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Thread: Rant - Mercedes-Benz

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    Rant - Mercedes-Benz

    I have to let everyone know how terrible after service is from Merc.

    My father has a 220 CDI merc that is out of maintenance plan. He purchased this vehicle brand new from merc and he still takes it to merc for a service and pays like R10 000 a pop.

    Last week Wednesday he took it for a service and they did some work on the Diesel system seals. On Friday on our way to visit my sisters new born baby girl we broke down on the N1 @ 19h00. On opening the bonnet no surprise the engine covers are loose and diesel is all over the place.

    After a battle we got hold of the McCarthy hotline and explained our problem, they then got a technician to call us from the dealership that we serviced the car at.

    He calls us asks what the problem is and says he will get back to us. When he eventually calls he laughs and says that the car is not on maintenance plan so he cannot come out. After re explaining that this is definitely a result of the service he says that if he comes out he will have to charge +-R1000. So my father says fine do you have a credit card machine for payment. No I don't, you have to have cash or I cannot come out. R1000 cash? sitting on the N1 - I definitely didn't see any ATMs on the highway.

    Eventually they did not come out. So I used my AA membership to get the car towed home - Lucky for that. Only got to my sisters place at 22h00 that night.

    Saturday& Sunday - Dealership service department closed!

    Today - Monday technician who worked on the car comes home to have a look.

    Oooops, The main diesel line into the engine was not connected back properly and came off!!!!!!

    So much for taking care of your loyal customers Mercedes-Benz!

  2. #2
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    So how much is your father going to claim from them in damages?

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    Well he is going to try and claim for the car he had to rent to get around on the weekend and to work on Monday.

    Not sure what else he can claim for?

    Ideas are always welcome

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    Diamond Member tec0's Avatar
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    If I may, you can do the following, register a case at the main branch and make a note that they were indeed in error and that they refused to aid you when there mechanic was actually to blame. Then register a case at the local consumer council.

    Also demand the mechanic's qualifications. You have the right to see them. Only after you have done all the above take car to the AA and have it inspected. Then the mechanic in question's qualification can be added along with the AA's findings. This can then make its way back to the main branch AND consumer council. If you show constant interest they normally start to take you seriously.

    R10000 in my book is expensive, thus you expect only the best. They didn't deliver and the fact is they made a mistake and they laughed at you! I would say go for gold.
    peace is a state of mind
    Disclaimer: everything written by me can be considered as fictional.

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    AmithS (06-Sep-11)

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    Thanks, Will pass onto my dad.

    Just a note: My AA membership covered the towing so unfortunately no claim on that

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    Blog about it, tweet about it, put a complaint on hello peter (very NB!); and Mercedes will contact you and try and offer you something. It will probably be a cash rebate, and free service for a year or so. Basically you have huge power as a consumer and you need to flex those muscles!

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    Gold Member Mark Atkinson's Avatar
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    Did my post get deleted or did I just not post it in the first place?

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    Gold Member twinscythe12332's Avatar
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    They are very much an image-based company, so drag it through the mud enough and they'll start listening.
    stuff to focus on would be their inflexibility in payment options, bad attitude and "you'll never buy another mercedes again!!!" (that's just added for fluff, but hey)

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Atkinson View Post
    Did my post get deleted or did I just not post it in the first place?
    Seems it never made it to the server

    When it comes to other ideas, I can't help thinking of those "priceless" credit card ads.

    What price tag can you attach to really bad service?
    And here it's not so much the fuel line fault I'm thinking of - it's their response to the breakdown that Friday evening.

    If there was some abject grovelling and sincere apologies, that would be enough for me personally. But if they're going to brazen it out and pretend it was OK...

    Be kinda cool to know the exact dealership so that the bill can start adding up in the right direction.

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    Hi Dave,

    Can I post the exact dealership on here?

    I wasn't sure if its against the rules of not!

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