POOR SERVICE OF OPEL FERNDALE/BARLOWORLD in KUILSRIVIER

<p> </p> <p>I hereby forward you an official complaint in regards of the treatment by Opel Barloworld/Ferndale</p> <p>at Kuilsrivier, Western Cape. </p> <p>On the 1st of February 2016 we brought our Opel Corsa Bakkie 1.8 Sport, CFM 47825, in for a 135000 km</p> <p>service maintenance. We also mentioned that the car was not driving well, especially on low speed.</p> <p>The car was ‘hikking’. We asked them to pay attention to this as well. When we got the car back, it was driving same as before, not well. We got a call from the calling center (either Opel or Barloworld, I’m not sure) to see if we were happy with the service done to our car. I told her that we were not happy, as the car was still not driving well, even after being serviced. They asked me if Opel Barloworld/Ferndale at Kuilsrivier should give us a call back and I said yes please. No phone call was given by them. Another call from the calling center if Opel Barloworld/Ferndale has followed up. I said no. Then finally we got a call from Opel Barloworld/Ferndale. I explained that the car was still ‘hikking’ when driving.</p> <p> </p> <p>We brought the car back in for inspection on 10 May 2016. We had to wait till the following day to get the car back. Apparently one spark plug gab was closed and was causing the ‘hikking’ so they told me.</p> <p>I had to pay for this inspection as well. I only learned afterwards that this was stupid to do, as this must have happened when they serviced our car…. So I paid for a fault of Opel Barloworld/Ferndale and still they let you pay for this as well….</p> <p> </p> <p>The car was still ‘hikking’ after this inspection. We got another call from the calling center (either Opel or Barloworld) to see if we were happy with the service done to our car. I said that we were not happy at all, as the car was still not driving well. They asked me if Opel Barloworld/Ferndale at Kuilsrivier should give us a call back and I said yes please. Carmen called me back and I explained that the car was still not driving well. She said that she would talk to Anton, and give me a call back. No one has phoned me back after this call.</p> <p>Our car got another problem, overheated radiator. We brought the car on 27 May to the radiator specialist in Strand, very close by our home, as we didn’t want to drive with the overheated bakkie.</p> <p>They changed the thermostat on the bakkie. When we got it back, they told us that the engine was lying loose in the car and that two engine mounting bolts (back) had to be replaced. He said that he had the bolts, but it’s not only the bolts that need to be changed, it’s the rubbers that have to be changed as well. We were shocked.</p> <p>He showed us that the engine was lying loose by moving it up and down. Apparently this is causing the ‘hikking’ of the car, especially when slowing down in town traffic, it’s the worst.</p> <p>During the 135000km service and during the day that they had the car for inspection for this ‘hikking’ problem, no one has found out that the mounting bolts of the engine are almost gone.</p> <p>Last Monday I called with the dealer principal, Gary Edwards of Opel Barloworld/Ferndale at Kuilsrivier. </p> <p>to tell him in person about the ‘very unhappy’ feeling we have now towards the two times they had the car for service and inspection and that no one even saw the real problem. And that we paid an invoice for a fault that was done in their garage. One of the receptionists called me back, arguing that they couldn’t have seen this as they were not working in this area…. What nonsense. I told her that we’re really frustrated with the fact that they had our car two times overseeing this problem and let us pay an invoice for an item that was there fault. So I said to her that we bring the car in and they fix the car for free, as we’ve already paid an invoice for an item that was not to blame to us. Not talking about the petrol spent to bring the car again to Kuilsrivier and the petrol for the 3rd time we have to bring the car in, the wasting hours that we’ve had waiting for the car to be finished. I find it a normal thing to do, as the service given to us was not at all top !! But they don’t agree and we have to pay another time for the reparation, that could already have been done during the 135000km service, if they had looked good !!</p> <p>The radiator specialist was not working in this area as well, he changed the thermostat, but this small garage, saw the problem !!</p> <p>We informed around at garages and specialists and everybody agrees that we can blame Opel Barloworld/Ferndale at Kuilsrivier of not doing a good job. And that it is a normal thing not to invoice us for this job as they have to make something up with us for their mistakes. With the 2nd invoice and petrol costs, were already at R 1000.- of costs, not talking about all the telephone calls, and wasting hours of not being able to work.</p> <p> </p> <p>Note that my husband is a French Chef, and don’t know much about cars. His English is also not good enough to explain ‘car’ problems and I’m a woman who doesn’t know anything about cars, but I’m learning quick nowadays with all these problems. I’m very angry and disappointed in the attitude of Opel Barloworld/Ferndale at Kuilsrivier.</p> <p>I have given them the option to make the things wright for us, but they refused. I've also told them that I will make now write to Hello Peter, the Opel Head Office and the Head Office of Barloworld as well; but apparently they don't mind. Emmy Aufschneider - Somerset West.</p>