A very angry LCR owner...

[Mike Green]

Good point Matt - I see what you mean and I definately prefer the first argument, but yes they could easily argue that despite only doing 400 miles then getting the wheels checked and there being just 2mm of thread, I was the one that wore those tyres down from 3mm. Unlikely so quickley but a possibility I suppose as far as the dealer is concerned.

The three months bit is new to me but would make sense for consumer protection. However I suspect tyre tread may be exempt because if you go out and drive 5,000 miles in three months and wheel spin all over the shop then a set of tyres would go very soon (as I suspect may have happened with unclefester )

Its a hard one, but I certainly will make sure I never get myself into this position again. Hopefully SEAT can offer me some answers - emailed them 2 days ago but no response as of yet.

 

[chughes163]

yea i know what your saying, its possible you have tracked the car etc. but i still think its unreasonable given the mileage and i think most dealers worth their salt would agree.....also if it was just the drive wheels low...more understandable - but 3 tyres? bit odd if you ask me!

 

[Mike Green]

Well just got back from hols and had a reply from seat cutomer care. Basically they said they can not intervene because Humphris in Oxford are a franchise and independant. Seat did however contact the garage and raised the issues with them but Humphris said everything had been resolved!!! Hardly.

So beware SEAT HUMPHRIS OXFORD to not have to play along with the usual SEAT rules. I certainly would not deal with them again. I will post this in the seat dealer part on this forum to let people know.

 

[UncleFester]

They're an independant not a franchise but are allowed to trade as Seat Humprhis Oxford? I see from their website they use the official seat logo ..... how's that work then?

 

[Mike Green]

They're an independant not a franchise but are allowed to trade as Seat Humprhis Oxford? I see from their website they use the official seat logo ..... how's that work then?

Part of response from Seat - quote: -

'Here at SEAT UK we are proud of our approved dealership network and the
products and services offered to customers. It is always concerning when a
customer feels they have not received the level of service they expect and
deserve.

I am sure you would wish us to comment on the situation that transpired
however, whilst Humphris are franchisees of SEAT UK they are in fact an
independent company and, therefore, responsible for their own business.'

So I suppose that as they are a franchise they are allowed to trade as a seat approved garage, but because they are independant they do not need to follow the strict seat rules??? Not quite sure but if I had of known this before I would have not gone to them - I assumed all seat dealers on the seat website were fully approved and all bound by the seat rules.

 

[Cupraloon]

Part of response from Seat - quote: -

'Here at SEAT UK we are proud of our approved dealership network and the products and services offered to customers. It is always concerning when a customer feels they have not received the level of service they expect and
deserve.

Thats a bugger isn't it Mike, Surely the important thing here is that Humprhis are as stated an approved SEAT dealer, so surely they have to adhere to some form of laid out guidelines to be such, cos if they didn't adhere to these guideline they wouldn't be a approved by Seat as a Seat dealer "would they" ???

Difficult to know where to go with this, seeing as SEAT don't seem bothered by what their so called "approved" dealer network get up to..

Now that's customer service for you Eh....

I know when i worked at a different independant "approved" dealer they were mighty concerend if the customer service was shite, cos they would loose their "approved" status, and the continued manufactures support, then thier franchise from SEAT/Ford/Vauxhall or whomever etc could be with drawn.

 

[chughes163]

absolutely Cupraloon.

I was fairly certain that all dealerships trading under the Manufacturers name, had to follow a strict policy. It was certainly the case when I worked for Honda, VW and Lexus....and i know of several other people who work within the trade at different dealerships who would say the same.

There has to be a 'point' in purchasing an approved vehicle and a rule book ensuring that all cars at their 'approved dealerships' are prept to a specific minimum standard.....the used car trade has a terrible reputation, and the entire point of these manufacturer schemes is to make customers feel secure!! As we all know, people realise that the cars are generally a tad more expensive than independent dealers, but usually pay this premium for this peace of mind!

It sounds to be like SEAT are trying to fob you off......it may be worth seaking legal advice - I would go and buy Whatcar magazine and give their watchdog section a call.....things are generally weighted in the consumers favour so best of luck!

 

[Mike Green]

Yes, a bit of a bugger definately! I wont probe this any further as I don't think it is worth it. Just lessons learned for next time I suppose.

SEAT have seemed to wash their hands, but if they are independant.....

At least SEAt customer service came back to me with an answer - thats the second time as I queried a warranty issue with them aswell and they got back to me almost straight away. I have dealt with customer service elsewhere and a response was very rare! Unfortunately when they called the garage to chase up my complaint they took what the garage said as truthful (i.e. all probs had been resolved and both parties were happy) and relaid this to me, saying I had to take anything up with the garage personally and sort it out direct.

I will post my findings in the seat dealer part of the forum so people can see what they are in for with this garage soon. At least it must have been logged about my complaint with this garage, so if they receive others then as you say their "approved" status may be in trouble.