This may be a warning to scores of Skoda Owners who have believed in sending their cars in to an authorised dealer .
Despite being riddled with problems for the first two years of owning the vehicle which had compelled me to address the matter in the Consumer Court, over the last 5 years in all, the experience with this specific dealership has shocked me the most .
The vehicle was sent to The dealer in July 2008 for a specific set of repairs and were provided the same in written . In a few days the dealer had submitted an estimate of Rs. 1.50 lacs . The same was cropped to an approval of just Rs. 36, 000 . The workshop supervisor, Mr. Nasir acknowleedged the same and simultaneously pressured to hard sell the overhaul of the engine . The same was declined and the delivery of the vehicle with approved repairs was demanded soon .
IN a week following the above instance, mr. Nasir of Skoda Autograph called informing the readiness of the vehicle and faxed a bill of Rs. 85, 527.00
Shocked on the above, an explaination was demanded on the contents of the Invoice no AG09109 . The said invoice had charges for Parts and labour namely for shock absorbers and many such suspension related parts which were neither advised in their own estimate nor were indicated in our approval .
On confronting the general manager over the invoice, one Dr. Sethna clearly insisted that they are competent to decide what should be changed and that the decision should be left entirely to them .
Since the firt Invoice dated 05.08.2008, the above dealer ship has corrected the invoice over 3 times and have finally brought the final invoice value to Rs.49, 522 .
The dealership was asked by us to clarify as to how would we believe that the parts changed by them without consulting or advising the change in their estmates, are indeed replaced by the original parts of the vehicle .
Their reply simply states no responsibility on their actions .
Now Mr. Sethna has resigned and Mr. Nasir is also not attending duties . Mr. Kadam and Mr. Perieira have now taken a stand that the invoices sent by their predecessors were merely estimate sheets ( computer generated ) and the revised amounts were actually estimates . If so how come the same are signed and letters indicating them as invoices were sent to us for making payments and collecting the vehicle .
The vehicle is now stranded witht he dealership with a demand made by them for the amount to be paid without any committment on the concerns raised by us .
The vehicle till date is lying with the dealership for the last 77 days . The only conditon acceptable to us for making the payment is that a Post dated Cheque for the invoice amount shall be provided with the condition for deposit that the same shall be deposited only after the vehicle does not face any problem over the parts manipulated by them in their invoices . The same remains unacceptable with no other option left but to address the matter legally .
This is not the first instance of such erronous actions from the skoda dealerships . After a set of replacements were made at one dealership following a harrowing experience with them, the vehicle was deliberately sent to another delaership which was then managed by the same Mr.Sethna . The inspection report had clearly stated the replacement needed on the same parts which were invoiced by the earlier dealer .
The business of the delaerships have always been riddled with such accusations but they seem to have overcome the same with nastier practices being adopted and holding the consumer at ransom .
The question remains as to whom should one believe, the authorized dealerships or the same old local garage mechanic . Need less to mention, both are similar versions of a trade which has doubts on their integrity . Except for the fact that the authorized delaerships are rightfully enpowered to do so by the manufacturer .
In case any one wishes to examine the above issue or needs any inputs to address their matters with the instance faced by us, contact me at this email i.d. [protected]@navbharatgroup.com
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I beleive Autograph cars in Saki Naka is the worst car servicing center i have ever experienced...i urge all reader never give there cars to this dealer for servicing...they literal screwed my vehicle...
Regards,
SK