Recompense for poor aftersales service?

Rapido925M

Rapido925M

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I guess the answer is "no chance" BUT I'm hopeful that someone might know of a cunning plan ;)
My daughter bought a brand new PVC at NEC in Oct 2023 and collected it 2nd March 2024. Within a couple of weeks we noticed "surface" rust on the swivels under driver and passenger seats and alerted the dealership. Over the course of the following year she has received occasional platitudes but no action, with the Group Director for Aftercare Service saying that he was trying to resolve the issue, contacting various people etc but to no avail. This week he has said that it is such a small job nobody wants to do it and "sort it yourself". :(
So on Friday we drove 25 miles to the nearest FIAT Professional Commercial supplier where the service advisor was very concerned about damage which may have been caused to the electronics under the seats. He wanted it booking in ASAP and said it needed stripping out, photos to FIAT and then repairing. The seats would be reinstated on the same day whilst awaiting FIATs acceptance under warranty, thus keeping my daughter mobile.
I would like to see the dealership "punished" for this lack of care but I can't think how, other than by writing poor reports on their website or on Google. I suspect gus-lopez would suggest nuking them but that is a bit OTT :giggle:.
I'm also concerned that FIAT is going to say that the van-convertor is responsible because the seats "were perfect" when the van left the factory (although one of the swivels is "two-tone") and the convertor fitted their own brand of seating. I can foresee arguments going backwards and forwards as to who should foot the bill BUT to my mind, that is down to the dealer to pay and then try to claim it back from the guilty party.
Any suggestions please?
 
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Do you have a photo, surface rust on the swivels sounds pretty minor ?
Could you not have cleaned it off and given it a layer of light oil etc ?
Or have I misinterpreted to problem.
I wonder why the Fiat professional garage were so concerned about the electronics under the seat, did they suspect water damage and what are they going to strip out.
Unless there's a problem that could just create more problems?
 
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Figaro said:
Do you have a photo, surface rust on the swivels sounds pretty minor ?
Could you not have cleaned it off and given it a layer of light oil etc ?
Or have I misinterpreted to problem.
I wonder why the Fiat professional garage were so concerned about the electronics under the seat, did they suspect water damage and what are they going to strip out.
Unless there's a problem that could just create more problems?
Click to expand...
Yes photos would help. Assuming there's no water there what can damage (assuming the EBL) the electrics?

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Not sure what surface rust on swivel seats has to do with electrics under seats?
Mine have surface rust too.

My view…. Forget Fiat, I would be amazed if they get involved, very surprised Fiat dealer got involved.

I know not ideal but I would fix the issue myself, if I thought it was a concern, to be honest I just live with it on my van and try keep them clean, on mine it’s just down to the fact there is probably one coat of paint on the seat swivel.
 
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Do the vans from FIAT come with standard seats and the converter replaces these with the swivel mechanism?

Threaten the dealer with CRA 2015 to reject the van as she informed them of the problem with 30 days ( you said a couple of weeks).
 
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Ianbenny said:
Do the vans from FIAT come with standard seats and the converter replaces these with the swivel mechanism?

Threaten the dealer with CRA 2015 to reject the van as she informed them of the problem with 30 days ( you said a couple of weeks).
Click to expand...
Hardly grounds to reject? Vehicle is usable and not any danger as far as we know but pictures from Rapido925M the op would help.
 
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I think in a moment of anger you have left yourself open for a whole lot of trouble by asking and giving the go ahead to Fiat proffessional.
I myself have bought and fitted 3 sets of swivel seats that have been good quality ones except they came unpainted and oiled.
One set i cleaned the oil off and thought there in the van they will be fine. They did start to get surface rust.
This off course is unaceptable for your Daughters van especially at the cost of it.
I suspect the course of it is a cold metal surface attracting condensation by the inside of the van being warm and cooling down at night
I dont know if you years ago had a car with a glass sun roof and found the inside of the glass had condensation that drips on your head.

This idea solves why they went rusty.

How much is the bill so far to report and access the issue

There is a place on here you can leave a review as long as its true and factual

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IMG_6657.webp
 
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looking at the photo i would suggest the swivel mount plate has had something spilled on it whilst in storage stood upright prior to installation into van, the substance doing damage has gone up and over raised pressed steel section which wouldnt happen when flat after install. just wipe off with clean hand pad and if you want spray over or oil.

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I am very surprised that anyone from any garage would not advised that it was something that had come in contact with the metal and corroded it. i.e spilt
 
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