Alfa Complaint
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Can anyone urgently give me contact details for Alfa Head Office or someone in customer relations?
Thanks
Trevor
1 - 20 of 36 Posts
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Guest
·Thanks for the reply. I've pasted the email I've just sent to Alfa Sidlow below!
Dear Richard/Jason,
My 2004 JTD (purchased from you in August 2007) is currently with Meridien Milano in Bournemouth who are investigating the hard/soft clutch pedal problems I've been having since October last year. This is the car's third visit, as twice previously they've dismissed it as having nothing wrong with it.
Finally they've accepted that there is a problem (fingers etc) and the car has been examined by a representative/engineer from the company who back the warranty. Guess what? In his 'opinion' there is nothing wrong with the clutch, although he did accept that it was biting very high. So despite both myself and the dealer being of the same opinion the warranty company are refusing to stump up for the work to be done.
Alfa have told me that the warranty company representative has advised that the clutch should be stripped down to inspect for damage, but that if none is found then I will be liable for the labour costs for doing this. If the clutch requires replacement then the warranty will cover all the work.
I'm between a rock and a hard place on this one, I can't go on with the clutch like it is, and will get nowhere unless I authorise Alfa to strip the clutch down. I've therefore given Alfa the authority to do this and am obviously keeping my fingers crossed that the warranty co rep will accept that a new clutch is required.
Following removal of the clutch, I have been advised that there is nothing wrong with it, which is beyond belief!! The symptoms my clutch has been suffering from are very well documented and I have been advised by a number of people that it is caused by the clutch fingers hardening. This coupled with the high biting point and increasing heaviness indicates the clutch will fail completey before too much longer. I am advised that visually there is nothing wrong with the clutch - yet according to many accounts of this well known problem, there are no visual signs!!
My warranty it appears is worthless, making something of a mockery of an 'Alfa Approved Car'. I would not expect a clutch to fail after only 34,000 miles!!!!! Can you assist me here? Meridien Milano in Bournemouth currently have my car in pieces and are waiting for me to give them the go ahead to fit a new clutch. I feel that Alfa Romeo have a responsibility to pick up the cost for this and am looking to you to contact Meridien to agree to accept this. I'd be grateful if you could respond to me urgently and talk to Rob (Service Centre Manager - Alfa Meriden Milano). Could you please also let me have contact details for a customer service advisor with Alfa Romeo UK.
Dear Richard/Jason,
My 2004 JTD (purchased from you in August 2007) is currently with Meridien Milano in Bournemouth who are investigating the hard/soft clutch pedal problems I've been having since October last year. This is the car's third visit, as twice previously they've dismissed it as having nothing wrong with it.
Finally they've accepted that there is a problem (fingers etc) and the car has been examined by a representative/engineer from the company who back the warranty. Guess what? In his 'opinion' there is nothing wrong with the clutch, although he did accept that it was biting very high. So despite both myself and the dealer being of the same opinion the warranty company are refusing to stump up for the work to be done.
Alfa have told me that the warranty company representative has advised that the clutch should be stripped down to inspect for damage, but that if none is found then I will be liable for the labour costs for doing this. If the clutch requires replacement then the warranty will cover all the work.
I'm between a rock and a hard place on this one, I can't go on with the clutch like it is, and will get nowhere unless I authorise Alfa to strip the clutch down. I've therefore given Alfa the authority to do this and am obviously keeping my fingers crossed that the warranty co rep will accept that a new clutch is required.
Following removal of the clutch, I have been advised that there is nothing wrong with it, which is beyond belief!! The symptoms my clutch has been suffering from are very well documented and I have been advised by a number of people that it is caused by the clutch fingers hardening. This coupled with the high biting point and increasing heaviness indicates the clutch will fail completey before too much longer. I am advised that visually there is nothing wrong with the clutch - yet according to many accounts of this well known problem, there are no visual signs!!
My warranty it appears is worthless, making something of a mockery of an 'Alfa Approved Car'. I would not expect a clutch to fail after only 34,000 miles!!!!! Can you assist me here? Meridien Milano in Bournemouth currently have my car in pieces and are waiting for me to give them the go ahead to fit a new clutch. I feel that Alfa Romeo have a responsibility to pick up the cost for this and am looking to you to contact Meridien to agree to accept this. I'd be grateful if you could respond to me urgently and talk to Rob (Service Centre Manager - Alfa Meriden Milano). Could you please also let me have contact details for a customer service advisor with Alfa Romeo UK.
G
Guest
·Cheers - have just emailed the guy!!
G
Guest
·But the email bounces - with or without a dot between his forename and surname.
G
Guest
·Thanks for the replies. I've logged a call with AR(UK) on the number given above and will await a response. Not too impressed with Sidlow, the car had to go all the way back there to have an air con pipe replaced within a month of picking up the car, and trying to get them to do anything has been like knocking your head against a brick wall. Meridien Milano in Bournemouth are helpful - but it's possible they just haven't diagnosed the fault correctly.
Jamie Porter at the Alfa Workshop has just been kind enough to give me some advice regarding the problem, and I've passed this on to Meridien Milano. I'll just keep on driving the courtesy car until something gets resolved.
Jamie Porter at the Alfa Workshop has just been kind enough to give me some advice regarding the problem, and I've passed this on to Meridien Milano. I'll just keep on driving the courtesy car until something gets resolved.
G
Guest
·Oh, and thanks Mr T! Email hasn't bounced this time!!
Joined
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3,687 Posts
another day another aftermarket warranty not authorising work. same as usual, and completely expected.
your problem sounds more like the slave cylinder to me. if they are focusing on the diaphragm spring fingers they could easily miss a faulty slave cylinder.
your problem sounds more like the slave cylinder to me. if they are focusing on the diaphragm spring fingers they could easily miss a faulty slave cylinder.
G
Guest
·Thanks for the comments Jug! Totally with you where aftermarket warranties are concerned, not worth the paper they're written on unless the problem is extremely clear cut and the claim is under £500.
Slave cylinder was replaced under warranty back in October, but unfortunately it made no difference to the problem. Now in the hands of Alfa UK since last Friday, and so far they have been corteous and efficient. Whether they can actually assist in finding out what's actually wrong with my clutch remains to be seen!!!
Slave cylinder was replaced under warranty back in October, but unfortunately it made no difference to the problem. Now in the hands of Alfa UK since last Friday, and so far they have been corteous and efficient. Whether they can actually assist in finding out what's actually wrong with my clutch remains to be seen!!!
G
Guest
·Nothing direct Mr T, but customer relations followed up my original call to them very quickly after I emailed him. Would like to think that that this maybe had some bearing on the speed of their response. I'll post more this coming week as and when I get more news.
Joined
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1,412 Posts
Probably.
A few months back I had a problem and three days after initially contacting Alfa Customer Services I was still waiting for a response. So I e-mailed Chris Nicoll one evening and by 9.00am the next day my problem was resolved.
A useful e-mail address to keep on file!
Joined
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3,188 Posts
I would advise not buying an aftermarket warranty and just keeping the money in your back pocket. A 2004 car is getting on for 4 years old so is certainly in the territory when things start going wrong. Personally I'd advise using local garages who rely on reputation rather than by virtue of being a dealer. I have no doubt there are some very good people working in dealers all the same.
Joined
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19,647 Posts
Not so sure. I've had two - one for a Golf GTi and one for a 166. Both paid for themselves many times over.
Joined
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19,647 Posts
The warranty for the 166 was something like £350, but paid for a new MAF, new engine and new gearbox. It didn't pay out on an inlet manifold (incorrectly diagnosed by the garage ) and some suspension parts.
The golf warranty was cheaper but paid out for UV joints and various bits 'n bobs.
) and some suspension parts.The golf warranty was cheaper but paid out for UV joints and various bits 'n bobs.
Joined
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2,991 Posts
Any chance of sending me the e-mail address?
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