On 29th June 2020, my Activa 125 cc stroked an unfortunate fate at the hands of City Honda service center Kalyan Nagar Bangalore
Fundamentally, I have been a great fan of Honda products all my life. However, the poor experience that I had on 29th June has changed my perspective about Honda service center completely. I regret to say, but am no longer a follower of the Honda brand, and given a chance, I would like to spread a word of mouth on the same.
To start with, my vehicle has not been serviced at any of the Honda service centers for the last two years. However, I have been getting a timely service at a local service center right next to my house and had no complaints so far. Lately, I have been experiencing wobbling of the front Tyre and I presumed getting this issue fixed directly with the company service center would work best for the bike.
Now this was the despairing time, when my decision to show up to the Honda service center happened, so the most proficient technicians at the branch could fix the issue
Given the bike for service, speaking of the wobbling issues, an estimated bill of Rs 2400 was scribbled into my hands. On reaching home, by the mid of noon. I receive a call, where the bike in-charge blows me with a list of things to be replaced, failing which the vehicle is not going to run smooth. I agree, the vehicle was not serviced for two years with any authorized Honda service center, now that does not license anybody to charge me with another RS 3500 as parts replacement cost. Listening to all that the technician had to pitch, I politely denied, requesting not to replace any parts and let be, now by evening on the same day, reached the center to pick my vehicle and as promised I ended up paying around Rs 2400 and got my delivery.
Here is the first scam, even before I could get my bike delivered, the security guy carrying a gate pass asked me to sign a few papers which also included a feedback form, suppose I would only sign, while the center would fill the form to their will and satisfaction.
On test drive, I did not find any issues but while nearing home, I could hear heavy rattling sound and noise like something was unfixed and undone inside the vehicle and an uproar by the rear Tyre. I immediately take it back to the service center, hard luck, the center was closed, the very next day, I take the bike to address the issue, the executive in charge takes a test drive and pretends like everything is fine, Until I open the dicky to show him that the screws were left loose, soon he takes the vehicle inside and brings it back saying everything is fixed and should not have any more issues, trusted him, and on crossing a few kms, I experience the issue again.
This time, I raised a complaint online, and here comes the customer relationship manager who tries to convince me saying, my bike was not serviced for 2years at any centre. And since I asked them not to replace any of the parts, and as the parts were cleaned and fixed back, the sound would occur and the noise is common, as I did not want to argue as the solution he gave me to fix the issue was to change the parts. I decide to ignore the complaint and take to the local mechanic and get it fixed.
But plight not over yet, the third day, my wife takes the bike to the shopping mall, and with our house key and her wallet and everything kept inside the dicky, the key fails to open the storage space in the bike at the shopping mall, and she had to stand there helpless, waiting until I come. I quickly take it to the local mechanic and he inspecting the vehicle, agrees that the service was terribly done and the consequence of the service lead to all the issues that never occurred in the past, without waiting any further, I call the Activa service center to come down and help with the lock issue.
There was a mechanic sent who promptly unlocked the dicky and claimed the cable was broken and needed replacement. I got back my bike today, where again a few feedback forms were signed blindly and bill receipt stuck to my hands. I don’t know if the issue is fixed, as they say experience is a tough master, I learnt my lessons the hard way. Hereafter, I will not go to any Honda service centre nor believe Honda for a brand.
Despite the lockdown and economic situation, I wanted the bike serviced at authorised service centre, hoping they would maintain their standards and do justice. But, unfortunately, I became their scapegoat for them to redeem their losses for the period of lock-down at the cost of damaging my bike forever.
And yes, a feedback i would like to personally address to the management team in particular, please see if the name HONDA SERVICE CENTER can be replaced to SPARE PARTS REPLACEMENT CENTER.
I know my Activa is not going to be the same, with the pathetic customer service I know nothing is going to change, but I had to pen down my frustration for me to be at peace.
Thank you
Honda 2 Wheelers India customer support has been notified about the posted complaint.
