24/05/11 – I dropped off my car, a 2006 Honda Accord, at 9:00 to have a swan-neck towbar fitted, I was told this would take 2 hours 30 minutes. I returned after said 2 ½ hours only to be told did we call, when I said no I was told ‘well it isn’t ready then’, I was given no clue as to how long it might still take and sent to the waiting room (a term I use rather loosely). After waiting perhaps 15 minutes someone went to check on the progress of my car, I was told it was ready, but due to other vehicles they were working on they couldn’t get mine out, so I then had to wait a further 20 minutes before I was allowed to have my car back. After getting it back I wish they had kept it, to say the work was shoddy would be an understatement. The boot no longer shut properly unless you slammed it. I mentioned this and they pushed the bumper a bit and bounced the car etc and it seemed a little better so I left. Once I got home I had a closer look at the car, this is when I discovered the full extent on their work. The reason why the boot didn’t close properly was because the trim on the right hand side was sticking out impeding the boot lid, I noticed several of the clips that hold the boot trim in place where either missing or hanging out. Also by the time I got home the rear cover on one of the light clusters had fallen off, I then proceeded to lift up the carpet to make sure the spare wheel and bits where still where they belong, but in lifting up the carpet I discovered this was no longer attached to the car. After taking out the spare wheel I found four of the missing clips, mostly broken where they had been prised out. I did try putting things back, but decided to return the car for them to do it as I was worried about damaging the boot trim and making things worse. I returned later that afternoon for them to finish the job. In their defence they did say some of the trim clips where already missing, but as I pointed out everything fitted as it should before they started on it even if clips where missing, plus I have owned the car from new and no work has ever been done in the boot/rear of the car. Even now I still don’t think the trim is right, they also seemed to have replaced the missing clips with some form a screw, but all of this is insignificant when compared to the biggest problem that I have saved until last. As mentioned I requested a swan-neck towbar, I had originally wanted a detachable one (due to rear parking sensors), but as this would leave a visible bumper cut I decided to go for the swan-neck one and they told me the electric socket would be hidden under the bumper meaning less chance of the parking sensors picking the towbar up. Well imagine my surprise to find they had fitted a flange towbar! I now have an eyesore on the back of my car and I will have to pay £300+ for them to fit the right towbar, the one I asked for.
