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Old Sep 23rd, 2002, 07:01 PM   #1
Damo
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Angry AA = Alcoholics Anonmous?

No doubt some people won't bother reading all this it being so long!!

Hmmm where should I start!

I'm cheesed off is a good start! I'm more cheesed off that a cheese seller on chedder day in Stiltonville, County Brie, Cheese World!

Why? Well it all started on Wednesday!

Went to halfords to have a look a CD changer as it was pay day. Wanted to know if the 6 CD changer Sony unit would fit in the space underneith my carpet (Normally reserved for flat tyre fix kit but I have run flats).

The guy couldn't do any more to help, rather than give me measurements, came outside with the unit to see if it would fit. Would fit fine so I thought I'll buy it!

£180 for the Changer which is good but had to pay extra for the fitting £35. Now I though may as well let there fitters (The AA) fit it as at least I could trust a big firm such as the AA to do a top dog job and my precious car would be in safe hands. So I thought!

Rang the AA garage up to book it in, no problems. Asked if it could be done by 1pm if I berought it in very early as started work at 2pm. Told no problem. Things looked good

But then I rememebered couldn't do it that day as was to training at work so was in earlier than usual. So rang to cancel and make new appointment. Simple enough I thought!

So rang them up to cancel. Apparently they knew nothing of my booking but I was told my car would need an extra hours labour to fit the changer due to the car I had. Wasn't happy about this so I said I'd ring back after speaking to Halfords.

Spoke to halfords was told sorry for the trouble we'll ring the AA garage up get it sorted you just go ahead and book it in to be done at your convenience.

So rang up day after to book it in, and was told yep needs an extra hours fitting. Told them Halfords said they'd ring. Was told not rung. So booked it in anyway to be ready by 1pm, guy said yep, put it down for 12 to be on the safe side. Great! I then rang halfords to enquire about the phone call they were making.

Halfords man was not a very happy man. He had rung an didn't appreciate having to ring them back again because of them (not me). Apologised for them and he rang them to sort it on the other line while I hung on. Was told it was sorted. That was Friday, and I was already a little annoyed.

Car was booked in for today (monday) turned up as I said I would at there opening time 8am (well I was there at 7:50am really and halfords (bolton store) next door who had opened AT 8am) Waited till 8:05 when the manager finally sauntered in. Finally got in the AA building at about 8:10am.

Gave certificate to Colin the manager of the store to be told I needed another hours labour. Said Halfords had sorted it. He said they hadn't. Explained that they'd phoned. He said Phone call's no use to me need it on this piece of paper. He said he'd try call em later on. Anyway I showed him where I wanted it putting. Handed keys over to see my car had been written down as being ready for 12pm

Now the halfords I bought the changer at only opened at 9am. So when I got home rang them up and spoke to a Jan, who confirmed they'd rung them but would ring me back after speaking to this colin. She rang me back again apologised for their mix up and said no need to worry about the extra labour.

Remembered not mentioned to Colin that it would be ready by 1pm. So rang him to confirm this. He said give us a ring at 12 to see how we're going. Told him needed car no matter what at 1pm as I was told it would be ready by then and needed it to get to work. Was told to ring at 12. Told him needed car at 1pm changer or not.

Turned up at 1pm. Arrived to see my car sat outside Car must be done. Walked in to see colin clicking away on his computer. Looked up at me and said yes? Told him who I was and that was here to collect my car.

And this is where the fun starts and where Colin really got my goat!

He didn't look up at me once during the whole conversation. Wouldn't surprise me if he was playing solitaire to be honest! Was told Car not ready the CD cable was giving power to the Changer so sent to halfords for new one (there was a halfords next door!!!).

Well I said so do I have to bring car back tomorrow to be done. No we're getting the cable to fit it. When will car be ready, don;t know depends how busy we are. Told him needed car now. Told car was still in bits and would take an hour to put back together!!!

So what the hell could I do. Had to get my mum to get me to train station so I could get to work on time! And I only just made it. Arranged for my Mum and Dad (ended up being my Mum and brother) to pick car up when it was ready. Anyway I don't know the full details after this as I was at work with mobile switched off (call centre).

I finished work for lunch at 5 till 6 to a message from my dad. Rang him up asking for directions to pick me up. Asked him if mum was picking car up, he said gone with bro just now. (He didn't tell me anything so I wouldn't go back to work wound up trying to me nice and polite to irate customers of mine!)

So rang Colin up to confirm my Mum and Brother were picking my car up, said they alreadyhad done. So I was like Oh great thanks for your help bye! Wasn't told ANYTHING about the following!

Rang my mum up just before going into work to find out my CD changer WASN'T fitted, that the AA garage said my radio was at fault not the cable or changer. And that my mum discovered on the way home my Radio didn't work at all now!

Apparently they'd rung my mum up to tell her this so my mum being annoyed at all the rubbish I'd put up with already told them to pack it all up. Colin was extremely rude and arrogant. Hence my brother went with her when collecting car. He wasn't rude when my brother was there I can tell you. She didn;t tell me she'd ring halfords aswell.

Now AA garage shut at 5:30 so rang the halfords i bought the changer from, and the manager answered, told him everything, what I thought of colin the AA garage manager due to the way he'd been with me and my mother.

Anyway the halfords manager couldn;t be more helpful, said he knew all about it as my mum had spoken to him. And that he would offer a full refund or fit ment at another garage. Explained Radio didn't work at all now but had to check if they just hadn't wired it up properly as apprently when my mother got there my car was still in pieces!!! and my radio was all over the car.

So got home tonight first thing I checked was radio was wired up. Didn;t work, checked the wiring of the radio and radio fuse. All fine. Radio still wouldn't work.

So either My Radio's screwed (£200 from halfords)
a fuse has gone in my car (50p from halfords)
or knowing the muppets at that place my electrics are shagged!

Can't find out till tomorrow.

So I'm cheesed off.

Instead of having a new flashy CD changer I have a hole in my dashboard and no doubt a Mini that wasn't put together as well as it was when I bought it,

Thats the simple version of the story! I AM FUMING!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is going to be a very grim day!

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Old Sep 23rd, 2002, 07:12 PM   #2 (permalink)
MiniMadTez
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wow.............took me a while to read.
errrmmmm i dunno wot 2 say......

poor Damo




lets hope its a fuse or sommat simple(and cheap!)(fingers crossed)

Last edited by MiniMadTez : Sep 23rd, 2002 at 07:19 PM.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2002, 09:30 PM   #3 (permalink)
BigMack
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I wish you luck getting things sorted out.!!

2004 Pepper White Copoper S on order :white:
2002 Pepper White/Black Cooper, 9800 miles :white:
1972 Gunmetal Innocenti Cooper 1300, miles unknown
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 03:14 AM   #4 (permalink)
mikeythemini
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I used to get the vehicles in for electrical/hi-fi work from a very senior person from a certain large chain of car accesory stores
His words "wouldn't let one of those animals near my car"
If I can help, get in touch
Mike


Last edited by mikeythemini : Aug 5th, 2005 at 11:19 AM.
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 03:32 AM   #5 (permalink)
rayasp
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It saddens me to say this but,this is a typical example of the 'could not give a toss' attitude that customers have to put up with nowadays.
Cheers,
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 03:38 AM   #6 (permalink)
Minty
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Sorry to hear about this nightmare mate!

Guess thats what happens when two companies try to work together?!? I am slightly worried at the 'AA Service Centre', I thought with a brand name like the AA, they should be reasonable.

E-Mail Me | Minty - Reaches parts other people can't.
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 03:58 AM   #7 (permalink)
IgorTheHunchback
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Igor has two words for you ....

Factory Fitted

Igor says look on the bright side at least they did not drive mini into wall.

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 04:11 AM   #8 (permalink)
Damo
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Quote:
Originally posted by Minty
Sorry to hear about this nightmare mate!

Guess thats what happens when two companies try to work together?!? I am slightly worried at the 'AA Service Centre', I thought with a brand name like the AA, they should be reasonable.

Thats what I thought. My dad's an AA member and has been for years so h'es been enquirying on who to complain to. Like to point out its just the one AA garage I'm cheesed off with no the whole of the AA but just wait till I see that Colin today.

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 04:12 AM   #9 (permalink)
Damo
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Quote:
Originally posted by IgorTheHunchback
Igor says look on the bright side at least they did not drive mini into wall.

I'm yet to check my car! They could of!

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 04:22 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Poor Damo

I agree with Igor: Factory Fitted and don't mess with mine

DK
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 04:36 AM   #11 (permalink)
DaveH
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Kill,Maim,Destroy

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 04:47 AM   #12 (permalink)
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I would never buy anything that is worth more than a tenner from halfords, who only employ muppets (Cookie monster works at my local).....

your local ICE shop is much better, get people who actually know what there chatting about.

Hope it gets sorted.....

All Cooped Up

Keep on Motoring........
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 05:10 AM   #13 (permalink)
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Hmm... take car apart, sit around doing *** all afterwards... I'm in the wrong job!

Dom

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 05:37 AM   #14 (permalink)
monsta
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Quote:
Originally posted by Dom
Hmm... take car apart, sit around doing *** all afterwards... I'm in the wrong job!

Dom

What, you wanna be taking cars apart as well?

the MINI has gone...
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 06:25 AM   #15 (permalink)
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Bunch of monkey's Damo!!!
If they have smoked the head unit, make sure it's the AA who pay for a replacement, not Halfords just exchanging it.
Agree with allcoopedup, take it to a proper ICE installer or an auto electrician.
Let's hope these people, sorry 'MONKEY'S' have a more proffesional approach when repairing a vehicles brakes!
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 07:20 AM   #16 (permalink)
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All sorted, well nearly.

Halfords Manager at Middlebrook Jon, has been an abosolute star.

It turned out that when they'd took my cables apart and pushed them back together one of the pins didn't go in properly so got pushed out. So that was what caused the whole problem. Jon noticed it as I couldn't be bothered to check everything. All I'd dome was put the radio my brothers car and used HIS cables (He has a sony aswell). The cable was fine but he replaced the cable anyway.

Having CD changer fitted 3rd October, but tempted to take it back and get money back and just buy a new head unit with the money. But not sure I can give up MD just yet. Original plan was to have CD head unit and save up for MD unit in boot.

Will let you know what I've decided!


Last edited by Damo : Sep 24th, 2002 at 05:59 PM.
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 07:21 AM   #17 (permalink)
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Kill them all, burn their houses down!!!
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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 07:23 AM   #18 (permalink)
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To be honest, it really is easy to fit yourself if you don't trust the monkeys anymore...

Failing that, AV's idea seems fairly reasonable...

Dom

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 07:25 AM   #19 (permalink)
Damo
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Quote:
Originally posted by Dom
To be honest, it really is easy to fit yourself if you don't trust the monkeys anymore...

Failing that, AV's idea seems fairly reasonable...

Dom

The electrical side is easy for me (i mean its easy to plug a few wires in) but 2 things worry me.

1) where does the cable go

2) How the hell do you screw it in

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Old Sep 24th, 2002, 07:31 AM   #20 (permalink)
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I'm fuming they made you feel like writing that novel......isn't there a word limit on these posts ??? !!!


Seriously. Amazing stuff Damo. Can't believe after all that you have to mess about with it yourself.

Hope you get it sorted.

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