Poor service, high prices, damaged car at Barons Bellville

<p>On Monday 20 February 2017, I took my car for its 60 000 km service at Barons Bellville. It was a very distressing experience, from start to finish.</p> <p> </p> <p>While booking my car in, I informed the service technician that I needed to be picked up in the afternoon. He informed me that Barons no longer does that, and hadn't been for a year, (although I last took my car for a service 7 months ago, and I was dropped off and picked up). I had mentioned my need for a lift when making the booking, and had been informed that I should discuss this with the service technician on the day. The service technician was completely adamant that he could not arrange for me to be picked up. When I said that I had no way of getting back to collect my car, he was unsympathetic. I then requested to be able to remove my car from the premises so that I could take it elsewhere for the service. It then suddenly became possible for me to be picked up after all.</p> <p> </p> <p>This was my car's 4th service. At every single service, from 15 000 km onwards, I have been informed that my wiper blades needed to be replaced. Each time I have refused, as I have previously picked up this trend that Barons Bellville will ALWAYS say that my wiper blades need replacing. So, 60 000 km and 2 and a half years later I still have the original wiper blades, and they are still fully functional and performing perfectly.</p> <p> </p> <p>I mentioned to the service technician that the right headlight bulb needed to be replaced. When I was contacted with the quote, I was flabbergasted. R600 to replace a light bulb! The reason for the exorbitant price was given as the need to completely remove the entire headlight fitting. I refused, and took the car immediately after collection to an auto-electrician in Durbanville. He replaced both headlight bulbs in under 3 minutes, without removing any light fittings, and didn't charge me a cent for the labour.</p> <p> </p> <p>When the auto-electrician lifted the bonnet to replace the bulb, he pointed out to me that the bracket fixing the headlight fitting to the body of the car was broken. When I arrived home, I contacted the workshop manager to inform him that the bracket must have been broken in the Barons workshop. It's no surprise that Barons is refusing to acknowledge any responsibility, although it is very clear to everyone who has seen the damage that it could only have occurred with the bonnet raised, and the only people who have ever worked on the car is Barons Bellville.</p>