Complain about a product or service

Roger Beasley Volvo

Austin

Corinne of Austin, TX June 1, 2009

Last month I received two notices my 2002 Volvo S60 was due for 7500 mile service (or 52,000 mile service). One notice I received via email 5/04/09 telling me vehicle maintenance was due. I recieved a second notice by mail a day later. I made an appointment for service for May 23 at 2pm. A few days later I called back and I asked the employee, Brandon, what the cost of service would be. He replied that my first maintanence would be free of charge.

I injured my back on the morning of May 23 and called right away to reschedule my appointment for the following Saturday, May 29th. I brought my car in and was immediately informed that the service would not be free and would cost me $250. I was shocked and explained that I had been told it would be free, since this was my first service. The service manager, J. Coyle, apoligized, but insisted he could not honor what I had been told. I was furious and felt I had been tricked with the old "bait and switch."

Believing the car needed service, I agreed to leave it there to be serviced with the the agreement Mr Coyle would try to give me a discount, the car would be washed and detailed, I would receive a loaner car and my car would be delivered to me upon completion (the following Monday 6/1/09).

Then, 48 hours after I left the car, I received a phone call from Mr. Coyle that the car, after all, did not require service since the 52,000 mile service had been completed prior to my purchasing the car. The car just needed an oil change at the cost of $75. I was dumbfounded that they could've have figured this out before they sent me two notices, I made two appointments and talked to two different people in the service department about this vehicle's service.

They have demonstrated a lack of communication, poor customer relations and unprofessionalism and incompetence. One look into the computer records should've been enough to tell them the car wasn't due for service. So was this another "bait and switch" for a simple oil change? A few minutes after I spoke with Mr Coyle about the unneeded service, he called me back and left a voice message telling me that the car also needed an alignment, costing $89.99, which I declined to have them complete.

Mark of Austin, TX October 21, 2006

My jaw dropped when I read "Tony of Thousand Oaks, California" report on his 2001 Volvo V70 transmission problems. His circumstances are absolutely identical to mine: extended warranty, long-term reports to the dealer of transmission problems, "neutral-drop" type of slippage in the transmission from drive to neutral and then back again.

I'm particularly furious, like Tony, because I'd been reporting this to our Volvo dealer for *years*. Now that the extended warranty has expired, they -- today -- are now telling me that it'll be a $4,400 repair to replace the transmission. Caveat Emptor -- let the buyer beware. But I know I'll never buy another Volvo!

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