JA
Jillian A

1 reviews | Active since May 2021

12 May 2021, 08:42

Selling Accident Damaged Cars

February 2020 I finally decided to take the plunge and buy my first vehicle. My heart and budget was set on getting a VW Polo Vivo Tiptronic. Trusting the VW brand I started to look for a 'reputable' dealership that would help me in getting my finance sorted. Unfortunately I decided on taking up my finance through Hatfield VW Melrose Arch from the moment I went to the dealership till now I have no doubt in my mind that i have made the biggest mistake of my life. The day i went to look at the car I was at the dealership for well over 5 hours never got so far as to properly test the vehicle. By the next Monday the finance had been approved and the car was delivered at my workplace. Pulling up into my driveway my partner immediately realised that the car had two different colour doors on the drivers side. He looked the car over and indeed the back door driver side had tell tale signs of a respray. Contacted the Sales Rep and she swore to the heavens no the previous owner just had the door resprayed because of fading ( I wish i had listened to my head and saw the red flags ) Not long after the central locking did not work. Took it in for a check at the dealership no problem. Months later the car went crazy the ABS the Brake Light the entire console would go crazy whilst you were driving come to find ALL 4 tires on the car were a different size and width there were bubbles on the outer wall and the tread on some tires was almost 10% or none .... I replaced the tires at my own expense of course for safety reasons. At the Tyre shop they struggled to get one of the tyres off the wheel (rim) itself was so stuck to the wheel studs and the dust cap was a little bent ??? It is now a year and in April 2021 we started noticing a knocking sound when turning right on the car ... my partner again took the initiative and was advised the cars CV joints were at fault. I thought it would be easy enough having this sorted as i was sold a warranty on the car. What a joke I paid over R5k to have a CV Joint etc replaced and the warranty people only covered half of R10k reason being the car was not up to date on its service booklet. in the 14 months that i have had this car it has not been serviced as the service is not yet due but to my astonishment the last service the car had in its service booklet was in 2016. I bought the car in 2020. I now sit with this regret not only have i been sold a car that i for sure know has been involved in an accident ( different door colours , central locking not working , wheel studs being bent and i forgot to mention the boot leaks as well !!!... during a heavy downpour in March 2021 the car started leaking water through the inside of the boot ? Granted the car is a 2012 model but is the VW Mastercars ethos not that they will not sell you a car older than 5 years and with more than 120 000km's on the clock ? my car was 9 years old then and had 125K kilo's on the clock then and granted it is a 2nd hand car there are telltale signs that this car was involved in an accident ... I am so unhappy with this car and the saddest part is that if i trade this car in they will sell it to some unsuspecting victim ... DO NOT BUY ANY CAR FROM THESE PEOPLE 80 point check !! Oh Please !!!! I will never ever buy another car from these ****** again.

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Replies (7)
Hatfield VW Melrose
Hatfield VW Melrose's reply12 May 2021, 09:17
Official
Good Morning. I would like to take this up with the Dealer. Kindly let me know who was the Sales Executive that sold you the vehicle & if possible your contact details. Thank you
JA
Jillian A's update18 May 2021, 11:08
Reviewer Update
The car is back from the workshop and low and behold more shadyness. The banks car ( I wont claim this liability ever) had to have a CV joint replaced and the dealership put in a claim for a wheelshaft R5499.99) which was allegedly paid i say allegedly because it was never replaced the car still has the same old wheelshaft on but a new CV joint for which i paid out of my own pocket R5,410.06 how does the Warranty Insurer TRAFFICC approve a claim for a part that was not replaced ? I cant wait for the complaints department from TRAFFICC and Hatfield VW Group to get back to justify blatant *****
Hatfield VW Melrose
Hatfield VW Melrose's reply18 May 2021, 11:17
Official
Good Morning. I would like to take this up with the Dealer. Kindly let me know what is your vehicle's details as well as your contact details. Thank you
JA
Jillian A's update18 May 2021, 11:19
Reviewer Update
I have already been in contact with Hatfield Group complaints department as well as the Warranty Insurer TRAFFICC. I need an explanation of what i paid for on Wesbanks car.
Hatfield VW Melrose
Hatfield VW Melrose's reply18 May 2021, 11:33
Official
I can't help you. I need to get someone from Hatfield VW Melrose to contact you. I'm from Head Office Hatfield Group. 
JA
Jillian A's update21 May 2021, 14:19
Reviewer Update
20-05-2021 had to have the cars battery replaced at a cost of R1380 to ME !!!! I beyond living this car was at that useless dealership having a R10k CV joint replaced for over 3 weeks .... my car would not start properly from Monday 17-05-2021 it was picked up the Saturday 15-05-2021 already idling away when my partner arrived ... he took the car and left ... my partner uses that car most of the time and drives extensively yet the battery would not charge he took the car back to have the radio sorted out because if the battery does not charge the radio goes into " SAFE MODE" they offered to charge the cars battery which he declined because with these people you will sit at the dealership for a minor thing half the day. Yesterday afternoon the car would not start the ignition just turned and turned i left came back after 5 minutes the car eventually started ... I went to Lombard Tyres in Greenhills to have the battery checked for charge .... the battery was at 34% .... again I have had that car for 14 months now .... I would have had to drive to a secondary dealership to have the battery charged for 4-5 hours ... I have never been this disgusted it is beyond me now .... BTW when i spoke to another Hatfield Dealerships workshop associate about the R10k CV joint they laughed at me in my face and said you are known for this tomfoolery all over JHB !!!
Hatfield VW Melrose
Hatfield VW Melrose's reply21 May 2021, 14:51
Official
Good Afternoon. I would like to take this up with the Dealer. Kindly let me know what is your vehicle's details as well as your contact details. Thank you