1 reviews | Active since Mar 2019
Very despicable client care from Bidvest Renault Gateway
I own a Renault Duster 1.5dci Dynamique 4x4 purchased from Renault Gateway in 2015 as new. All my services were done at either Renault Gateway or Renault Balito. Tha cambelt service was done at Renault gateway at the scheduled 90000km service and was due to be changed at 180000kms. On the morning of February 23rd 2019 at around 1 am my car stalled and left my wife and I stranded at a very dangerous intersection in the outskirts of Stanger. I called my insurance company and they had the vehicle taken to the nearest dealer in Balito for inspection and repairs. Renault Balito found that the cambelt had failed and caused the valves to bend and resulted in engine failure. In the independant expert report by Assess-sure and the engineers they found and drew conclusion as to the cause of the engine damage provided in the following extract ; “The cambelt frayed and eventually shred into strands. The one strand would have become entangled on either the cambelt tensioners or pulley which in turn caused the cambelt to catch, lock and jump timing resulting in the subsequent engine failure." The big question is why did the cambelt fail and cause such loss to me before the scheduled interval of 180000kms. It cost me R27412.97 out of my pocket. I subsequently had the belt investigated and found that it was an aftermarket belt that was fitted by Renault Gateway in 2017. I contacted the service manager Komlin Naidoo via email on the 29 of april, and he refused to come see me. Right up until the 9th of May Komlin and I had been exchanging emails, and until then neither him nor Trevor Munsamy (Dealer Principle) made any effort whatsoever to either call me or come see me knowing the huge loss and inconvenience I suffered because of them fitting an aftermarket part. I took time off work and again cost me fuel yesterday (30/05/2019) and went to see Komlin. He told me blatantly in no uncertain terms that neither him nor his DP was going to come to me. We discussed the matter, and firstly in his own words he said that an aftermarket part costs a quarter the price of a genuine part, Secondly, he verified with 2 of his technicians in my presence in his office that Renault Gateway does use GUD filters on the vehicles at times. GUD is NOT a genuine Renault part. We are compelled to take our vehicles to dealers for services in order to maintain our warranties, but the dealers themselves are using pirate parts. This matter is now sitting with the MIOSA
