[Resolved]  Skoda / Superb — Cheating and a fraud by 'Autobahn'

Address:

Mumbai City, Maharashtra

CAR BUYERS BEWARE ,SKODA CAR MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS & LAWYERS NEXUS !!!

Repairs Rs. 5 lacs.!!!!

Dear correspondent

I need to highlight the nexus between the Skoda car and the dealers... I would want to tell you about how I was victimized by the Skoda manufacturer as well as dealer...
The Manufacturer sells the faulty car and the dealer further extorts money in the name of service.

I was a proud owner of a Skoda Superb, Car registration no MH 04 DB 7000 - 15th. FEB 2007. For about Rs. 25 lacs.

Right from the day I had bought the car I have faced some or other problems with the car, At which the service mechanics would say that this Skoda Superb car has a common manufacturing defect, that if the car is parked in open or under the tree, the drain pipe being very narrow the water would not drain out and that would damage all the above. I used to take utmost care religiously, but still there would be problems with the car.Even during the warranty period my Automatic gearbox, Radiator, fuel pump - had all given problems at some time or other All the problems were rectified during the service in warranty.

Problem started after my warranty got over. In DEC 2009 I got the car serviced in JMD service center ( authorized by SKODA ). But while taking the car home I was getting the display on the car to be taken to service center. Very next day I had to take back the car to Service center. The JMD representatives said that the Car is ok but radiator has the problem. And the replacement of the radiator would cost you. Since I had got the radiator changed in warranty from Autobahn. 6 months back and the spare should be under the spare 1 year warranty, The car was sent to Autobahn by the JMD service center on my request.

Autobahn repaired the car and sent a bill of about 16000/- and would not release my car until I paid the amount. I went to take the delivery of my car and found in the trial run that the there was very little pick up and constant jerks, to which they promised to do rectify the faults in couple of days. They did not revert back for next 15 days, however I called them to ask about my car to which they replied that due to the radiator leakage the Oil and water was getting mixed and has damaged the automatic gear Box, which shall cost approximately about 5 lakhs. To which I protested then when I had given the car the Gearbox was working and if the gearbox had spoilt in Service center. It has to be the Autobahn responsibility. Again after 10 days they said that the gear box is working fine but the problem is with the turbo which will cost about 1.5 to 2 lakhs. Once again I argued the same points that if the damage has occurred at Autobahn and they are responsible for it. Again after 10 days the Autobahn calls up said that the gearbox and turbo are both fine but there is problem with the fuel pump. Which will cost me Rs. 75000 to 1.25 lakhs.. By this time I was so irritated with their unprofessional nature of the work and realized they they were trying to extort money from me starting from Rs. 5 lakhs to 1 lacs...

I decided to take legal action. I contacted the lawyer Mr. Johnson John. Who advised me to lodge a complaint with the consumer court and I would get the decision within 3 to 6 months maximum. He filed my case with the consumer court and my first hearing was on 19th. June. At 11.00am. I was present in the court before time and my lawyer was no where to be traced... He only called up in the evening to tell me that the court has given a date of August 7th. I was in the court the whole day and he had never come to court, and when he was expecting the decision within 3 to 6 months I questioned him how come he got the date so far as August 7th. At this he began to give vague reasons and also tried to discourage me from fighting the case and settle it out of the court with the Autobahn. I contacted another lawyer friend of mine and he said the lawyers are often bought over by these dealers and that I had strong case and should continue the fight. The consumer has no other way but to write to media and forums on the net..

My case was in the consumer court and I received a letter on the 19th. May 2010. Inviting me for the joint trial of the car with a payment of Rs. 40,200/- only... I was surprised right from 5 lacs to 40,000/-. I called them and asked them what if my car once again after taking it home will come up with other faults, I asked them that I need Skoda to certify that my car is in perfect working condition and none of my spares are fiddled with , then only I will take the delivery. To which they never replied. Once again I sent them a mail today on 30th. June requesting them to get it certified from skoda.

From my experience I observe that there is a very Strong nexus between the Skoda Auto India pvt. Ltd, Aurangabad and Autobahn Enterprise, Mumbai. From sources I have learnt that Autobahn has a stake in the Skoda Auto India pvt. Ltd. And thats the reason the Skoda India does not respond to the complaints from the customer.

I had written them a complaint on 19th April 2010. About my concerns and they washed their hands saying since the car is out of warrenty they are no longer responsible.

Also I have learnt that about few hundred Skoda superb sold in Mumbai majority have faced the problems with the service and spares... This is clearly a faulty car and the Nexus between the Dealers and Skoda India Ltd. Are cheating the customers. I have seen numerous complaints on the net. And also heard that one of the dealer was dismissed by Skoda recently. But they giving a blind eye to complaint from Auto bahn as they are also stake holders in the company. These is a common practice of the SKODA service centres to extort money from innocent car owners.

It is also further learnt from the sources that Mr. Choksey who is the director of Autobahn. Is having several cases against him regarding the malpractices... And have behind the bars for a while...

If Toyota car had faulty breakes they recalled all the cars worldwide... And in India everything goes to deaf ears.. This happens only in India

I am sending all the documents as attachments, I have already suffered, and will fight them tooth and nails, but atleast as a responsible media, you can make the consumers more aware. If you need any clarifications kindly feel free to contact me...and would cooperate in every possible way to take these people to task

Attachments :
9 pages of complaint filed in consumer court
Corrospondences with Autobahn and skoda



Rajesh Khakhar ,
PH : [protected].
[protected]@laxmidental.com <http://[protected]@laxmidental.com>
(please correspond on this Id regarding the above details)