I Took Allen Ford Coventry To Court And Won!

[Result!]

I purchased an ex demonstrator van from Allen Ford in Coventry, as I said to the salesman Andy Tuvey, I don’t judge a company by their customer service at the sales stage as they will tell you anything to secure a sale. I judge how good a company is by their after sales service.

It transpired that Allen Ford Coventry did not have the aptitude and ability to show me any customer service resulting in me having to take them to Court.

When returning home with my van I checked it over and found that the locking wheel nut key was missing and also the side skirt was hanging off.

I spoke to Andy Tuvey who said that the female staff member who used the van as a parts delivery vehicle had removed the locking wheel nut key and put it in her desk draw. Interestingly Andy Tuvey sold me this van as an Ex Demonstrator never mentioning that it had been used to deliver parts.

Now why would anyone with a brain do that? Where is the locking wheel nut needed most? In the vehicle Not in a draw, demonstrating Allen Ford employing incompetent staff.

So Andy Tuvey said he would post it onto me. A week past and nothing, so I called Andy Tuvey to ask him why he had not sent me my locking wheel nut key.

He called me back and left a message on my voice mail, which I very cleverly kept, which I am so pleased that I did, as later you will read that Allen Fords staff are liars.

Andy Tuvey said that my locking wheel nut key was not in her draw and to give him a call so they could decide what to do.

What they proposed was I drive from my home in Lincolnshire to Coventry at my expense to have my wheel nuts drilled out so they could fit new ones and provide me with a new key.

I was not prepared to take time out of my day for their incompetence without being adequately compensated, which they were not prepared to do.

It was agreed that Allen Ford come collect my van take it to Coventry to sort out the locking wheel nut key and repair the lose side skirt.

My van was returned that day with the locking wheel nut issue resolved but not the side skirt which was hanging off.

Now my van was brought back to me by the most obnoxious and aggressive Manager by the name of Clayston Dickens, who had an attitude problem and no ability whatsoever to resolve the problem Allen Ford had caused me.

His answer to the side skirt not being repaired was, “Take it to another Ford dealer” so that I did. I asked him why my van was not checked before it was sold to me, he did not wish to discuss it only saying that Andy Tuvey had messed up and was in allot of trouble.

I emailed Andy Tuvey to ask hime why he did not have my side skirt repaired, he just ignored my email sending me an automated reply putting the wrong date on it, just showing you what Allen Fords staff are all about.

I took it to Brookland’s Ford Body Repairers in Lincoln who were excellent and fixed the skirt back on under Fords warranty, which Ironically Allen Ford claimed it was not a warranty item.

I still wanted compensation for Allen Fords incompetence using my fuel and wear and tear on my vehicle because of their mistakes.

Speaking again to Clayston Dickens he made it clear that he had no intention of compensating me only offering me a free valet, Ironically Allen Ford were to give my van a valet when it went in to have the work carried out, Yes you guessed it they failed to do this too.

I wrote to Michael Phillips who is Allen Fords Managing Director, he just took the side of his staff and offered me a free service, which I declined as I had no faith in a dealership that had proven to be incompetent.

I had also contacted Ford HQ in Daventry who were as good as hopeless not wanting to get involved despite the dealership having the Ford name above its door. How shameful when a Ford dealership mess up and Ford HQ do not want to get involved, Ford are Pathetic!

Do Ford not Police their franchised dealers? Or do they just allow them to do as they please?

I wrote back to Michael Phillips informing him that if I were not adequately compensated that I would take Allen Ford to Court, which is exactly what I did.

Allen Fords staff now resorted to lying to cover for each other, Clayston Dickens claimed he put £30.00 of fuel in my van when I questioned this Allen Ford could only produce a receipt for the figure of £20.00

Andy Tuvey who is a salesman claims he tightened the screw on the side skirt of my van, So Allen Ford can not afford mechanics they allow a sales person to do a mechanics job.

This stinks of Cowboy Car Dealership, Ironically the screw does not affix the side skirt to the van as it is glued on, not screwed, demonstrating Allen Fords total incompetence.

How stupid of Allen Ford going to Court with a case they could never win.

I presented strong evidence which secured me a victory, Allen Ford having to pay me £350.00 and they are now the proud owners of a CCJ County Court Judgment.

I wonder if their None Executive Directors are aware of how Allen Ford conduct their business.

So the best advise I can give to everyone is DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM ALLEN FORD, DO NOT USE THEM FOR SERVICING.

They do not care about their customers, they are very fast in taking a customers money, not so fast however in resolving a customers problems which they caused They are a very dishonest dealership and from reading the many complaints on line from other customers they should be closed down.

[Goodkat]

Well played. For a simple fix they didn't half muck you about. It is a shame that this is what a lot of companies do nowadays, once they have sold the product they are no longer bothered with aftersales support. I try to avoid main stealers like the plague, the only one I have never had problems with is the BMW dealership in Swindon. Even for an old BMW that was long past the warranty, they were more than happy to treat enquiries and parts orders as though it was one of the new ones on the forecourt, and the prices were not eye-watering (most of the time!). The only experience with Ford Stealers that I have had is when I enquired to have my rear badge replaced under warranty, with the same firm you have had experience with, but Swindon branch. They were a pain in the proverbial, transferring me all over the place, denying the existence of the bulletin etc, took a phonecall to Ford Direct to set them straight. I have nothing but praise for Ford Direct, but I shouldn't have had to escalate for a simple warranty fix. I wouldn't buy new from them, the warning signs that they would be crap at aftersales is quite prevailent.

[Stoney871]

We've had dealings with that franchise before, namely failing to honour purchase prices on parts and items broken on receipt.

I purchased a set of Heko vents from them a few years back and they first sent the 3 door version and following a telephone conversation where the parts guy put the phone down on me twice, I finally got the 5 door versions which were snapped in 3 places.

Suffice to say they got them back and I went elsewhere.

[SeanW]

You, Sir!! You are my new hero!!

Good job on your victory!! (Not that it should have gotten that far in the first place!!)

[MarksST]

Well done on getting the a result you deserved, pity they couldn't do the right thing straight away without question.

I'm having issues with the dealer I bought my first ST from, they were in breach of contract through their lying, case is with trading standard now, the attitude of the sales staff and manager is appalling , even had the cheek to moan at me that I didn't buy the second ST from them.

[winemart2]

I'm expecting flack from my local dealer when I need something under warranty. I didn't buy the car from them.

[MarksST]

I'm expecting flack from my local dealer when I need something under warranty. I didn't buy the car from them.

Shouldn't be a problem, you bought a car from Ford via a dealer, the warranty is with Ford. Many people use a dealer other than the one who supplied the car, lease cars, company cars, used cars etc and people do move to other areas.

[MattJakeT]

Brilliant!

Sent from my iPad using Ford OC

[gregers]

TOP MAN very well done.

[Clarky2013]

This is brilliant, hats off to you.

[potter18]

It's not only ford I'm afraid I had a stand up argument at a toyota dealers near me with my last car basically went in with a gearchange problem and they told me it was the car mats and even my wife and I,s driving style so I changed dealers. Its a shame you had so much hassle for what should have been a simple fix but well done you for sticking it to them

[The Dark Knight]

This is excellent reading. I've been busy in a Focus topic advising a lady about SOGA rights and so on. To read this, where a customer has pushed it all the way and won is very refreshing.

These dealers just sit back and laugh because they know 9 out of 10 customers can threaten all they like, they won't see it through. But you did and it is excellent.

If anyone ever has any trouble, just PM me and I will happily give you my opinion. Here's the Focus topic just for info: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/64031-ford-focus-16-tdci-dpf-issue/

[Paramanic]

nice one mate good to see someone standing upto these dodgey dealers around!

[jeebowhite]

well done that man!

Yeah we have had issues with them before, I had a right saga with them fiddling around with numbers, orders etc,

Heres the link to my fight with them and how they act. I wouldnt waste the petrol to pour on their business if it was on fire!

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/43026-cheap-genuine-heated-ford-mist-jets/page-5#entry257220

[Phil 87]

Well done, that was a good read :)

I've been lucky with Ford dealers so far, dealt with 5 of them in total over the last 5 or so years and been pretty happy with the service.

[MattDRX]

Well Done Sir, That's is called "Sticking it to the man!"

[Result!]

Thank you to everyone for your appreciation of my Court Victory against Allen Ford, as many of you have said it should not have come to this, the way they acted was a disgrace, their Managing Director Michael Phillips wrote me a very patronizing letter ending it with the fact he went to Oxford University. Not done well then Michael working in a Cowboy Car Dealership.

In 2008 I did the same with Mercedes-Benz and beat them in Court.

What I would say to everyone is see it through, if you truly believe you are in the right, keep all emails and save all voice mails to prove your case, Drag these Cowboy Car Dealers through the courts,

They are happy taking our hard earned money, we deserve a decent service and a decent product too.

I am looking for a Journalist to take up this story if anyone knows of one that would be most appreciated.

Thank you to everyone for all your support!

[The Dark Knight]

Just ring the news desk at your local papers. Also, contact BBC Watchdog. They like consumer victory stories.

[gregers]

i threatened a vauxhall dealer ship with the small claims court over a 2nd hand ford galaxy i had bought,silly buggers should have listened to me from the outset but the 2nd hand car manger thought he knew everything and was playing hardball,the salesman bless him had his hands tied and saw it was going to get messy.

and it almost did when i had a stand up argument in the main dealer ship with the dealer principle in front of LOTS OF CUSTOMERS.

thing is if they had listened to me it wouldve cost them no more then a couple of hundred quid,BUT OH NO.

cost em nearly 3k to sort out all the mess.

if you know your rights and have info from the likes of forums like these,and have a back bone then why wouldnt you get what you are entitled too?