to advise this, They said ah well, Thats just tough luck and left it at that.
I've not even had the car 3 months and now im getting problems.
At the moment i am financially worse off as Fiat won't organise for a curtorsey car, Nor will they re-imburse for my cost of travel which will be double!.
Advice anyone??
PROV
Member
The indicator thing, ours does that when the weather is very cold, but is ok usually. This should be fixed.
As far as the brakes go it is rare that you get anything warranty wise on brakes, they always play the "consumable" card.
If you have had the car 3 months, have you any sort of warranty from the selling garage? Was it a Fiat main dealer?
Can you take it to another more helpful dealer and see if you get any joy there?
As far as the brakes go it is rare that you get anything warranty wise on brakes, they always play the "consumable" card.
If you have had the car 3 months, have you any sort of warranty from the selling garage? Was it a Fiat main dealer?
Can you take it to another more helpful dealer and see if you get any joy there?
On the brakes issue - if pads and discs were in good shape, and were not worn beyond acceptable limits, then there has been a failure in the caliper. A caliper is not a consumable, and would not normally be expected to be replaced in the lifetime of the car.
Sounds to me like you need a better garage. If you raised the issue but they couldn't fit you in then it's not your fault that you've gone over warranty - a bit of benefit of the doubt is required from Fiat here. Rather than phoning, write/email Fiat customer services.
I've had bits and bobs fixed outside the official warranty period - it would probably be enough to have me buy my next car from the garage. Perhaps it's worth reminding them that the Bravo won't last forever and it's now they should be proving you should buy your next car from them.
Indicator stalk is annoying, but I find if you apply it slowly right it stays on... Mine were replaced for a crunching noise and the new ones still do the same failing to stay on if activated in the same way as turning left.
Sounds to me like you need a better garage. If you raised the issue but they couldn't fit you in then it's not your fault that you've gone over warranty - a bit of benefit of the doubt is required from Fiat here. Rather than phoning, write/email Fiat customer services.
I've had bits and bobs fixed outside the official warranty period - it would probably be enough to have me buy my next car from the garage. Perhaps it's worth reminding them that the Bravo won't last forever and it's now they should be proving you should buy your next car from them.
Indicator stalk is annoying, but I find if you apply it slowly right it stays on... Mine were replaced for a crunching noise and the new ones still do the same failing to stay on if activated in the same way as turning left.
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SpencerUk
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I'm not too fussed with the indicator compared to my Caliper issue..I can learn to live with the indicator.
I'll pay for the brake pads, Disc is pushing it and Caliper is a hell no!
I got the car from The Car People at Wakefield.
Well brake pads are serviceable items, Disc after 2 years is pushing it though...My old man has a Focus 05 and has just had to change his brake disc...Caliper should last longer than 2 years!.
I dislike Ted Johnson full stop, But I don't have many options sadly
..Wakefield and Rotherham are the next Fiat dealers and they can't get it put in until the 12.04.2010.Also, With the Caliper binding, I can't really drive the car as its unsafe to drive. What annoys me more is that Ted Johnson or Fiat will not give me a curtorsey car to see me through...I'm having to use public transport to commute to work which costs me an average of £100 more a month compared to driving there!.
Whats more ironic is that I reported the fault to Fiat Relations 4 days ago, When it was in 2 year warranty, On the 4th day they say to report it to the dealer..On which then its out of warranty!..Its unreal!.
There maybe a fault with the calipers because if you look at an earlier post. (sometime last week) that person had the same thing with his calipers. I'm waiting to see what's wrong with mine. Vibrates when accelerating quite badly and there's also a noise which sounds a bit like a bearing. My dealer can't get mine in till 19th april, took it in on 19th of march.
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SpencerUk
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Roth, You referring to my post earlier last week?
https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo/231945-bit-advice.html
I'm curious Roth...Yours still under warranty or is it 3rd year warranty crap now??
https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo/231945-bit-advice.html
I'm curious Roth...Yours still under warranty or is it 3rd year warranty crap now??
Who is this Fiat Relations? I've always reported faults in the first instance to my local Fiat dealer.
The lifetime of a disc depends on the amount of wear. They're all typically made by a few manufacturers, to very similar specifications. Driving style and vehicle weight/journey type will influence the wear most. 5 years on a single set is pushing it - they must have been like paper plates.
The lifetime of a disc depends on the amount of wear. They're all typically made by a few manufacturers, to very similar specifications. Driving style and vehicle weight/journey type will influence the wear most. 5 years on a single set is pushing it - they must have been like paper plates.
I may be wrong but i think that when a company be it a main dealer or fred inthe shed they have a legal obligation to fix the car... and i think this is for the first 6 months.
I cannot remember the ins and outs of it, but when i got back to work on saturday ill ask the sales manager.
As for fiat not playing ball, i agree with hellcat here. this concern needs a paper trail. put it in writing asap.
and im sure if you shout loud enough in writing of course that a calliper will be covered as hellcat says it's not a serviceable item as such.
Ill post more on saturday.
I cannot remember the ins and outs of it, but when i got back to work on saturday ill ask the sales manager.
As for fiat not playing ball, i agree with hellcat here. this concern needs a paper trail. put it in writing asap.
and im sure if you shout loud enough in writing of course that a calliper will be covered as hellcat says it's not a serviceable item as such.
Ill post more on saturday.
a courtesy car is as its called a 'courtesy'....not a given right! Until the car is repaired you will just have to use public transport like everyone else has to...Fiat or dealerships cant afford to dish out courtesy cars to everyone with a problem
Your argument is with the seller. Despite advertising a momths warranty for secondhand cars 3 months is actually the time length so go back to the seller...at this stage it has nothing to do with customer relations.
Your argument is with the seller. Despite advertising a momths warranty for secondhand cars 3 months is actually the time length so go back to the seller...at this stage it has nothing to do with customer relations.
Legally your first contact should be the selling garage, thats who your contract was with and thats who has profited from your purchase, I have 20yrs electrical retail management experience and I can assure you that the customer rarely goes to the manufacturer to complain, you could argue that if the calipers have gone then after only 3 months it was maybe unfit for purpose as 3 months isn't a reasonable amount of time but I believe in the motor trade this could be negated by the mileage covered, I once obtained a refund on a car after 2 months but this was largely down to the fact I had only done 100 miles in that time (you have a tendency not to drive when the passenger door opens every time you turn right). Consumer direct could be the first place for advice
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SpencerUk
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Called head office and asked to be put through to complaints relations team and transferred me through..Seem to be based in the UK..From the accent, Seemed down south.
Thanks
a courtesy car is as its called a 'courtesy'....not a given right! Until the car is repaired you will just have to use public transport like everyone else has to...Fiat or dealerships cant afford to dish out courtesy cars to everyone with a problem
Your argument is with the seller. Despite advertising a momths warranty for secondhand cars 3 months is actually the time length so go back to the seller...at this stage it has nothing to do with customer relations.
I understand that its not a given right..But I dislike the fact that Fiat push you to one side and have the "ah it dont matter" approach as i call it.
In theory though, When you buy from Car People, Its 1 month from them then refer to manufacturer from then on out.
On all the above - I had a call from a Melanie in Customer Complaints Relations Team who said that the Caliper should be covered under the FiatCare 3 year warranty thing so I shouldn't have to pay for that..Relief!...Also said if the part will take longer than a week to deliver, They will best endevour to arrange some reimbursement for me which is reaosnable.
I don't want a red carpet or a private plane, I just wan't my bravo back!
bet roundabouts where fun:devil:
i dislike alot of things...poll tax was one of them!
no 3 months, forget what garage told you...a reasonable amount of time is 3 months.
I hope the 3rd year warranty is in your name or its a £40 transfer fee
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thats a 'cop-out' letting 3rd year warranty pay.
Sounds bit strange the caliper 'welding'to the disc?...something more to it than this, has the car been lying for a long length of time?
FIAT UK are a disgrace!
I've made three enquiries to them since February, on each occasion they have responded by saying, 'Go to your local dealership, they will gladly resolve your issues'.
Fact is, I contacted them because the dealerships are not resolving my issues. The whole FIAT support network is poor, disgraceful, disgusting and it's this type of behaviour that finally killed off Lancia in the UK, if FIAT don't improve I can see the same happening to them. They think because the 500 is so popular and successful that they can be arrogant and disregard their customers.
F.I.A.T, more like S.H.I.A.T!
I've made three enquiries to them since February, on each occasion they have responded by saying, 'Go to your local dealership, they will gladly resolve your issues'.
Fact is, I contacted them because the dealerships are not resolving my issues. The whole FIAT support network is poor, disgraceful, disgusting and it's this type of behaviour that finally killed off Lancia in the UK, if FIAT don't improve I can see the same happening to them. They think because the 500 is so popular and successful that they can be arrogant and disregard their customers.
F.I.A.T, more like S.H.I.A.T!
thought rust did that?
I think it's abit unfair to say Fiat UK are sh*t. Theyre very inconsistent, but i wouldn't go as far as saying theyre sh*t across the board.
You can take two cars with the same mileage, same fault, both bought new and one can be fixed for free and the other owner made to pay. They seem to have very little procedure built into their warranty decisions, it just seems like a 'yeah we'll cover that' or 'nah fu*k him, he can pay'. They badly need to sort out this.
From Ted Johnsons point of view, not giving you a courtesy car is kinda fair. If you'd purchased the car from them then id say they should give you one, but to them youre not a loyal customer and courtesy cars are usually in massive demand so they have to give them to their most valued customers first i suppose. Harsh but true.
However, at this point Fiat UK shouldve stepped in & done something, like saying 'we'll pay 50% of your hire car costs' from a given car hire company, up to a certain value. I wouldnt expect alot, because you bought the car 2nd hand and even loyal Fiat customers who buy a car new don't get alot in the 3rd year, but leaving you hanging on with nothing is abit harsh i think.
There won't be much you can get done till Tuesday anyway, but i believe the Fiat garage in Wakefield, called Picadilly, has a good reputation. I don't think Ted Johnson has a bad reputation, just don't hear much about them. But Picadilly has Fiat and Alfa (i think) dealerships across Yorkshire & usually gets positive comments on here, so maybe try them. Im also convinced (tho possibly wrong) that Fiat UK are more laid back about accepting warranty claims from certain dealerships than they are from others. Picadilly being a big Fiat/Alfa chain might secure you a better deal than a less well known dealer. Just a thought.
As for the indicator stalk, if it works apart from not staying on sometimes then id leave it alone. Ive had 3 Fiats (a Mk1 Punto, a Mk2 Punto and a Stilo) and theyve all had indicators that behave like this. Most Fiats seem exactly the same & as amateur looking as it is, you will get used to it. I hold the indicators on in my Parents Renault now, even tho they work fine by themselves!
You can take two cars with the same mileage, same fault, both bought new and one can be fixed for free and the other owner made to pay. They seem to have very little procedure built into their warranty decisions, it just seems like a 'yeah we'll cover that' or 'nah fu*k him, he can pay'. They badly need to sort out this.
From Ted Johnsons point of view, not giving you a courtesy car is kinda fair. If you'd purchased the car from them then id say they should give you one, but to them youre not a loyal customer and courtesy cars are usually in massive demand so they have to give them to their most valued customers first i suppose. Harsh but true.
However, at this point Fiat UK shouldve stepped in & done something, like saying 'we'll pay 50% of your hire car costs' from a given car hire company, up to a certain value. I wouldnt expect alot, because you bought the car 2nd hand and even loyal Fiat customers who buy a car new don't get alot in the 3rd year, but leaving you hanging on with nothing is abit harsh i think.
There won't be much you can get done till Tuesday anyway, but i believe the Fiat garage in Wakefield, called Picadilly, has a good reputation. I don't think Ted Johnson has a bad reputation, just don't hear much about them. But Picadilly has Fiat and Alfa (i think) dealerships across Yorkshire & usually gets positive comments on here, so maybe try them. Im also convinced (tho possibly wrong) that Fiat UK are more laid back about accepting warranty claims from certain dealerships than they are from others. Picadilly being a big Fiat/Alfa chain might secure you a better deal than a less well known dealer. Just a thought.
As for the indicator stalk, if it works apart from not staying on sometimes then id leave it alone. Ive had 3 Fiats (a Mk1 Punto, a Mk2 Punto and a Stilo) and theyve all had indicators that behave like this. Most Fiats seem exactly the same & as amateur looking as it is, you will get used to it. I hold the indicators on in my Parents Renault now, even tho they work fine by themselves!
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SpencerUk
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I wouldn't go as far as saying Fiat are a bad company or shocking..I just think that there customer service is very very poor in relation to others...I mean i work for orange broadband..I thought we were bad lol.
I know every company has a bad batch of cars..It just seems to be me everytime that gets that bad batch!.
Fiat 3rd year warranty is in my name so thats all good
I'm gonna see what the 14th brings with Ted Johnsons..My case with Fiat and Melanie and now a Dawn is on hold until the results...It's now a case of lets see what happens.
So miss my bravo!
I know every company has a bad batch of cars..It just seems to be me everytime that gets that bad batch!.
Fiat 3rd year warranty is in my name so thats all good
I'm gonna see what the 14th brings with Ted Johnsons..My case with Fiat and Melanie and now a Dawn is on hold until the results...It's now a case of lets see what happens.
So miss my bravo!
thats handy.................see my dolphin orange PAYG, it says i got magic numbers, well how many numbers can i have and do they have to be on the orange network only i dont have any friends and only person on orange i know is wife and why would i want to talk to her
thats handy.................see my dolphin orange PAYG, it says i got magic numbers, well how many numbers can i have and do they have to be on the orange network only i dont have any friends and only person on orange i know is wife and why would i want to talk to her
Hey! Off Topic!!!
Glad they're trying to sort it - maybe the garage you bought the car from should be the one helping you with your courtesy car?
also..
From money saving expert.
