“Customer Service” ?

terrymills · Post by **terrymills** » 19 Oct 2005, 01:10

I have had a very bad experience with a Citroen C5 I bought from new:
* Rear Brakes squeal admitted by Citroen but refuse to deal with it, as “it does not affect braking performance”. Ask my neighbours, check my eardrums!
* Incompatible roof rack equipment supplied.
* Poor recording of service details that potentially affect guarantee.

I would like to know how many other Citroen users have been treated in an arrogant, high handed, and potentially negligent way.

I have constructed a Website to co-ordinate responses in order to bring public awareness to this situation of poor service.

Citron senior management need to know how their customers feel – not just the stymied view filtered to them by their “Customer Service” Department.

[url]http://www.citroenbrakesqueal.com/ [url]

This whole activity is as the result of an inability to get a message past the impenetrable “Customer Service” Department at Slough.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 19 Oct 2005, 13:41

Well since this whole forum centers around avoiding customer service.....

terrymills · Post by **terrymills** » 19 Oct 2005, 15:59

Yes - I wasn't sure this was a good place to pose the question or not!

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 19 Oct 2005, 16:06

[quote="terrymills"]I have had a very bad experience with a Citroen C5 I bought from new:
* Rear Brakes squeal

When did the brakes start to squeal? After how many thousands of miles?

Stewart(oily) · Post by **Stewart(oily)** » 19 Oct 2005, 16:32

Dealers are places I tend to avoid like the plague, currently I think I get there about once per year, sometimes they are even helpful and friendly, then again its only the parts fellas usually, salesmen avoid me. most likely due to me turning up in the BX

Stewart

_kid_ · Post by **_kid_** » 19 Oct 2005, 17:28

Once a car is out of its manufacturer/dealer warranty you must do the following

1) Buy a Haynes manual
2) Join a good Internet forum (like this one!)
3) Find a good specialist
4) Avoid main dealers!

My experience of customer services was over the phone to buy a radio manual for the xantia, was told to ring dealer (well i would have never thought of that), the dealer says stopped selling them

From what i hear Citroen are certainly not alone, the awful service can be said of other French, German, and American, Italian etc manufactures. Even when a car is in warranty they seem totally unhelpful too.

Only Japanese seem to be ok, which is why so many are going that route.

lighteninguk · Post by **lighteninguk** » 19 Oct 2005, 17:29

parts dept's are even more fun when to probably save cost's they linked their citroen parts dept with a volvo parts dept (Pillling Citroen- hemel 'h)

there you take part numbers taken from your car or pr.net and they say, "but those numbers probably woant match up with the ones we supply"

que!?!

although tbh... as a whole terry... think about the whole reputation of many main "stealers" of nearly every make of car, i've always been taught not too expect much, and from speaking with dealers, i've learnt why.

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » 19 Oct 2005, 18:07

You should try owning a Smart like my wife!

Most Smart 'dealers' are Mercedes franchises, so there you are, in your £8,000 motorised skateboard rubbing shoulders with accountants, barristers and mafia capo's with their £35,000 cars - and you're vainly trying to get somebody to take your keys for the Smart's service .................. somehow you get the feeling they'd really prefer you to exit via the 'U' bend in the bog!!

The bunch in Worcester managed to snap off a rear brake bleed nipple, tried to convince me the car had knackered and leaking rear wheel cylinders and then attempted to flog me new front discs and pads ........ on a 3-year-old 21,000 mile car!!! Laugh? I nearly got me fags out!

Dealers eh? I'd prefer an aquarium of tetchy piranha ................

terrymills · Post by **terrymills** » 20 Oct 2005, 02:06

JohnD wrote:
terrymills wrote:I have had a very bad experience with a Citroen C5 I bought from new:
* Rear Brakes squeal

When did the brakes start to squeal? After how many thousands of miles?

From new...

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 20 Oct 2005, 07:38

_kid_ wrote:Once a car is out of its manufacturer/dealer warranty you must do the following

1) Buy a Haynes manual
2) Join a good Internet forum (like this one!)
3) Find a good specialist
4) Avoid main dealers!

1,2,4,5 - agreed

Most of us on here do not need (3)

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 20 Oct 2005, 07:40

Homer wrote:Well since this whole forum centers around avoiding customer service.....

So, Terry, should there be a 'Never used a dealer' option?

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 20 Oct 2005, 12:09

Well I have only ever been in the local dealers once, as it seems to be the only source for the pesky little hose that lurks beneath the BX's thermostat housing, and surprisingly cheap it was too!!

I got the impression though, that they don't like old BX's parked out front

-next time i'll go in the Vitesse

Don't forget that Citroen are now very much a pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap discounting outfit-they give the impression of being the Lidl's of the car retailing world, so you can't really expect too much in the way of service-costs have to be cut somewhere to offer the discounts.Apparently not the advertising budget, though- I do like that new C3 ad with the Fonz!!

Like Kid says, if you want to experience really good and helpful dealers, buy Jap or Korean!!!

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 20 Oct 2005, 12:16

I have to confess, apart from a "free" service on a new Honda motorbike once over, I have never used a main stealer - experience in just talking to them has put me off.
On the times I do use a garage (to avoid swearing like a trooper and throwing spanners), its a bloke with a barn and following of classic motors, in fact its a rare event that I turn up at Tony's and he hasnt got something old, exotic or rare on his ramps. As as result I get lots of ridicule over my choice of steed - especially as Tony is a bike man really and rarely drives a car (except onto the ramps). last time I was there he tried to persuade me to buy his (fully restored) Triumph Dolomite Sprint - and I was tempted, boy was I tempted.

Hes not cheap, but very very, very thorough - and has never cocked up anything yet.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 20 Oct 2005, 12:40

bxbodger wrote:they don't like old BX's parked out front -next time i'll go in the Vitesse

They're even less receptive to CX's aparently. I was asked to move mine when I parked it amongst the new cars at a dealer. Granted, I was parked in their "show" area, but as I pointed out that there was nowhere else available.

Mr. Greasy-haired sales manager was not impressed when it attracted more than a few interested partys nosing over it, aparently ignoring the brand-spanking new C3's it was parked amongst

terrymills · Post by **terrymills** » 20 Oct 2005, 22:59

Well...
They had it in yet again.
STILL the brakes squeal.
Citroen still say"So what?"

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