A word of warning - Westpoint Autos - Brisbane.
Discussion
Hi all,
After the last 7 months of going backwards and forwards to Westpoint Autos, i've decided that i'm going to take legal action against them for the repair of my car.
I bought a car from them in good faith last November, upon picking the car up, it was immediately noticeable that the car did not drive as it should and tracked to the left quite a lot. I called them up, and put this in writing within the first 14 days as I knew the car was under stat warranty, although I had paid them $700 extra for there extended warranty to cover all mechanical problems.
They have had the car into the dealership 5 times and each time the car is "apparently fixed" the steering is still pulling to the left.
the car went in for a service last friday, as soon as I picked the car up, i noticed that the power steering has started to judder, I checked the fluid level and it was below the lower marker..(how was this car serviced and that not topped up?) they also replaced the bonnet catch, but proceeded to crack my perspex bonnet protector in the process.. .when questioned face to face with there GM, I got a blank look and "oh, they have definitely serviced it"...
I called up there General Sales Manager and told him that the car was still not fixed, which he responded. My mechanic has done it, there is no problems with the car.. I disagreed and suggested that my only option was to get an independent inspection carried out, which I did at the RACQ. The report states
Front suspension and steering inspected, no visual faults found. Road tested vehicle on different road cambers and found that steeting pulls to left side of the road. Advise further investigation and discussion with suspension specialist for rectification.
I called up the GM at westpoint and told him this, he then proceeded to tell me that in no way does that say there is a problem with the car.??? his reply was all cars pull to the left, it's incase you fall asleep at the wheel.?? he was then adamant that they had still fixed the car and were not prepared to do anything further to resolve this problem. his next solution was, "don't take you're hands off the steering wheel, then it won't pull" ridiculous!!
when i asked for the cost of the RACQ inspection to be refunded to me, he told me that he was not prepared to pay for this either as he cannot see that they have said anything is wrong with the car.??
I advised him that I was going to seek legal action as I feel I have a good case to recoup any costs to fix the car that they had sold me, I also told them that I was getting the car fixed by a suspension specialist and would reclaim the cost from them, again his response was "good luck with that"
after feeling so outraged at his attitude, I posted some comments about the bad customer service that I had received from them on there facebook page, which was promptly deleted by them, then followed up by a very aggressive phone call from there General Manager asking me why I had posted these comments? (who said anything about being entitled to free speech?)
I was then told that I was no longer welcome at his garage, and they would no longer service the car or honour any warranty work. Talk about trying to brush a problem under the carpet.. All I want is my car to drive as it should.
When asked if they would refund my $700 I paid for the extended warranty 6 months ago, he said that they would give me nothing.
The General Manager has had one of the worst attitudes I have ever encountered, I have constantly asked him if he is here to help and resolve matters, or just to aggravate them. At the end of the day, this problem could have been resolved months ago, by them just getting the wheel alignment right and letting me go on my way.
I wonder if anyone have any experience of taking matters further in a legal perspective in queensland.?
I have spoken to the office of fair trading and they have advised me that I am well within my rights to pursue this, I could reject the car under the motor dealers act, statutory warranty as they are required by law to resolve the problem, or under australian consumer law, via the consumer g'tee. (what started off as a minor fault, due to the length of time is now a major fault) (ideally, I don't want to return the car, as it's all good apart from this issue)
I am certainly not going to back down to them, I am disgusted by how unprofessional the General Manager is towards people, he's not there to help, he's is just being difficult. well, unfortunately for him, he's done it to the wrong person.
any advice on similar matters would be great.
does anyone know anything about how warranties work? the warranty is underwritten by Harrier, how does it stand getting the car fixed elsewhere?
At the end of the day, I just want the car to drive as it should and not have this hassle.
I have to wonder how on earth his company has main dealership franchises for Holden and Nissan, I have never come across so many unprofessional people in one company in my life.
After the last 7 months of going backwards and forwards to Westpoint Autos, i've decided that i'm going to take legal action against them for the repair of my car.
I bought a car from them in good faith last November, upon picking the car up, it was immediately noticeable that the car did not drive as it should and tracked to the left quite a lot. I called them up, and put this in writing within the first 14 days as I knew the car was under stat warranty, although I had paid them $700 extra for there extended warranty to cover all mechanical problems.
They have had the car into the dealership 5 times and each time the car is "apparently fixed" the steering is still pulling to the left.
the car went in for a service last friday, as soon as I picked the car up, i noticed that the power steering has started to judder, I checked the fluid level and it was below the lower marker..(how was this car serviced and that not topped up?) they also replaced the bonnet catch, but proceeded to crack my perspex bonnet protector in the process.. .when questioned face to face with there GM, I got a blank look and "oh, they have definitely serviced it"...
I called up there General Sales Manager and told him that the car was still not fixed, which he responded. My mechanic has done it, there is no problems with the car.. I disagreed and suggested that my only option was to get an independent inspection carried out, which I did at the RACQ. The report states
Front suspension and steering inspected, no visual faults found. Road tested vehicle on different road cambers and found that steeting pulls to left side of the road. Advise further investigation and discussion with suspension specialist for rectification.
I called up the GM at westpoint and told him this, he then proceeded to tell me that in no way does that say there is a problem with the car.??? his reply was all cars pull to the left, it's incase you fall asleep at the wheel.?? he was then adamant that they had still fixed the car and were not prepared to do anything further to resolve this problem. his next solution was, "don't take you're hands off the steering wheel, then it won't pull" ridiculous!!
when i asked for the cost of the RACQ inspection to be refunded to me, he told me that he was not prepared to pay for this either as he cannot see that they have said anything is wrong with the car.??
I advised him that I was going to seek legal action as I feel I have a good case to recoup any costs to fix the car that they had sold me, I also told them that I was getting the car fixed by a suspension specialist and would reclaim the cost from them, again his response was "good luck with that"
after feeling so outraged at his attitude, I posted some comments about the bad customer service that I had received from them on there facebook page, which was promptly deleted by them, then followed up by a very aggressive phone call from there General Manager asking me why I had posted these comments? (who said anything about being entitled to free speech?)
I was then told that I was no longer welcome at his garage, and they would no longer service the car or honour any warranty work. Talk about trying to brush a problem under the carpet.. All I want is my car to drive as it should.
When asked if they would refund my $700 I paid for the extended warranty 6 months ago, he said that they would give me nothing.
The General Manager has had one of the worst attitudes I have ever encountered, I have constantly asked him if he is here to help and resolve matters, or just to aggravate them. At the end of the day, this problem could have been resolved months ago, by them just getting the wheel alignment right and letting me go on my way.
I wonder if anyone have any experience of taking matters further in a legal perspective in queensland.?
I have spoken to the office of fair trading and they have advised me that I am well within my rights to pursue this, I could reject the car under the motor dealers act, statutory warranty as they are required by law to resolve the problem, or under australian consumer law, via the consumer g'tee. (what started off as a minor fault, due to the length of time is now a major fault) (ideally, I don't want to return the car, as it's all good apart from this issue)
I am certainly not going to back down to them, I am disgusted by how unprofessional the General Manager is towards people, he's not there to help, he's is just being difficult. well, unfortunately for him, he's done it to the wrong person.
any advice on similar matters would be great.
does anyone know anything about how warranties work? the warranty is underwritten by Harrier, how does it stand getting the car fixed elsewhere?
At the end of the day, I just want the car to drive as it should and not have this hassle.
I have to wonder how on earth his company has main dealership franchises for Holden and Nissan, I have never come across so many unprofessional people in one company in my life.
I missed off the 
too sorry.
No experience in QLD but have you spoken to these folk?:
http://www.mtaq.com.au/
As with all these things, be very clear on what you are seeking. I'm in NSW and in a different industry but see disputes via Fair Trading all the time failing because of lack of clarity with what is being sought.
too sorry.No experience in QLD but have you spoken to these folk?:
http://www.mtaq.com.au/
As with all these things, be very clear on what you are seeking. I'm in NSW and in a different industry but see disputes via Fair Trading all the time failing because of lack of clarity with what is being sought.
Thanks for that, yes, i know the MTA.
I put a call into them, and sent them something in writing months ago, and never heard back from them.
don't know how much they will actually be able to do?
they just have a code of ethics that garage's are suppose to abide by, but if they can't even return a phone call, then I do have to wonder..
I put a call into them, and sent them something in writing months ago, and never heard back from them.
don't know how much they will actually be able to do?
they just have a code of ethics that garage's are suppose to abide by, but if they can't even return a phone call, then I do have to wonder..
MTAQ are an industry organisation. I suggest you should join RACQ and talk to RACQ Legal about the issue.
RACQ is the largest Motorists club in Queensland with over 100,000 members. They are very, very good.
They may even recognise membership of AA etc. or a motoring orgasiation you may have been a member of in GB.
RACQ is the largest Motorists club in Queensland with over 100,000 members. They are very, very good.
They may even recognise membership of AA etc. or a motoring orgasiation you may have been a member of in GB.
thanks for the advice, I joined the RACQ today and i'm waiting for a call back from there legal team.
I took the car into a suspension specialist today and they have told me it's going to be $2500.00 to fix it.!!!
i've forwarded the inspection and quotation to repair to the dealer, so let's see what happens now.
I took the car into a suspension specialist today and they have told me it's going to be $2500.00 to fix it.!!!
i've forwarded the inspection and quotation to repair to the dealer, so let's see what happens now.
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