Advise needed

[andyw]

are they saying the car is uneconomical to repair?

 

[glojo]

Know the car it has been mine from day one and full mbsh untill last year.

Anyone know where i stand with mb on this 96' car

I would suggest that you have no legal recourse, but I would tackle it from a different angle. Mercedes-Benz clearly have a huge problem with this model and if your vehicle is as bad as you state, then they might want to get their hands on the vehicle to see for themselves just how bad the situation is getting.

A lot of members have had good experiences when dealing direct with Mercedes-Benz UK, others have had awful experiences. If you don't try, you will never know.

You have owned this car since new, spoilt it, looked after it and had it serviced regularly. This manufacturer has been known to make goodwill offers and this would be the avenue I would respectfully sneak into.

I am a great believer in treating folks in a manner that I would like to be treated and I certainly do not believe in opening with empty threats of going to the media, (easy to write to TV programs, but very difficult to get action) I prefer the softly, softly approach and getting to know the person I am dealing with.

I really feel for you and this is simply not good enough, good luck with the decision.

Regards,
John

 

[Ashley]

I had already telephoned mb UK before I had read your post John.

It took a good 20 mins to find the car on their system as I could not remember the reg and I had purchased it though the a British Military Personnel Overseas scheme, although I get that silly little mag in my name I had presumed that my contact details had been updated from servicing the car.

10 mins sob story, 10 mins on hold, passed on to customer care, 10 min sob story, MB then said “I am going to see what can be done; I shall ring you back in 1 hour”

Just under an hour latter “MB UK will contribute 50% of the cost of works, as a token of goodwill”

 

[glojo]

Just under an hour latter “MB UK will contribute 50% of the cost of works, as a token of goodwill”

Are you pleased with their offer?

To me there might be two answers.

a) The first being the car should NEVER be in the condition it is!

b) The second is how many manufacturers would have made the same gesture?

Well done for getting the offer,

Regards,
John

 

[Ashley]

I am a great believer in treating folks in a manner that I would like to be treated and I certainly do not believe in opening with empty threats of going to the media, (easy to write to TV programs, but very difficult to get action) I prefer the softly, softly approach and getting to know the person I am dealing with.

I believe it is situation dependent, this most certainly called for a softly soft approach.

 

[Ashley]

No I am deeply unhappy with the offer, but also realise mb hold the winning hand.

 

[Brett]

No I am deeply unhappy with the offer, but also realise mb hold the winning hand.

As a goodwill gesture, this is not bad for a ten year old car IMHO. Sounds like you played the situation pretty well. I had loads of issues with a 2.5 year old S-Class (£65k+ new) which ran for months and MB UK weren't interested. They just referred me back to the dealer. In the end (after much hassle) I got my money back from the dealer and they sent the car to auction. The car still had 10 outstanding faults when it was picked up from me.

 

[Ashley]

I judge I had the advantage of the situation on my side; the car was stripped pending acquiescence (dead line with body shop is 10am tomorrow) to continue works. As such where would you rather be lose a discontented customer or agree to make a contribution towards works in the most cost effective manner (I/we only have to pay for the extra 17 hours work that will be in addition to the insurance work, consequently saving a considerable cost).

I also suspect that buying the car though one of the largest tax free scheme providers played a factor in the decision also.

 

[Barryh]

I recently booked our slk (2 years old) in to have a small bit of corrosion repaired under warranty.I was told as MB only gave them £50 for warranty work they could not give me a courtesy car.I e mailed Daimler Chrysler,they contacted Reg Vardy and they supplied a courtesy car-A Ford Fiesta.After reading some forum topics last week ,I e mailed DC again to complain I only got a Fiesta from such a Marque.The rust was not my problem & why should I not get a better car.It is still in progress.

Yesterday wifes car was damaged by a 3rd party.Body shop said for driving an MB ,by law you can get a similar car and was given the number of a company who will bill the 3rd party direct.it is calles Bristol & ? tel 01275841108.

Barry

 

[glojo]

I also suspect that buying the car though one of the largest tax free scheme providers played a factor in the decision also.

I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit, I am sure they do not give two hoots about how it was purchased. after only a 'few' minutes you have tactfully managed to get an offer over the telephone without too much hassle on a ten year old car.

There is a possibility you could get more, BUT.... there is also a possibilty that the situation will take over a major part of your life and things will get nasty. I say well done.

John

 

[C240Sport97]

for the moment, confirm the offer in writing to them, while at the same time, asking for more!

No I am deeply unhappy with the offer, but also realise mb hold the winning hand.

 

[Ashley]

Well I got the car back today and looking very good, going into auto trader this week. And merc meet half the additional costs.

I am a great believer in treating folks in a manner that I would like to be treated and I certainly do not believe in opening with empty threats of going to the media, (easy to write to TV programs, but very difficult to get action) I prefer the softly, softly approach and getting to know the person I am dealing with.

As a little footnote to what John said, I had a couple whom stayed at the hotel last night departing this morning. One of the camber maids well cleaning the romm dropped a un smoked cigarette on the floor. Apparently the couple made a very big deal about it, so this morning after reading the handover book I give them a 10% discount and was not charging them for the main meal only starters and desserts (not bad for a unsmoked cigarette on the floor worth around £35) as a gesture of goodwill.

Any way the lady came to pay the bill, and I stepped out being apologetic. After 5 mins of being insulted I decided to print a new bill voiding the discounts. One wonders why some people tend to take such a bad angle to customer service, it gets them nowhere.

Zooman

 

[Ian B Walker]

Ta Guys.

My local Merc stealer does not do bodywork and put me on to approved bodyshop.

Does anyone know of a stealer in Cumbria or Lancashire that does bodywork (on bright side I can get b service done at same time b4 we sell it). I really do not want a ford ka.

Mb in Blackpool do their own body work and as Lotusmark2 will tell you they are VERY good.

 

[Ashley]

Mb in Blackpool do their own body work and as Lotusmark2 will tell you they are VERY good.

Now you tell me

 

[glojo]

One wonders why some people tend to take such a bad angle to customer service, it gets them nowhere.

Well done,

When we first got married during leave periods I used to drive a taxi to help buy our house furniture. Whenever loud mouthed customers were rude or offensive I used to press the 'Extras' button "Can't you f***ing drive any f***ing faster you f***ing t***er used to earn me a fortune . Being polite cost nothing, being rude cost the passenger a fortune

Sadly the ignorant will never learn they merely come out with excuses about why they have to be rude.

Regards,
John

 

[Ashley]

There are so many John, you asked me what I considered the differences to be in my new job. One as you know is employees; I came form an environment where my requests (polite definition) where not questioned or commented but followed to the letter and on the few occasions they where not followed clear consequences in place.

And the other one of them dealing with the public; I get some really strange comments. And most are totally unfounded. I am a man of few words and I do not expect to have to repeat myself nor do I need people to repeat themselves to me, this is something I have had to come to accept from discontented customers, the need to repeat their complaint over and over again.

If I had a scanner I would copy some of the complaints I have received.

Here are some corkers two of our finest.

I got a letter of complaint some time ago, detailing how bad certain aspects of a customers stay was. After letter was addressed to a hotel in Scotland and was put in an envelope to mine. It made reference to the fact the swimming pool area was dirty; I do not have a swimming pool. I faxed it to the hotel on the header. They then faxed back my letter of complaint they had got, which was word for word excluding the pool.

Form a wedding.

Started

Our wedding was wonderful and please express graduate to your staff etc.

Then went on to say

We where very disappointed to say that when our (head table) was served starters at 1pm the last table was not served until 1.15pm and this 15 minute delay continued throughout all courses. The letter then went on for 2 more paragraphs how unacceptable this was.

And to finish,

A refund in the region of £300 will settle this matter, if we do not get the refund we will go to the papers

I never did write back could not bring myself to do it. 100 odd dinners all out in around 15 mins I am very happy with that. And I know for a fact the waitresses where back and forth with meals, I didn’t order lamb I ordered beef etc.. Must of been a lot name changes that day.

Footnote:

I am at a point in my life where I want to enjoy not just life but living, and I have come to the mind set to simply remove all obstacles to this regardless to whom or what it is.

 

[glojo]

Hi zooman,
Your pm box is full,

Take care,
John

 

[Ashley]

space now.

And something else that really winds me up (turning into a rant now). When I pick an internal call I greet with my name (i.e. Zooman), when most the staff pick up an internal call they answer with department (hello kitchen). I know what bloody phone I rang.