Do SEAT have poor or good after sales in your experience?

[keebo_sioux]

I've had two Ibizas in 10 years. The appalling after sales and service I've experienced over the years mean that I will never buy Seat again.

I've tried several dealers and now I have given up on them. On my first car they couldn't fix an ongoing problem with the spark plugs (for years) and a water pump went a week after the car was serviced. The local dealer sold me the wrong part for my car and when I rang up to complain made me wait TWO MONTHS for a refund because I'd asked to speak to the manager. We had the car 5 years and it was Seat serviced until year 5- but not at that dealership!

On my second car, they have not fixed an air con issue under warranty (after taking the car in and scratching the dash and steering wheel leather, they told me they'd done nothing to my car the next year when I asked about the warranty repair which would be guaranteed), they have broken a cover on the engine (electrical area) and not mentioned it was missing, they have cleaned the interior and managed to get greasy marks on the ceiling from the hoover. That was the dealer I bought it from, and I had it serviced there for 4 years.

the flywheel went out of warranty and Seat UK didn't contribute to cost even though it's a known issue on TDIs, the local stealer tried to double-charge me VAT on the extortionate cost of replacement clutch & flywheel. They refused to let me have a copy of the letter they sent to Seat UK to ask for 'goodwill gesture' - which leads me to believe they never wrote it! The same dealership didn't bother to tell me that my cambelt needed replacing when they knew the dates had changed to 4 years, obviously it would have been cheaper to do that at the same time as flywheel etc.

I had a song and dance trying to get a replacement part more recently, with 3 different dealers quoting 3 different part numbers and prices - all convinced they were right and the others were wrong! The dealer who fitted it overcharged my husband from the quote given to us, so we then had to chase them for a refund.

I find dealing with these muppets very stressful and I would never recommend a Seat if people want decent aftersales. I want to be shot of this car soon just because I don't want to have to deal with people who don't care about me or my car. Ten years I've had Seats and I wish I'd never bothered. I used to love my car!

My next car will be a Honda Civic.

 

[markmeus]

I would buy another SEAT, my experience of dealers has been extremly positive.

Before I joined the foum, I used my closest dealer when I had a problem with the car overheating, booked the car in on a Monday for the following Wednesday and they were able to diagnose and fix it within 2 hours and for a very reasonable price.

Since then nothing else has broke and I've started using SERE motors for parts as I moved to Belfast for uni. As a lot of you will know, David is an outstanding guy, extremly helpfull and great prices.

Overall, I havn't had a negative experience with a SEAT dealer, though having never bought a new car from them therefore avoiding warranty issues may partly explain that, as that seems to be where most of the problems arise.

 

[phil3012]

My experience reflects that of keebo sioux, thankfully the dealer I used went out of business although I beleive many of the staff are still there (not been in since August thank goodness).

The SEAT nightmare started trying to order a car.

Had test driven most of the rivals over the year or so before and had been to test drive the Mini Cooper S. Popped into one dealer 10 mins before closing and they had a black Cupra in the showroom, they then tried to sell me an FR but agreed if I rang in the week I could have a test drive as it was going to be put on demo. Rang up and booked to drive the FR and Cupra back to back. Got a call the day before the test drive to say the Cupra was in the bodyshop all weekend getting a spolier and skirts fitted, since it was bank holiday weekend I suspect one of the managers was using it for the long weekend. So had to drive the FR.

In the meantime, rang another dealer and booked a test drive in the Cupra for the following day, I seem to remember I was supposed drive an FR as well but couldn't for some reason. Placed the order that day rather than waiting 12 weeks, got one that they had on order which should have been ready in about 5 weeks and as I was on holiday then would pick it up when I returned. Rang for a progress update a few days before going on holiday, the salesman I dealt with was off they had to recolection of my order, when they eventually found the order it was going to be another 6 weeks at least. Spoke to the manager and he agreed it was supposed to be quicker but it had been delayed and he'd see what he could do to source another one, but not necessarily the exact same spec.

He said he couldn't do anything but agreed the original deal would be honoured and since expected delivery was now mid August I could wait until 57 plate in September.

Got a call a few days after coming back on holiday, my car is in the country ready to collect in a few days. This was over a month before expected delivery and in the exact same spec. Found out later this was apparently not the same car allocated to me originally.

Got the car looked lovely but had a few minor scratches. A few weeks later booked it in to get that and a few other issues sorted, the salesman I dealt with had left by this point. Got a call to say the car was ready but they had found minor damage. The idiots had damaged the back bumper but were denying it. They would never accept reasonsibility but as a goodwill gesture agreed to pay for a smart repair, they never told me it wouldn't be 100%, but to be honest you could hardly notice.

In 13 months before agreeing a deal on my current car (had to wait another 2 months for it to be built), aside from constant issues with the car the dealer messed up on:

Put the wrong oil it at the service. They used oil for a diesel Leon not a petrol.
Took the passenger door apart (again) to fix a rattle in the dash. The rattle in the doors was fixed a few months before.
Took 6 weeks to replace the back seat cover. On back order apparently.
Told me the handbrake couldn't be adjusted when the car was rolling back when fully applied. Took the car in and they adjusted it.
Car had a funny smell coming from the cat, they sent a report to SEAT and took a month to get a response. SEAT say they resond to dealers in 24 hours normally 1 or 2. Only after I pushed it did the dealer get back to me saying, it would need further investigation which they can't do on site.

SEAT... Worst car I've owned, some very good points like the engine but very cheaply built. Not well made at all.
Dealers... From my experience useless
SEAT Customer Service... Actually quite helpful, but then again the dealer are that bad they need to be

 

[diss_50]

A poll would have been useful

 

[Deleted member 20376]

I saw it mentioned (in a matter of fact type manner) that SEAT notoriously had poor after sales service. Is this true for whoever you are or have you experienced otherwise?

cheers

from what ive heard it varies from branch to branch.
my local branch was good for a start but then just kept fobbing me off from warrenty issues i.e brakes kept clicking (they said common fault nothing they could do) then the rears where sticking. heard there was an upgrade they said that they couldnt get it but if i could get it and they would fit it free. the upgrades where £160. i then heard that other seat branches could get them but mine couldnt. argued this with them still nothing. so thought sod it do it myself had a look and the piston on the rear caliper had seized a little. took it and greased it up, been fine ever since. this had been into them about 5 times with the same problem and they couldnt find out why it was doing it.
so in my opinion i havent had the best experiance with them.
i know its a little off the subject but the car was purchased from them too. friendly selling but aftwards not too good at all.
ok rant over lol.

apart from that i love my LCR awesome car!!