Bad Renault dealers

[Rs2oo]

Long story short.

Took my car into RENAULT :censored in Kent for its second service. The next morning, I took it for its first MOT. It failed on the rear brakes binding. The MOT tester struggled to turn the rear wheels they were that bad. He pointed out the brake pad marks on the discs where they had stuck. He pointed out the 2" nail in the rear tyre which in his experienced opinion, had been there for some time. He pointed out that both electric windows were not working correctly. RENAULT were asked by me to fix the drivers side window which worked intermittently. They managed to break both and sent me home. They didn't even wash the car.

I told him that just hours before, it had a service by RENAULT . He was shocked. How could it have had a service and be left in such a dangerous state. The rear brake pads were braking up all round the edges. How did RENAULT miss these obvious things ?

I informed RENAULT who refused to admit they missed these potentially dangerous issues.I took the car to another garage who changed the rear pads and checked the car over for me. They also fixed both windows. I informed RENAULT that another garage had done the work. They apologised and said they would get back to be but didn't until two weeks later I had to ring them. They offered me a valet for my trouble which, being a very reasonable person and accepting their apologies, I accepted.

When the valet was completed and my car returned, it was in a worse state than it was before I let them have it. Marks on the passenger seat and drivers door card, badly scratched gear lever, very badly vacuumed, dusty everywhere, seats badly cleaned and the cup holder not even wiped or polished etc. wheels were the only things which were nice and clean.

I now find myself in the position of getting legal advice because RENAULT refuse to compensate me in any way. They deny they damaged the gear lever. The Service Manager agreed the valet was not up to standard at all and even took photos of the shoddy work. They have offered me another valet.

I have asked them for a new handbrake and for half the labour charge I paid for the "service" which comes to about £48.

They just want me to accept a valet, so, my advice to anyone with a Renault is AVOID RENAULT . They don't give a st about their customers. They do not do the work they are paid to do and they allow customers to drive away in their car with potentially very dangerous faults.

ETA

Location removed as naming and shaming isn't allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Thursday 16th May 21:21

[jagracer]

This wont last long but I assume you don't like Renault Orpington. Questions, why do you expect it to be washed and why only two services in 3 years, in fact reading that again, only one service in three years?

Edited by jagracer on Thursday 16th May 20:24

[jagracer]

When you said second service I imagined it was a nearly new car, then I noted the MOT bit, wtf did you take your car to a main dealer anyway? My only experience with them is when they did a recall on the Clio bonnet, they also did a free car check which I didn't ask for and proceeded to give me a load of BS about what was wrong with the car.

[Rs2oo]

jagracer said:

wtf did you take your car to a main dealer anyway?

Renault stamp in the book ! Won't do it again.

[Big Al.]

Rs2oo said:

Won't do it again.

Hope you're referring too naming and shaming as it isn't allowed as per the rules of posting.

[Rs2oo]

Big Al. said:

Hope you're referring too naming and shaming as it isn't allowed as per the rules of posting.

Yes, yes I was .....................

[Mr Jenks]

And why go to one place for a service and somewhere else next day for MOT? Most normal people would have had it all done at once.

[steve j]

I can`t help wondering when the car went in for a service, it was in a dangerous state ! do you check your tyres and brakes ?

[Rs2oo]

Mr Jenks said:

And why go to one place for a service and somewhere else next day for MOT? Most normal people would have had it all done at once.

Great comment well thought out.

Renault MOT £39

My local MOT £23 and they are honest and do a great job. Also, not being normal, it's my choice.

[Rs2oo]

steve j said:

I can`t help wondering when the car went in for a service, it was in a dangerous state ! do you check your tyres and brakes ?

My brakes seemed to be working perfectly and were not pulling or grinding. I didnt take the wheels off that day to check the pads so I guess its my fault. I didn't check every part of every tyre either so yep, my fault. You obviously check every tyre of your car each time you use it. I don't and thats why I use mechanics who are supposed to know what they are doing and pay them for a service. If you have nothing better to do, take some time to check my spelling.

Alway good to get great comments on Pistonheads. No doubt you will come back with another critical point so knock yourself out.

[Mr Jenks]

Rs2oo said:

It failed on the rear brakes binding. The MOT tester struggled to turn the rear wheels they were that bad.

Rs2oo said:

My brakes seemed to be working perfectly and were not pulling or grinding.

You didn`t notice they were binding that badly when you drove it?

[Deva Link]

Rs2oo said:

My local MOT £23 and they are honest...

There's only one reason to so heavily discount an MOT....

[steve j]

Rs2oo said:

My brakes seemed to be working perfectly and were not pulling or grinding. I didnt take the wheels off that day to check the pads so I guess its my fault. I didn't check every part of every tyre either so yep, my fault. You obviously check every tyre of your car each time you use it. I don't and thats why I use mechanics who are supposed to know what they are doing and pay them for a service. If you have nothing better to do, take some time to check my spelling.

Alway good to get great comments on Pistonheads. No doubt you will come back with another critical point so knock yourself out.

On a regular basis I check my brakes and tyres, it is more or less habitual after years in the military. My comment was just a polite observation and why on earth should I check your spelling, I hope you get full satisfaction from the dealer and get your car back how you want it.

[Rs2oo]

Deva Link said:

Rs2oo said:

My local MOT £23 and they are honest...

There's only one reason to so heavily discount an MOT....

Check them out. If you live in the area they are brilliant.
http://www.dynesautoservices.co.uk/

[Rs2oo]

Mr Jenks said:

Rs2oo said:

It failed on the rear brakes binding. The MOT tester struggled to turn the rear wheels they were that bad.

Rs2oo said:

My brakes seemed to be working perfectly and were not pulling or grinding.

You didn`t notice they were binding that badly when you drove it?

No. The weight/power etc of the car doesn't give any clue to the binding as you drive it, but once it was up on the ramp it was difficult to spin the rear wheels without some effort. When it was in the Renault dealer on their ramp, they clearly did not even try to spin the wheels or check the condition of the brakes and that's my point about their lack of servicing. They simply didn't bother to do it. I put the car in for a service and they didn't do what they told me they would do. They also told me they did a test drive to check the gearbox etc and they did just 0.3 of a mile in total and that includes moving it round their workshop to and from the car park. 0.3 miles is not much of a test drive.

[Rs2oo]

steve j said:

On a regular basis I check my brakes and tyres, it is more or less habitual after years in the military. My comment was just a polite observation and why on earth should I check your spelling, I hope you get full satisfaction from the dealer and get your car back how you want it.

Thanks Steve. The so called Service I got was totally unsatisfactory and the reason for my thread was to warn others who may be thinking of using this dealer. In 30 odd years of driving, I have never had dealings with anyone as bad as this or even had to complain. Sorry if I misread your comment.

[jagracer]

Rs2oo said:

Check them out. If you live in the area they are brilliant.
http://www.dynesautoservices.co.uk/

I still don't get why you took it to a main dealer, if Dynes are so good then why didn't you use them especially as a service and MOT is only £99 and their stamps in the book are just as good as that place in Orpington.

[Deva Link]

Rs2oo said:

Deva Link said:

Rs2oo said:

My local MOT £23 and they are honest...

There's only one reason to so heavily discount an MOT....

Check them out. If you live in the area they are brilliant.
http://www.dynesautoservices.co.uk/

I see they have a special offer on MOTs to under 21yr olds - £25.

[Technomatt]

Rs2oo said:

steve j said:

On a regular basis I check my brakes and tyres, it is more or less habitual after years in the military. My comment was just a polite observation and why on earth should I check your spelling, I hope you get full satisfaction from the dealer and get your car back how you want it.

Thanks Steve. The so called Service I got was totally unsatisfactory and the reason for my thread was to warn others who may be thinking of using this dealer. In 30 odd years of driving, I have never had dealings with anyone as bad as this or even had to complain. Sorry if I misread your comment.

It’s a big shame when Renault decided to cull its dealer network due to losses, it didn’t bin the bummers.

There a few good ones around but the overall quality experience can be blighted by those poor ones remaining.

With Renault I think you have to just buy the car and not rely on any guaranteed consistent aftercare service. Best to look elsewhere or research dealers very carefully before assuming a level of quality servicing and customer care standards.

[Mr Jenks]

Rs2oo said:

Mr Jenks said:

Rs2oo said:

It failed on the rear brakes binding. The MOT tester struggled to turn the rear wheels they were that bad.

Rs2oo said:

My brakes seemed to be working perfectly and were not pulling or grinding.

You didn`t notice they were binding that badly when you drove it?

No. The weight/power etc of the car doesn't give any clue to the binding as you drive it, but once it was up on the ramp it was difficult to spin the rear wheels without some effort. When it was in the Renault dealer on their ramp, they clearly did not even try to spin the wheels or check the condition of the brakes and that's my point about their lack of servicing. They simply didn't bother to do it. I put the car in for a service and they didn't do what they told me they would do. They also told me they did a test drive to check the gearbox etc and they did just 0.3 of a mile in total and that includes moving it round their workshop to and from the car park. 0.3 miles is not much of a test drive.

Power and weight make no difference what so ever. If the brakes are binding that bad you will feel it