[David]

....from a reliable source.

Apparantly, VW garages get trainees to work on your car when it's out of warranty, they always get trained mechanics to work on the car when it is under warranty.

Which brings me to Richard Alexander in Leeds (must stress Leeds as their Huddersfield branch is exceptional)

Took my car in for checking over and for them to look at the air con which only seemed to work intermittantly, told them I thought that there was a boost leak somewhere as the car was hissing and wouldn't go over 40mph. They offered me an air con service too which I asked them to do.

After having the car for 2 days, here's what I get

• You have too many non standard parts on the engine, we can't do anything.
  • I have a Hyperboost DV - the ONLY non standard part, they freaked out cos my ECU read "Dave's Car" [] (Didn't pay for anything)
    
    • Took it to JBS the next day and they fixed the boost leak! The rubber pipe which had come loose under the turbo!
• Well we've done your air con service but you need a new a/c compressor at ?600.
  • Well why service an a/c system when I told you it was broken - Common Sense - fix it first then service it!! (Refused to pay for servicing)
    
    • Fuse was dirty, cleaned up and a/c is working fine now.

This was my first visit to this garage, only opened 4 months ago, only went because I used to use the same dealership in Huddersfield.

Anyway, second visit I take a new style blank key to be coded to match me car, got a really helpful person for once that told me about the types of keys and said I needed the old-style key, quoted me ?25 + VAT cutting and coding for when I get hold of the correct key.
Went back a week later with the correct key, had to pay ?12 cutting, 30 mins labour coding, ?50 in all

Richard Alexander, Leeds will be getting a letter this week, trading standards may be getting a copy if I don't hear anything back soonish !

 

[nudda]

freaked out cos my ECU read "Dave's Car"

Im freakin out now too !! Howd u do that ?? []

 

[David]

freaked out cos my ECU read "Dave's Car"

Im freakin out now too !! Howd u do that ?? []

Custom-code [] Was funny when they told me!

 

[nudda]

lol can imagine !! []

sorry, went slightly off topic there - Ill let others respond to your point now []

 

[David]

Anyway, back to slagging off this dealer, anyone else had any experience with them?

 

[craigGSI]

I want my car named too []

dealers get away with murder we should have more rights against them

 

[David]

Where do I stand? What could I do?

They quoted me needing my air con compressor replacing for ?600! I'm
obviously peed off and want this dealer to sort it's act out, not
standing for them trying to rip me off or anyone else.

 

[RJH]

freaked out cos my ECU read "Dave's Car"

Im freakin out now too !! Howd u do that ?? []

Custom-code [] Was funny when they told me!

I bet GaryM's reads "Too much bloody money!!"

[]

 

[David]

freaked out cos my ECU read "Dave's Car"

Im freakin out now too !! Howd u do that ?? []

Custom-code [] Was funny when they told me!

I bet GaryM's reads "Too much bloody money!!"

[]

Tut tut, taking my post off topic, this thread is about Richard Alexander Leeds only, they can sue me for slander, lol.

 

[d65k5g]

How about if it read "Trading Standards" [] do you think we'd get good service then?

 

[David]

How about if it read "Trading Standards" [] do you think we'd get good service then?

Eh, you've lost me!

 

[David]

bump []

 

[maxGTI]

How about if it read "Trading Standards" [] do you think we'd get good service then?

Eh, you've lost me!

I think he meant if the ECU read 'Trading Standards' would you get a good service then, lol. I use Richard Alexander in Huddersfield for servicing and think they are ok. But thanks for the warning, I shall not use RA In Leeds now. Wouldn't it be funny if we all wrote an email to RA in Leeds telling them how one of our friends had been the potential victim of a rip off when he was able to fix his a/c later, independently? Would that help your cause? If so let us know 'cos I'll definitely be the first to email! I can't stand it when these cowboy tactics are being deployed at main dealerships either. Just wondering if anyone else can name and shame dealers because we should all be aware of what's good and what's bad out there.

~ Maxie

 

[David]

Oh yeah, get it now!!

I've used Richard Alexander in Huddersfield for 3 years and there
service has been nothing short of exceptional, used to work in
Brighouse so it was convenient but carried on going there when work
moved. Never had a single problem there, staff/mechanics are very
helpful, I guessed the Leeds branch would be as good (mmmm!).

It's a shame to tarnish a dealer in this way but it has to be done, RA
in Huddersfield will be getting a copy of my letter, i'm sure they will
do something about the muppets in the Leeds branch []

 

[vrooooom]

You think RA in leeds are bad!! Don't even bother with RA in Otley, muppets couldn't even put a gearbox in a polo right!! Didin't connect up speedo cable! and didn't connect reversing switch cable. Not to mention having to put a second box in cos they'd done something to the first one (suspected no oil!!) and this was all warranty work too!!

So where's the huddersfield branch then??[]

 

[M1K VW]

So where's the huddersfield branch then??[]

On the A62 Leeds Road, you can't miss it...

I've found RA Hudds service good too - they serviced both my R32 and Mk 4 1.8T before and helped out with fault diagnosis on some of my older VWs down the years, including last month.

Their bodyshop's not so hot though, they made a mess of my ex-Mrs's 3 week old TT Roadster - went in for a tiny dink in the door (caused by another car door) repairing and eventually ended up with the entire side of the car re-painted, oversprayed lacquer removing from the windscreen and two new side indicator lenses (I'll save you the tale of woe!!). That was 4 years ago but the foreman's still there, so I hope he's learned some quality control skills since then!!

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

Where do I stand? What could I do?

They quoted me needing my air con compressor replacing for ?600! I'm obviously peed off and want this dealer to sort it's act out, not standing for them trying to rip me off or anyone else.

Is that the fuse that Graeme sorted at the Mega Meet ?

That could have been a very expensive corroded fuse.

 

[Chris'n'Lau]

If dealership servicing is so expensive, yet we receive totally incompetent levels of service and workmanship, why do we bother trying to fill our service books with VW stamps ? I know it is a better selling point, but is it really if we have such poor and costly experiences. Think of the short term rather than the long term - fair enough if it were a Merc or Beemer but it's not.

A smaller, independent (yet reputable) dealer would surely be the better option !! I bought my car from a small trader in Heaton Mersey, Stockport 7k miles ago and haven't had a problem- he can get the service warning light reset and service it to a much higher standard than VW , because he employs competent, experienced mechanics.

When I looked round my car before buying, he even turned my attention to minor faults which I would not have even noticed otherwise (drivers door courtesy lamp inoporable and a missing aerial) and told me they would be rectified before I picked it up at no extra cost - now that's what I call service !!!

 

[David]

Where do I stand? What could I do?

They quoted me needing my air con compressor replacing for ?600! I'm obviously peed off and want this dealer to sort it's act out, not standing for them trying to rip me off or anyone else.

Is that the fuse that Graeme sorted at the Mega Meet ?

That could have been a very expensive corroded fuse.

Yep, it's been fine since he cleaned the fuse [Y]

 

[David]

You think RA in leeds are bad!! Don't even bother with RA in Otley, muppets couldn't even put a gearbox in a polo right!! Didin't connect up speedo cable! and didn't connect reversing switch cable. Not to mention having to put a second box in cos they'd done something to the first one (suspected no oil!!) and this was all warranty work too!!

I thought Otley was Massingberd or has it changed? Was gonna try them next as they are probably nearest to me than any in Leeds.