What can we do to get Lightcliffe VW garage to give us our money?

shaymenRup

My father in law had a VW Polo - his pride and joy. It developed an ignition problem, he called out their recovery who couldn't repair at the roadside (despite taking the car apart at the roadside) so it got towed the the local VW garage (where the car was bought new) for repair. That was on Saturday 8th July. On Monday 10th July my father in law returned to get his car back and pay the bill for the repair.
After waiting two hours the garage told him they couldn't find his car.

It transpired that on Saturday the car was stolen with keys from the garage and then used in a variety of crimes throughout West Yorkshire including a shooting!!

Eventually it was kindly burnt out by the perpetrators a week later.

The garage director met my father in law and my wife and assured them the matter would be sorted out. He then proceeded to offer a ridiculously low price (£1100 below market value) and tried to get them to a agree a rip off loan rate for a new Polo.

My wife refused.

We then returned with internet quotes x 4 for identical cars of same age, an insurance valuation from friend in the insurance industry and a far cheaper loan rate (via this site) to prove he was truely ripping us off.

The director was rude and condescending and despite our evidence has since done nothing.

We have written to VW HQ who are also being ignored by this director and we are at a loss as to what to do.

Fortunately we have the loan of a VW Polo from the garage, but what if they take it back? Can we refuse to give them the loan car back?

My father in law is reluctant to claim on his own insurance as he will lose his no claims. But is this the only solution? Any ideas would be gratefully received.

We thought about the local papers as my mother in law is disabled and she needs to car to get about. But that would be a last resort.

stugib

I'd imagine your insurance company would claim against the garage's insurance company and recover all expenses and your no-claims wouldn't be affected. It's them who had your car in their care and may have been negligent if they left the keys in the car (in which case the garage would have to pay rather than their insurance company), or at least didn't protect them sufficiently. Have you got a crime number from the police?

I wouldn't give them the opportunity to sell you a new car and make money out of you given what's happened. Claim the replacement cost from them in cash and go and buy these Internet deals yourself.

blessings3

Or threaten them with small claims(dependand on value of car) they have been negligant and the court would have no problem in deciding liablity - Trading standards might even be willing to help - Tell you FIl to ring his insurance company he may even have legal cover in his insurance cover - lots of options as you are totally in the right -They must offer replacemnt velue not trade book value as if the car was a right off!

blessings3

PS asSTugib says do not buy a car from them unless they offer you a straight swap for a better car which I might suggest to them instead of court - plus a six moth warrenty and free servicing - to be honest I would be wrighting to the local paper/ watchdog -
I'm not normally infavour of punnative measures againt buissnesses for the sake of it but this guy is taking the mick !! Go for it!

Epiphone

Phone your insurance company. Explain the situation and they'll take it from there.

Poppycat

I wondered if you have legal cover for the car insurnace, as you can usually have it for an extra £10-20

shaymenRup

Thanks for all the replies. My father in law does have legal protection but they told him that the cover doesn't cover for his scenario. I think the only option is for him to claim on his insurance.

Paul_the_Painter

Don't call the insurance company just yet, go to the volkswagen website and find out what used cars are available in his spec (age, colour, mileage) then go the dealer principal calmly with this info and say

"This is the closet i can find in the dealer network for the car, get me this one"

Do not under any circumstances let him get out his price guide

If you can give me the mileage age, reg colour etc, I can find a suitable replacement on the site

hjb123

I would go and ring the insurance company and let them sort it - if they cant they will probably be able to advise you what to do.

shaymenRup

Thanks to all who advised. The company have relented and are now going to pay the valuation we have provided. Hopefully going to sort it out on Friday.

From being a loyal customer (bought three cars and had them all serviced there). VW Lightcliffe, Shelf, Halifax have now lost us as customers.

Their customer service is a disgrace. Don't touch them with a bargepole.

VW garages are franchises and as such VW have no direct control over them to sort things out. However they have gone on the customer service angle with regional rep, garage were giving VW a bad name.

Poppycat

Glad you will be sorted, I would take my buisness else where too, they should have paid you the aksing price and given you a gesture of goodwill not argro.