Beware!
<p>I called Top Gearbox in Herm**** on 14 June 2017, requesting a quote to fix all oil leaks on my Land Rover, to fix the brakes that clearly needed attention, to replace all shock absorbers and to ensure that everything relating to the drive train, brakes and suspension will be in such condition that it will be approved when the vehicle goes through a road worthy test. I had bought the vehicle 2 days before and needed to get it registered on my name within 21 days of date of purchase.</p> <p>I spoke to the owner, Norman, later in the day and he quoted me quite a substantial amount for the work I needed done. Since I was led to believe that they were the “specialists” in their field in Herm****, I thought I’d rather spend more to get the job done professionally and hopefully rest assured that the work was done properly and decided to make use of their service.</p> <p>During the same conversation I asked the normal question of how long it would take to get the work done. Norman said that if I take the vehicle in immediately, it should be ready by the following day, which was Thursday afternoon 15 June.</p> <p>Need I say, the Thursday it was not ready, then I was promised the Monday (Friday 16th was a holiday). Monday came and went . . .</p> <p>I visited the workshop on Wednesday 21 June and the Landy was still parked in their yard. It had not been touched. I expressed my dismay and it was put on the lift not long after that. In the meantime I was promised several new completion dates every time I called or visited the workshop.</p> <p>There’s always been some excuse of couriers taking long or not delivering parts when they should or the amount of time in takes to dismantle parts or whatever.</p> <p>On 4 July 2017 (three weeks after I took the vehicle to them!), after I clearly expressing my unhappiness several times, I was told that the work was done and the vehicle was ready for collection. I received an invoice and paid the full amount asked for the work done, trusting that all was done thoroughly as that is what I was told.</p> <p>My oh my, was I in for a surprise and that was not a happy one!</p> <p>I need to add that I did not insist on replacing the rear main oil seal immediately because I knew that it was a big job to do and the idea was to take the vehicle back after the roadworthy test for that, purely so that I can have the vehicle back in time to put it through the test within the 21 days.</p> <p>I was only able to check the work done on 6 July. I would need to upload several pictures to show what I got in return for the money paid. There were leaks all over. Most of the parts that need to receive oil, were overfilled, filler plugs leaked, some oil leaks have not been attended to and the brakes were as bad, if not worse, split pins I was promised would be replaced were not done, others put in the wrong way. I immediately took the vehicle back. More oil seals had to be ordered with more lying about completion times and more frustration had to be encountered.</p> <p>On Thursday 13 July I visited the workshop again and seeing that the 3 weeks within which I had to get the RWC, had lapsed, I told them to do the rear main seal as well because there was no further point in waiting with that. I assumed that the seal would be ordered immediately. On Tuesday 18 July I asked what the status quo was and I was informed by Norman that he had just received the seal.</p> <p>I visited the workshop on Wednesday 19 July trusting that I would see them finishing off the fitting of the seal. The Landy was parked in their yard with everyone working on other vehicles. Norman told me that all his staff were sick on Monday and Tuesday, that he had to close the workshop and that they were all back on that day, Wednesday 19 July. What wonderful coincidence - everybody sick at the same time and everybody better at the same time!</p> <p>By now I had paid all monies two weeks earlier already, money working 100% every time they spend it, but I had nothing but a vehicle on my name, leaking oil, and still parked in their yard with no-one attending to it. I once again expressed my dismay. I thought two days would be more than ample time to have the seal fitted and I enquired again on Thursday 19 July to hear when it would be ready.</p> <p>Norman instructed his receptionist call me to say they are finishing off and the vehicle would be ready by Friday 21 July.</p> <p>Monday 24 July I received a message from Norman asking me to visit the workshop. I was out of town and called him. He then told me that the seal they received was not the right one. That means that he asked his receptionist to lie to me because if they were working on the vehicle as she suggested, they would have seen that the seal was not the correct one much earlier.</p> <p>Today is 25 July 2017 and I still not have my Land Rover back!</p> <p>As far as I am concerned I cannot trust anything Norman says to me and I still don’t know when I will get the vehicle back.</p> <p>What a shameful disgrace! I am shocked! Please beware vehicle owners in Herm**** and surrounding areas!</p>
Corrected text for easy reading the above review:
I called Top Gearbox in Herm**** on 14 June 2017, requesting a quote to fix all oil leaks on my
Land Rover, to fix the brakes that clearly needed attention, to replace all shock absorbers and to
ensure that everything relating to the drive train, brakes and suspension will be in such condition
that it will be approved when the vehicle goes through a road worthy test. I had bought the vehicle
2 days before and needed to get it registered on my name within 21 days of date of purchase.
I spoke to the owner, Norman, later in the day and he quoted me quite a substantial amount for the
work I needed done. Since I was led to believe that they were the “specialists” in their field in Herm****,
I thought I’d rather spend more to get the job done professionally and hopefully rest assured that the
work was done properly and decided to make use of their services.
During the same conversation I asked the normal question of how long it would take to get the work
done. Norman said that if I take the vehicle in immediately, it should be ready by the following day,
which was Thursday afternoon 15 June.
Need I say, the Thursday it was not ready, then I was promised the Monday (Friday 16th was a holiday).
Monday came and went . . .
I visited the workshop on Wednesday 21 June and the Landy was still parked in their yard. It had not
been touched. I expressed my dismay and it was put on the lift not long after that. In the meantime I
was promised several new completion dates every time I called or visited the workshop.
There’s always been some excuse of couriers taking long or not delivering parts when they should or
the amount of time in takes to dismantle parts or whatever.
On 4 July 2017 (three weeks after I took the vehicle to them!), after I clearly expressing my
unhappiness several times, I was told that the work was done and the vehicle was ready for collection.
I received an invoice and paid the full amount asked for the work done, trusting that all was done
thoroughly as that is what I was told.
My oh my, was I in for a surprise and that was not a happy one!
I need to add that I did not insist on replacing the rear main oil seal immediately because I knew that it
was a big job to do and the idea was to take the vehicle back after the roadworthy test for that, purely
so that I can have the vehicle back in time to put it through the test within the 21 days.
I was only able to check the work done on 6 July. Unfortunately I cannot upload pictures to show what
I got in return for the money paid. There were leaks all over. Most of the parts that need to receive oil,
were overfilled, filler plugs leaked, some oil leaks have not been attended to and the brakes were as bad,
if not worse, split pins I was promised would be replaced were not done, others put in the wrong way. I
immediately took the vehicle back. More oil seals had to be ordered with more lying about completion
times and more frustration had to be encountered.
On Thursday 13 July I visited the workshop again and seeing that the 3 weeks within which I had to get
the RWC, had lapsed, I told them to do the rear main seal as well because there was no further point in
waiting with that. I assumed that the seal would be ordered immediately. On Tuesday 18 July I asked
what the status quo was and I was informed by Norman that he had just received the seal.
I visited the workshop on Wednesday 19 July trusting that I would see them finishing off the fitting of
the seal. The Landy was parked in their yard with everyone working on other vehicles. Norman told me
that all his staff were sick on Monday and Tuesday, that he had to close the workshop and that they
were all back on that day, Wednesday 19 July. What wonderful coincidence - everybody sick at the
same time and everybody better at the same time!
By now I had paid all monies two weeks earlier already, money working 100% every time they spend it,
but I had nothing but a vehicle on my name, leaking oil, and still parked in their yard with no-one attending to it. I once again expressed my dismay. I thought two days would be more than ample
time to have the seal fitted and I enquired again on Thursday 19 July to hear when it would be ready.
Norman instructed his receptionist call me to say they are finishing off and the vehicle would be ready
by Friday 21 July.
Monday 24 July I received a message from Norman asking me to visit the workshop. I was out of town
and called him. He then told me that the seal they received was not the right one. That means that he
asked his receptionist to lie to me because if they were working on the vehicle as she suggested, they
would have seen that the seal was not the correct one much earlier.
Today is 25 July 2017 and I still not have my Land Rover back!
As far as I am concerned I cannot trust anything Norman says to me and I still don’t know when I will
get the vehicle back.
What a shameful disgrace! I am shocked! Please beware vehicle owners in Herm**** and surrounding
areas!
Corrected text for easy reading the above review:
I called Top Gearbox in Herm**** on 14 June 2017, requesting a quote to fix all oil leaks on my
Land Rover, to fix the brakes that clearly needed attention, to replace all shock absorbers and to
ensure that everything relating to the drive train, brakes and suspension will be in such condition
that it will be approved when the vehicle goes through a road worthy test. I had bought the vehicle
2 days before and needed to get it registered on my name within 21 days of date of purchase.
I spoke to the owner, Norman, later in the day and he quoted me quite a substantial amount for the
work I needed done. Since I was led to believe that they were the “specialists” in their field in Herm****,
I thought I’d rather spend more to get the job done professionally and hopefully rest assured that the
work was done properly and decided to make use of their services.
During the same conversation I asked the normal question of how long it would take to get the work
done. Norman said that if I take the vehicle in immediately, it should be ready by the following day,
which was Thursday afternoon 15 June.
Need I say, the Thursday it was not ready, then I was promised the Monday (Friday 16th was a holiday).
Monday came and went . . .
I visited the workshop on Wednesday 21 June and the Landy was still parked in their yard. It had not
been touched. I expressed my dismay and it was put on the lift not long after that. In the meantime I
was promised several new completion dates every time I called or visited the workshop.
There’s always been some excuse of couriers taking long or not delivering parts when they should or
the amount of time in takes to dismantle parts or whatever.
On 4 July 2017 (three weeks after I took the vehicle to them!), after I clearly expressing my
unhappiness several times, I was told that the work was done and the vehicle was ready for collection.
I received an invoice and paid the full amount asked for the work done, trusting that all was done
thoroughly as that is what I was told.
My oh my, was I in for a surprise and that was not a happy one!
I need to add that I did not insist on replacing the rear main oil seal immediately because I knew that it
was a big job to do and the idea was to take the vehicle back after the roadworthy test for that, purely
so that I can have the vehicle back in time to put it through the test within the 21 days.
I was only able to check the work done on 6 July. Unfortunately I cannot upload pictures to show what
I got in return for the money paid. There were leaks all over. Most of the parts that need to receive oil,
were overfilled, filler plugs leaked, some oil leaks have not been attended to and the brakes were as bad,
if not worse, split pins I was promised would be replaced were not done, others put in the wrong way. I
immediately took the vehicle back. More oil seals had to be ordered with more lying about completion
times and more frustration had to be encountered.
On Thursday 13 July I visited the workshop again and seeing that the 3 weeks within which I had to get
the RWC, had lapsed, I told them to do the rear main seal as well because there was no further point in
waiting with that. I assumed that the seal would be ordered immediately. On Tuesday 18 July I asked
what the status quo was and I was informed by Norman that he had just received the seal.
I visited the workshop on Wednesday 19 July trusting that I would see them finishing off the fitting of
the seal. The Landy was parked in their yard with everyone working on other vehicles. Norman told me
that all his staff were sick on Monday and Tuesday, that he had to close the workshop and that they
were all back on that day, Wednesday 19 July. What wonderful coincidence - everybody sick at the
same time and everybody better at the same time!
By now I had paid all monies two weeks earlier already, money working 100% every time they spend it,
but I had nothing but a vehicle on my name, leaking oil, and still parked in their yard with no-one attending to it. I once again expressed my dismay. I thought two days would be more than ample
time to have the seal fitted and I enquired again on Thursday 19 July to hear when it would be ready.
Norman instructed his receptionist call me to say they are finishing off and the vehicle would be ready
by Friday 21 July.
Monday 24 July I received a message from Norman asking me to visit the workshop. I was out of town
and called him. He then told me that the seal they received was not the right one. That means that he
asked his receptionist to lie to me because if they were working on the vehicle as she suggested, they
would have seen that the seal was not the correct one much earlier.
Today is 25 July 2017 and I still not have my Land Rover back!
As far as I am concerned I cannot trust anything Norman says to me and I still don’t know when I will
get the vehicle back.
What a shameful disgrace! I am shocked! Please beware vehicle owners in Herm**** and surrounding
areas!