Fiat representatives in Greece are thieves and Fiat does not Care

[nkary]

I have my car for just 3 years. I have only done 26.700 kilometers. So as you can understand I only use my car on my holidays and for any special occasions. For going around in the city I have a small motorbike. I went to a authorized dealer (Lamda is their name in Greece) to get the drivers seat fixed. The engineer told me (without looking at the car) that because I have had it for 3 years I need to change the engines belt. He tried to scare me telling me that if I did not change it I might need to pay 1500 Euros in order to fix later damages. So I told him to change it. Afterwards I had a look at the user manual and I was very surprised to see that I did not need to have any belt changed. Your official representative in Greece do know the hole situation but they are trying to keep this matter for them selves only. I have informed the Greek consumers association and they will press charges to them, or they might have already done so. Your Greek representatives know exactly what went wrong and are trying to place me and my car in a category witch I am definitely not. They try to persuade me that the belt change is because I use my car allot in the city and with no gear. How can this be with 3 years and only 26700 kilometres. There are allot more to tell you but I will need allot of pages. Your Greek representatives give you a BAD NAME. They treat their and your customers like rubbish. When I went to the head office of Fiat in Greece they escorted me outside because I was taping our conversation, and laughing with their excuses they gave me.
I am you customer and I have fully paid for your product. I expect some respect. I hope you will take this matter in your hands. Come over and see how I will expose all of them, with the use of Greek Automotive magazines, Local TV stations and the help of the Greek Consumers Ministry.
I hope I will hear from you soon regarding this matter.

 

[luvduvs]

Ummm.. most of us here don't work for Fiat..

 

[nkary]

Yes I know that most of you do not work for fiat, but I am sure that fiat representatives will be told at least.
Not that I think that anything will be done, I just want to tell everyone that fiat as a company is full of S....

 

[luvduvs]

Oh ok.. just the way I read it..

I would be careful not to generalise the whole company as being crappy because of one poor experience. Surely there are excellent Fiat dealers/reps somewhere out there

 

[nkary]

I have tried to get in touch with Fiat headquorters but with no luck.
The official fiat office in Athens is backing up their dealers, and are persistant in ingnoring the USER MANUAL, telling me that fiat has issued new guidlines for punto cars. When I asked to see this letter from fiat they said NO.
WHY??????
Maybe because it does not exist.
An the strange thing is that Fiat (europe) does not care!!
I would really like to have an email of someone in the head office, but they do not give on their site any info on this.

 

[Dark_Crusader]

Yes, this is a FORUM. This website does not represent nor is affiliated with Fiat Auto Spa. Therefore I think you need to take the issue up with the head office in Greece or write to the main HQ in Italy. I am sorry to hear you got screwed over, sometimes if a garage thinks they can get away with giving you a load of Bull they will. In future though instead of checking your service interval AFTER having the work done check WELL BEFORE hand. That way you don't fall for the b/s that these mechanics are telling you.

Also in future when posting you only need to post ONCE on this site as I have seen you have done a couple of postings. None of us here can do anything for you here as we are just regular (well some ) people like you.

Hope you get a resolve to your issue.

 

[Steven]

Firstly, multiple posts, no. I'll delete the rest of them and leave this here.

Secondly, this site is not connected with Fiat. There is a possibility that some Fiat employees do use this site, but we are strictly an unofficial site.

Thirdly, with 3 years of infrequent use I would have changed the belts. 3 years/26,700km may be a bit short of the recommended change but many have found out the hard way that they are better changed early. Maybe, just maybe, the mechanic spotted signs of wear and decided to advise you accordingly?

 

[nkary]

The user manual states clearly when it should be changed.
EVERY 60000 KILOMETERS or every 5 YEARS.
The mechanic proposed the changes without looking at the car. He told me that it has to be changed every 3 years.
Can you explain to me why does fiat back them up??

 

[Steven]

Can you explain to me why does fiat back them up??

OK, let's clarify this for you.

The above post was my opinion. I can't explain why Fiat have done this for three reasons.

1 - I don't know.
2 - I don't work for Fiat.
3 - Geographically speaking I have no way of knowing nor finding out.

I'm not overly impressed about the tone in which you are posting. Clearly you are annoyed, but is this our fault? Take a step back, take a deep breath and read my first post on this thread.

 

[jug]

in future remember that someone who is selling something can't be trusted to give honest advice. they may prefer to give advice that will benefit themselves. this is true for anyone, not just employees of fiat in greece. lies are an important part of sales. learn your lesson and next time dont be so gullible.

 

[Jai]

or narky when you come into our "house"............

 

[thepottleflump]

I don't think the Fiat dealer did that bad, it is recommended to inspect the belt at 3 years/36,000 miles and replace if they look deterioted although how you can tell this is another matter. The belt can snap before this, so yes it costs you a couple of quid but alteast you are good for another few years. Alfa recommends belts change at 36,000 or 3 years so there is often confusion. If it snapped it would cost a heck of alot more.

I'm waiting for next sob story when someone comes on here with a 3 year old car with 40,000 miles on the clock and the belt snapped, moaning about how crap Fiat is that they didn't tell them to change their belts earlier. No win situation.

 

[nkary]

The mechanique did not look at my car at all. He desided to do the change before I even gave them my car. It was still parked outside.

What about the User Manual. Why dont official fiat mechanics go by the book?
Can enyone tell me how I should go about this matter?
Is there a chance I can get my money back?

 

[custard]

1st thing i would want clarified is whether fiat have changed the sevicing schedule(or recommendations) on the belt

 

[nkary]

I have no idea. Customer care service told me (over the phone) that fiat has sent them a letter concerning the engines belt that has to be changed every 3 years. If this is true or not I will have to wait to find out.
When I asked for a copy of the letter they refused. Fiats official web page does not state any changes for punto car services. Shouldnt the letter be on their web site to inform people?
Should'nt fiat sent to all consearned customers with the specified car a letter telling them about the oncoming danger of a belt snap?

 

[Steven]

Punto? What engine is in the car?

 

[Ulpian]

From 1977 till 1986,+, we had a Toyota 1300cc pickup in Oman.
It was driven over metalled roads and desert tracks, by everyone, and some people even learnt to drive in it. This car was not loved, but we loved it!

However, it was serviced three times a year regardless, and every time the points, plugs, filters and fluids were changed - even if they might not have needed changing. Very occasionally it needed brakes.

I reckon that a car driven intermittently, in a hot and hostile environment like Greece, might do well to be over-serviced - if this is in fact the case.

 

[T14086]

I have friends in Greece,they and alot of their friends drive Fiats & are happy with the cars/dealers/garages.

Remember the dealers are a franchise.

 

[Renegade_8]

AFIK there are no chain cam Fiat punto engines, so changing the timing belt after 3 years is very good advice. I always do. Let's cut this guy some slack, English is not his native language all I can do with my Greek is order beer and wine, and then we usually finish up with Retsina.

 

[nkary]

The car has 27000 kilometers in 3 years, and has a 1300 cc engine.
I work in a Greek publishing company (150 employees) with 5 mojor Greek publications on cars and motorbikes.
I have spoke to alot of them and all agree that the belt shoud not have been changed.
I am telling you this just to understand that I was not advised by someone that does not know the subject.
The roads in Greece are not in the best condition, but we have for ages asfalt on our roads. The climate is hotter than yours but not as the sahara desert.