Wheel alignment ends up being a bill of 2K-4K

Branch: Vereeniging Riversquare Branch

I brought in a car for wheel alignment but ended having to leave with a rear window that won't close.

I didn't sign any car inspection form when I dropped off the car for wheel alignment, I asked the guy if he needs anything or whats to know anything, he said no, I must just give him my car keys and he will take care of everything. I started to tell him which gear is reverse and so forth because there is no marking on the gear knob( i put in a new one cause I wanted a different feel in my hand). I asked again if he doesn't have any questions. He said no. I left to do my shopping with my fiance.

I came back only to find my rear window midway opened, i wondered why would they open my windows, especially the rear one. NO one said anything about the window, no one even told me about the wheel alignment. I was just told i should go pay R350 after he books my car out on the system. I paid and got in the car and started to look at the wheel alignment print out. I didnt understand some stuff as they had a different print out to the Port Elizabeth Tiger Wheels and Tyre Branches. I went in and asked Morne to explain, He explained and still didn't mentioned the window. He did it so politely and was very informative.

I took a drive out about 2min out and i wanted to close the window, then i hear an error alarm/noise going off, i try again..nothing. I give them a call and asked what happened. the first thing he said "Eish"...so i hanged up, He called back and tried to explain. I told him i am on my way back.

At this moment i am livid but because i was wearing my company's shirt and cap, i cannot act a fool. So i asked my fiance to talk to them instead. They confirm that they did something to it and they opened it...I am not sure if either one of them is qualified or not to be a mechanic..but they start fiddling and opening stuff...At this point, i am too mad to even utter a word. I mean what are you doing with windows (rear window nogal) if i brought in my car for wheel alignment.

The fact that they are now trying to fix this themselves is actually an acknowledgment that they did something wrong in the first place.

They struggle and then end up blaming the mechanism of the whole thing. I am thinking to myself, the mechanism works fine, when u open the rear door, the rear window automatically slides out so that it can open the door, and when you close the door, the rear window automatically slides up again to ensure proper closure of the rear door.

Funny thing is that has been working fine till they took my car in for WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

They tell my fiance that they will take it to Land Rover (which is up to the road from where they are) and it will be fixed. They finally acknowledge that they are not professionals when it comes to such issues and will have a professional look at it tomorrow. They promised to investigate further and promised to that have it fixed the next day when I bring it back. I asked for a note that says they acknowledge that. Morne Rodgers notes it down and hands it to us

I drive home with the hope that it will be fixed. I mean they promised a professional will have a look at it. They literally fiddled and opened the window area themselves....but i am hopeful. I have always trusted Tiger Wheels and Tyre personnal.

The next day I bring it back, they make me sign a sheet without inspection yet again. Because I am human and feel like taking it to Landrover will be too expensive for them, I called my dad to give me a number for the mechanics he usually uses for all our cars, He sends me the number, I refer them to someone cheaper (Paul Kirsten), leave my Dad's number and they promise to get it fixed. They say they will call, and they will also call around for other quotations to fix this matter. Before i go, he calls some random white guy who was wearing their shirt, at first before he came, he said he was his supervisor, then later he said it was his technician, He says this guy will look at it before they do anything further.

I leave the car with them to go work nearby at a coffee shop, only to get a call that this was wear and tear, i should come pick-up my car. I am like "what wear and tear?", and why didn't they see this the day before? why was there no third party to have looked at the car? for all i know they could have tear whatever when they we busy trying to fix it themselves. So now he has taken pictures of this "wear and tear" and says it is proof.

My big issue at this point, i brought in the car that was working fine, i had no car safety issues, this was a wheel alignment and now it's something totally different, they still didn't have a professional look at it, for all I know, they could have done something to the car because of fiddling.

When i get there, that technician AKA Supervisor is no were around the car, but the window area is in pieces, and the very same two guys who were fiddling with it yesterday, are still fiddling...and now some black people are there...not sure what their role is.

I ask Morne to give me back my car the way Tiger Wheels and Tyre found it, He says he can't because my car is old and i quote "it is a second-hand car", and its "wear and tear". He starts making calls, very long ones and comes back to them me that his supervisor is at the Doctors office and can't talk. The supervisor will call back and will advise on a way forward.

He spends more time pacing up and down the store, for a long long time....and then He tells me that they need me to pay R1250 for a second-hand part and they will fit in for me....they say at Land Rover is R3K something. I am in awe...i must pay for something that broke in your hands...i don't understand. I budget R400 to come to you but now i have to pay between 2K-4K...

I ask him to kindly write down the event of today like he did yesterday, he says he is not legally bound to do so. Uhmmm...you wrote it yesterday...why cant you write it today?

At this point, i had made a phone call, a facebook post, and an email to their Head Office. Still no response...

I take the car, drive it, then i hear the window rattling, i call him and ask if he was aware of the rattling, He says no. I bring it back. As he opens it, it slides further down, meaning it is not even secure anymore. He says no..its the mechanism. I suggest the drives it. He comes back and says he didn't hear anything but when windows are open you can hear all kinds of sounds...so this means i am now hallucinating.

I drive home with a broken heart, a rear window that doesn't open, scared of all safety issues... now tell me...

How does a wheel alignment of 350 ends up being close to 2k or possibility +\-4K?

I am hoping to get help, i just want my car the way it was....nothing more....