On my quest this week for some sort of payment contribution from Audi towards the replacement of my one-of-a-kind rusting B7 bonnet, I have been presented with a rather worrying phrase from the warranty manager at my local Audi dealer.
" Brand Loyalty"
Having made my case to him on Tuesday on the problematic bonnet he agreed it was something neither he had seen before nor had the experience of.
It clearly wasn't due to neglect etc and not one of the normal rust points, he checked the paint on the whole front end and agreed it was original, which left the only conclusion as a faulty bonnet.
When I approached the matter of the next steps he asked me if the car had a full Audi service history up to date, if I was the original owner and what other damage the car had incurred.
Now as the car had been into them more times than I can recall for warranty repairs you would think they would have it on the system without asking me.
I mentioned it had full Audi service up to the end of the approved Audi used warranty, after that indy and myself.
It had been in the rear wheel arch rust penetration repairs in 2018 under warranty.
Anyway, he trundled off to check his system, came back and confirmed everything id already told him.
When asked what they were going to do he replied, well sir, you are not audi "brand loyal" so Audi UK are less likely to entertain a claim when the car is out of warranty, maybe if you had everything stamped up they will more than likely assist.
Whats that all about, being brand loyal, I've had it for 8 years and I'm the second owner so more than loyal.
If said he'd forward the claim onto Audi Uk and get back to me.
Before i'd even got home he was on the phone to say it was a non-starter to be repaired, but , had the car been a "brand loyal customer" they would have replaced it, what utter tosh.
They also maintained the rust was surface and only covered by the 3-year warranty from new, not the 12-year penetration cover, more tosh as i had another inspection that clearly stated it was from inside the bonnet seams rusting outwards not from outside inwards.
So then, i would have just left it at that and walked away and fixed it myself had all the tosh about being brand loyal not come up and be used as reason to avoid the claim.
They have just given me more resons to take things further now.
Audi uk, utter twonks .
" Brand Loyalty"
Having made my case to him on Tuesday on the problematic bonnet he agreed it was something neither he had seen before nor had the experience of.
It clearly wasn't due to neglect etc and not one of the normal rust points, he checked the paint on the whole front end and agreed it was original, which left the only conclusion as a faulty bonnet.
When I approached the matter of the next steps he asked me if the car had a full Audi service history up to date, if I was the original owner and what other damage the car had incurred.
Now as the car had been into them more times than I can recall for warranty repairs you would think they would have it on the system without asking me.
I mentioned it had full Audi service up to the end of the approved Audi used warranty, after that indy and myself.
It had been in the rear wheel arch rust penetration repairs in 2018 under warranty.
Anyway, he trundled off to check his system, came back and confirmed everything id already told him.
When asked what they were going to do he replied, well sir, you are not audi "brand loyal" so Audi UK are less likely to entertain a claim when the car is out of warranty, maybe if you had everything stamped up they will more than likely assist.
Whats that all about, being brand loyal, I've had it for 8 years and I'm the second owner so more than loyal.
If said he'd forward the claim onto Audi Uk and get back to me.
Before i'd even got home he was on the phone to say it was a non-starter to be repaired, but , had the car been a "brand loyal customer" they would have replaced it, what utter tosh.
They also maintained the rust was surface and only covered by the 3-year warranty from new, not the 12-year penetration cover, more tosh as i had another inspection that clearly stated it was from inside the bonnet seams rusting outwards not from outside inwards.
So then, i would have just left it at that and walked away and fixed it myself had all the tosh about being brand loyal not come up and be used as reason to avoid the claim.
They have just given me more resons to take things further now.
Audi uk, utter twonks .
