Is this right?

[fiatnumpty]

I went to a Fiat Main Dealer in Bedfordshire to get a service and free visual health check of a car I'd just bought.

They told me I had a severe leaking passenger shock, the car needed a new fan belt, wiper blade and the rear nearside tyre was worn unevenly. The repair of this would be £435.

I'd just bought the car so complained to the Trader I bought it from.
He offered to pay for the a pair of leaking shock (pair of) and Fanbelt but he needed a bill as to be able to pay for the work required.

I emailed the Dealer and Trader my understanding of the work to be done. I included the Traders details and that the parts were to be all Fiat replacements.

A day later the car is "repaired" and I go to pick it up. I immediately notice that only one shock was done and was an aftermarket one. I complain but pay for the work done. Just before I leave I pop the bonnet and notice the shock not in the same position as the previous one. I go back in and complain again. A Fiat "Technician" comes out and stated that indeed the shock was not correct, even stating that it was put in upside down! Is that even possible? I then pay for the other shock to be replaced as after speaking with a lot of friends they all said that they should be replaced in pairs.

I then complain to the service manager who says he will get back to me after he has spoken with his minion about my numerous emails and phone calls.

My questions.
Should this even happen at a Main Fiat Dealer in the first place?
Was I right to complain about the poor (potentially dangerous) workmanship?
Would or should I expect a simple apology (non given so far)?
Should shocks be done in pairs and with Fiat Parts?
Is there anything else I should be checking?

Thanks in advance.

 

[fingers99]

I'm confused by the "dealer and trader" bit. Are we talking of a single dealership here, or?

Shocks should be done in pairs. It is possible to put some in upside down. If you said you wanted FIAT then FIAT should be what you got. BUT there are -- arguably better -- other replacements out there.

 

[varesecrazy]

I read it as = they bought from a non-FIAT trader,
FIAT garage did the free check-over,
agreement was made for FIAT dealer to do the work + Trader picked up the bill.

that's my take on it..

anyway - NO ..!! you cannot fit a front shock / damper unit upside down,


SHOULD be replaced in pairs,
if it was 1 week old and failed then a new identical one may be o.k.,
but assume yours is YEARS old, go for a new pair,

doesn't have to be FIAT - but again SHOULD be a PAIR,

unfortunately there are clueless "technicians" out there,
just as there are dodgy salespeople..,

my "dealer Principal" of supplying FIAT dealer told me his "technicians" were Quote = not the brightest = unquote,
funnily enough I've not been back since,

Charlie

 

[fiatnumpty]

Hello. Apologies for the confusion. I spent ages last night putting this together then my battery went before I could post it. Not wanting to go through the whole thing again I condensed it.

The car was bought by a private trader who also works as a Car Salesman at the Main Fiat Dealer in Cumbria.
So technically it's direct from a Main Fiat Dealer in Cumbria.
I bought the car from the Trader in Cumbria, sight unseen and had it delivered to me in Bedfordshire.
I then take the car to my nearest Main Fiat Dealer in Bedfordshire for a service where it all goes Pete Tong.

 

[fingers99]

See what the Beds FIAT man has to say.

Apropos the shocks, Koni (who make better shocks than FIAT fit and have tests to prove it) recon that there's considerable degradation after as little as 40k miles.

 

[fiatnumpty]

Thank you for that. There has been no mention of what aftermarket part they fitted, they can't even tell me where it came from.

Base on the conversation I had with the service manager when he offered to replace the aftermarket shock absorber with two Fiat ones as perviously agreed. I asked him to reconfirm (as he was being a little evasive) that the removal and disposal of the shock absorber would be at no cost to us, he agreed and offered that as they get Fiats in every now and then for work, it's highly likely that they'll put that on someone else's car.

Probably what they did to me then.

I used my credit card to pay for the service etc. and also prepaid for another suspension arm (prior to complaining with the service manager) and booked the car in for next Wednesday as thats the first date they have a courtesy car.

I have now printed off my emails and will send this to them today so they cannot deny that is what was agreed. Should they not resolve this before Wednesday, I will then make complaints to Fiat and my credit card company.

As I had been in a similar situation like this before I included my potential costs with a notice of intent (which was acknowledged and not disputed) so if we continue to argue about the work that needs doing, I will have the opportunity to charge them for arguing with them while I have this problem resolved elsewhere. Hopefully it won't come to that and they will just do what they said they would do in the first place.

I wait to see their reply.

 

[fiatnumpty]

OK. Just heard back from the Service manager.

They are going to replace the aftermarket part with two fiat shock absorbers as originally specified. They are also refunding me £24 as compensation.

The car is booked in on Thursday so hopefully this will be sorted properly this time.

 

[T14086]

I went to a Fiat Main Dealer in Bedfordshire to get a service and free visual health check of a car I'd just bought.

Service and visual healthcheck? That does not make sense as the car is inspected during the service!

They told me I had a severe leaking passenger shock,

Front or back

the car needed a new fan belt, wiper blade and the rear nearside tyre was worn unevenly. The repair of this would be £435.

I wouldn't be paying £435 even for original parts!

I'd just bought the car so complained to the Trader I bought it from.
He offered to pay for the a pair of leaking shock (pair of) and Fanbelt but he needed a bill as to be able to pay for the work required.

I emailed the Dealer and Trader my understanding of the work to be done. I included the Traders details and that the parts were to be all Fiat replacements.

A day later the car is "repaired" and I go to pick it up. I immediately notice that only one shock was done and was an aftermarket one. I complain but pay for the work done. Just before I leave I pop the bonnet and notice the shock not in the same position as the previous one.o

So it is a front shock if it is under the bonnet then

I go back in and complain again. A Fiat "Technician" comes out and stated that indeed the shock was not correct, even stating that it was put in upside down! Is that even possible?

So it is a rear shock

I then pay for the other shock to be replaced as after speaking with a lot of friends they all said that they should be replaced in pairs.

Why? A spring yes if old enough as spring can compress/stretch but front shock is ok as it either leaks or does not....or are we talking about rear shocks which again either leak or they dont?

I then complain to the service manager who says he will get back to me after he has spoken with his minion about my numerous emails and phone calls.

My questions....

Can we have the facts and correct information (also year of car, engine,model)

 

[fiatnumpty]

Apologies for being thick and making things complicated.

Front passenger shock leaking.

Not rear shock.

 

[fiatnumpty]

I would have assumed that my avatar would have given a clue to the car I now own.

But it is a Fiat Panda 4x4 Climbing. 1.2 petrol 2005.

Hope that helps?

 

[fiatnumpty]

I had now gone to the Garage to have the aftermarket shock replaced with two Fiat shocks.

Sadly I ended up paying for everything.

I video'd the car prior to dropping it off and when picking up the car both shocks had been replaced. Or at the very least look different from the video when the car was dropped off.

The shocks also appeared to be put on the correct way up. Or at least looked as they did in the very first video I took prior to any work being done at all.

When I was given the paper work when paying for the work none of the figures added up to what I was told by the service manager.

He told me the new Fiat shocks would cost £120 inc VAT fitted each.

On looking at the parts cost one shock cost £38 and the other cost £42. A far cry from the £110 I was told when I made my complaint.

None of any of the figures add up.

The cost of this supposedly simple job has cost a fortune. Unfortunately this is our only car and we needed it so my wife told me not to complain and just pay.

I'm sure none of this is right.

Another thing now is the car is pulling to the left quite radically when it wasn't before. This now needs sorting.

 

[T14086]

Apologies for being thick and making things complicated.

It's difficult making a diagnosis without correct or conflicting information

Front passenger shock leaking

Not rear shock.

Personally I would changed only the offending one.

I would have assumed that my avatar would have given a clue to the car I now own.

But it is a Fiat Panda 4x4 Climbing. 1.2 petrol 2005.

Hope that helps?

I read (as moderator) hundred + of posts every day, not got time looking at sigs but yes I see it now.

I had now gone to the Garage to have the aftermarket shock replaced with two Fiat shocks.

Sadly I ended up paying for everything.

Hmmmm think you might be scre*ed now, I would not of paid.

I video'd the car prior to dropping it off and when picking up the car both shocks had been replaced. Or at the very least look different from the video when the car was dropped off.

The shocks also appeared to be put on the correct way up. Or at least looked as they did in the very first video I took prior to any work being done at all.

You cant fit a front shock upside down, maybe the cup or mounting was upside down but definitely not the shocker.

When I was given the paper work when paying for the work none of the figures added up to what I was told by the service manager.

He told me the new Fiat shocks would cost £120 inc VAT fitted each.

On looking at the parts cost one shock cost £38 and the other cost £42. A far cry from the £110 I was told when I made my complaint.

None of any of the figures add up.

The cost of this supposedly simple job has cost a fortune. Unfortunately this is our only car and we needed it so my wife told me not to complain and just pay.

I'm sure none of this is right.

You are correct.

Another thing now is the car is pulling to the left quite radically when it wasn't before. This now needs sorting.

Needs tracking done.....sorry but what a fu*k up all this has been. However you should not have paid, by paying your are almost saying I accept the terms. It will be hard getting your money back now.

 

[fiatnumpty]

Just to top this off, I have had a knocking noise from the rear of the car that's been bugging me since I bought it.
I think I have located the noise to a rear anti-roll bar drop link. It practically came away in my hand from the ball joint.

FFS. Everything I do is covered in doggy poo.

I have located the part which is £12. I'm buying a pair of them.
Just wondering if I should replace the anti Roll Bar as well. The bushes look a little worn and the bar itself is rusting quite nicely.

Anyone want to buy a two owner Fiat Panda Climbing?

 

[Caravadossi]

Bit of a tangled-web - what?

The car was bought by a private trader who also works as a Car Salesman at the Main Fiat Dealer in Cumbria.
So technically it's direct from a Main Fiat Dealer in Cumbria.

What does this mean?

Does it mean (?) …
“The car was bought from a private trader(?) who also works as a Car Salesman at the Main Fiat dealer in Cumbria. So technically it’s indirect from a Main Fiat Dealer in Cumbria.”

When you buy something – the contract is between you & the man you gave your money to!
If there’s a problem – your first call is to `the man you gave your money to’!
Who advertised the car for sale?

What invoice did you get when handing over your money?
Was the invoice from Mr Private-Trader (i.e. outside of his employment) or an invoice from the FIAT dealer (inside his employment)?

I’m confused about this tri-partite set-up.
Think about it – if the dealer has a lemon to get rid of … are they pushing-it out thro this salesman?

I’d toddle along to trading standards (or whatever they’re called) & get their view.

071057Z

 

[austenw90]

http://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=8957

Tap him up. It has always got attention and a resolution for me in the past.