Kettering - VW van centre

[andyinluton]

How difficult can it be!!!!

Kettering VW - 120 mile round trip this morning on one of my 3 free saturdays in 2016 to have a new high level brake light fitted. I did the same trip over xmas for them to inspect it & order the parts.

Get the phone call after I've spent 2 hours in Costa Coffee while I wait-
"we've fixed the light but the lens is missing have you got it?"
"no thats why I came in over xmas & you ordered a new one"
"oh we haven't got one have to order one in"
I suggested that they should just order one & I would fix it myself - can't do that as its a warranty job & they need the old one to send back - don't seem to appreciate the old one isn't there.

We've washed & valeted your van for you & done a health check.

Great - what that translates into is we've removed the protective layer of mud & scratched the tailgate through to the primer in 2 places, we've sprayed the pedals inside with some sort of shampoo to make them as slippery as possible & we've planted a size 12 greasy footprint on the passenger side mat. While we were at it we've opened the sliding hatch to the roof as well - can't figure out why.

Oh and here is the health check results - tyres and brakes are ok but your high level brake light is missing and needs replacing urgently shall I book that in for you?

I thought Hatfield were bad & I wouldn't trust them with a pedal car but this is almost as bad...am tempted just to order the part and do it myself.

Just waiting for the follow phone call for the satisfaction survey.....

(thanks for listening I feel better for having a rant)

 

[Raggedroy]

Sound like it will be cheaper to fix it yourself. Pretty normal VW service in my experience.

 

[Andyclockwise]

Sadly this is standard service across the VW Commercial network by the sounds of it, you would not think these are £50k vehicles the way we as customers are treated.

My other vehicle is a Mercedes and cost much less than my Cali yet the dealer facilities and service is by far superior to VW commercial.

 

[GrannyJen]

Sadly as a totally unapologetic fan of the California I have to agree with all the above.

The Cali is a superb and highly competent vehicle sold and serviced by mediocre and incompetent people.

 

[Skylark2.0]

Dreadful. What a bunch of clowns.
When we move to Cambridge in the summer I guess we'll be having day trips to Norwich then.

 

[GrannyJen]

At least the vehicle was washed.

I still have not got over the memory of my vehicle languishing in a dealer's workshop for four weeks whilst they scratched their heads and whatever else trying to fix it and as a demonstration of complete contempt was then returned to me dirtier than when it went in.

 

[Dave bee]

The best way to get good service is find a local good VW specialist. They will look after your vehicle, service and replace items when required, not when they think they can get away with giving a big bill. All at a cheaper labour rates and normally genuine VW parts unless you request otherwise. Find one you trust, it's worth it.

 

[andyinluton]

If it wasn't covered by the warranty I would have done it myself... I still might just cough up for the part & do it. Just been out in it & found there are more greasy fingerprints around the roof control panel including one all over the top left heater button- are there any experts out there that can tell me why the heater would me needed to be touched in order to replace a brake light?

 

[treecity]

Dreadful. What a bunch of clowns.
When we move to Cambridge in the summer I guess we'll be having day trips to Norwich then.

We're South Cambs and using Bury St Edmunds Van Centre. So far they have been very impressive for sales and now after sales

 

[timber]

Hi
I drive past Kettering on the way to Listers of Coventry, never ever had I ever had a bad thing to say about Listers,
I can't say about others though, quite satisfied to travel 55 miles each way, just nice to be behind the wheel
Timber

 

[CYCLOPATH]

I went to our local VW van centre in Yeovil to get the headlights lowered a little, and flattened.
The technician didn't know what to do, rang VW, who didn't know, but said look in the handbook,
The manual suggested putting on a sticker...as it want written for bixenons
He also had a chat about other vans to his colleague
Then charged me for every single minute he had spent.

The garage I bought the van from suggested I plug a 3kw kettle into the inventor socket......as I was driving a long way home, and would not find a camp site or hook up
He even gave me a kettle.....with a uk plug!
He didn't have a clue!
Luckily I joined the forum and learnt about it

 

[Geoff York]

Edinburgh van centre...top class staff with thorough knowledge of california.....although I live in york Iwould travel....ask for David Miller...top sales guy...!!
. Have tried Sheffield Leeds and.York van centres .....JCT...crap. !!..like vast majority of VW commercial dealers ,no one knows f...all about californias

 

[Geoff York]

sorry...should have said sweet fa

 

[WolfPack]

I feel I must put in a word for my local dealer. Not all VW Commercial dealers are the same. It is all down to individuals in the end, and thus I suppose to leadership. I am between camper vans just now (old one sold new t6 not delivered yet) but I used Breeze VW at Totton (Southampton) off and on for six years with the last one. They are a large firm, but the staff were always kind and helpful and went the extra mile for me in getting things done under warranty or finding economic solutions. Although I ordered my new T6 elsewhere (Sales are something else), Breeze Service Department are a pleasure to deal with.

 

[Meoncoast]

I used Breeze VW at Totton (Southampton)

ditto
Once you find a dealer you trust everything falls into place I am also a happy Breeze customer

 

[teeboy]

I live very near Kettering - and fell out with them before we got a Cali. Pi$$ up and brewery just about sums them up.

Wouldn't trust the Cali there - we use the one in Northampton and have been happy with their service. The Northampton one is commercial vehicles only so they are very familiar with the T5.

 

[teeboy]

Kettering VW - 120 mile round trip

This could be the first recorded event of anyone driving 60 miles to visit Kettering :-D

 

[shudycamps]

We're South Cambs and using Bury St Edmunds Van Centre. So far they have been very impressive for sales and now after sales

I agree. We bought our Cali last April from them and have been very pleased with the service provided. We are South Cambs too.

 

[Dottie]

Edinburgh van centre...top class staff with thorough knowledge of california.....although I live in york Iwould travel....ask for David Miller...top sales guy...!!
. Have tried Sheffield Leeds and.York van centres .....JCT...crap. !!..like vast majority of VW commercial dealers ,no one knows f...all about californias

I agree...David Miller was great. Sadly I'm sure I've read someone posting that he left about a year ago. He knew his stuff when spec'ing.
Fred's about to go in for a service...no probs so far.

 

[Skylark2.0]

I agree. We bought our Cali last April from them and have been very pleased with the service provided. We are South Cambs too.

Have you had your van serviced by them and how did it do?
We live in Ely and Norwich, Kettering and Bury ST Edmunds are all options for the first service which is close.
I'm not impressed with what I have heard about Ketering or Huntingdon.
Does anyone have any recent experience of Bury St Edmunds or Norwich for a service?

 

[shudycamps]

We bought

Have you had your van serviced by them and how did it do?
We live in Ely and Norwich, Kettering and Bury ST Edmunds are all options for the first service which is close.
I'm not impressed with what I have heard about Ketering or Huntingdon.
Does anyone have any recent experience of Bury St Edmunds or Norwich for a service?

We bought our Cali from Bury in Apr 2015 and have had excellent service and advice. I highly recommend them without reservation.

 

[shudycamps]

We bought

Have you had your van serviced by them and how did it do?
We live in Ely and Norwich, Kettering and Bury ST Edmunds are all options for the first service which is close.
I'm not impressed with what I have heard about Ketering or Huntingdon.
Does anyone have any recent experience of Bury St Edmunds or Norwich for a service?

We bought our Cali from Bury in Apr 2015 and have had excellent service and advice. I highly recommend them without reservation.

 

[Skylark2.0]

We bought

We bought our Cali from Bury in Apr 2015 and have had excellent service and advice. I highly recommend them without reservation.

Have you had your first service done by them?

 

[IanE]

Preston van centre were great for us both in sales (the star that is Guy) and in servicing whilst under warranty. Grange van centre is much nearer to us and they do have a Cali expert for servicing. They have been absolutely fine so far.

 

[inthemidnighthour]

Robinsons Norwich
We have used them for the last 5 years for servicing and warranty and forthcoming roof repairs ,and ordered a new Ocean yesterday.
Have always looked after us but you don't always get a cali as a loan vehicle
Dave and Lisa