Skoda India — Gross Negligence, Fraud & Financial Exploitation at Authorized Service Center (Zedex Skoda, Sahibabad)

Address: Zedex Skoda (Shekhawati Electronics Pvt. Ltd.), Sahibabad, UP

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and seriousness to formally lodge a complaint against your authorized service center — Zedex Skoda (Shekhawati Electronics Pvt. Ltd.), Sahibabad — regarding a deeply distressing series of events involving gross negligence, deliberate fraud, financial exploitation, and destruction of my vehicle during its service tenure.
I demand immediate intervention from your senior management and expect a formal response within 48 hours of receiving this communication.
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1. Inordinate Delay & False Assurances
I submitted my vehicle (Skoda Slavia, DL 10 CR 4709) on 23rd April 2026 at 8:00 AM for a minor dent repair on the right side — a straightforward cosmetic job. The vehicle was well within its warranty period at the time of submission, with no mechanical concerns whatsoever. Despite this, the vehicle was retained at the body shop for over 15 days, during which I made daily follow-up calls and visited the center three times, only to be met with false assurances and zero accountability. This level of inefficiency and disregard for a customer's time is completely unacceptable.
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2. Suspicious AC Failure & Deliberate Warranty Manipulation
On 7th May 2026, upon completion of the dent repair, I was suddenly informed that my vehicle's air conditioning system was not functioning — a system that was in perfect working condition when I handed over the vehicle. What is deeply suspicious is that this "discovery" was conveniently communicated after my warranty had expired on 28th April 2026, thereby shifting the entire financial burden onto me.
A new job card was unilaterally opened, and I was initially quoted approximately ₹30, 000 for a cooling coil replacement.
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3. Escalating Fraudulent Claims & Compressor Tampering
Subsequently, my new service advisor informed me that the compressor had also "failed" and that the entire AC system needed replacement at a cost of approximately ₹1, 00, 000. I categorically reject this claim. My vehicle's AC system was fully functional prior to being handed over to your service center. It is my firm belief — and I intend to prove this — that the original compressor was removed and replaced with a faulty unit by personnel at your facility, and the original part was misappropriated. This constitutes theft and fraud, and I intend to pursue this through appropriate legal channels.
Only when I threatened legal action did the service center agree to replace the compressor at their cost — an admission, in itself, of their culpability. I was still coerced into paying ₹28, 750 for the cooling coil — an expense I should never have incurred.
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4. Vehicle Delivered Late, Damaged & in Unacceptable Condition
On 18th May 2026, I was assured my vehicle would be ready by 4:00 PM. I specifically communicated my time constraint, as I had a clinical OPD starting at 5:00 PM. I arrived at 3:50 PM, only to find the vehicle still undergoing AC checks with the car wash pending. I was made to wait until 5:20 PM, causing me significant professional disruption.
Upon finally inspecting my vehicle, I discovered multiple scratches and a dent on the boot — damage that was entirely caused during the vehicle's 25-day stay at your facility. This is a testament to the complete lack of care and professionalism with which my vehicle was handled.
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5. Deliberate Damage to Keyless Access System
Upon collecting the vehicle on 18th May, I immediately noticed that the keyless entry system had stopped functioning — a feature that had worked flawlessly for the entire four years of my vehicle ownership. The following day, despite replacing the key battery, an error — "KEYLESS ACCESS ERROR" — continued to appear on the display.
After repeated follow-ups and significant delay, a technician visited my premises only on 21st May 2026. While he performed some cleaning that cleared the error message, the underlying issue was not resolved. The keyless access system now only functions when the car is locked via the keyless button itself — it fails to respond when the vehicle is locked using the remote key. This is a new malfunction that was introduced during the vehicle's stay at your service center and did not exist at any point in the four years prior.
The technician's attempt to dismiss this as "normal car behavior" is not only technically incorrect but is a blatant attempt to evade accountability. I have been operating this vehicle for four years and am fully aware of its standard functionality. This malfunction is a direct consequence of tampering or mishandling at your facility, and I hold your service center entirely responsible for it.
I demand that this issue be diagnosed by a certified Skoda engineer, documented in writing, and rectified fully at no cost to me.
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6. Cumulative Impact & Mental Harassment
To summarize, in a single service visit for a minor dent repair, my vehicle has suffered:
• Suspicious and deliberate AC system failure post-warranty expiry
• Likely theft and replacement of the original compressor
• Multiple scratches and a dent on the boot
• A newly introduced and unresolved keyless access malfunction
• Financial loss of ₹28, 750 for a fault not of my making

Beyond the financial damage, the mental harassment, loss of peace of mind, and disruption to my daily professional and personal life over the past month has been immense. I am a medical professional with a demanding schedule, and this experience has been nothing short of traumatic.
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7. Compensation Demanded
Given the magnitude of financial loss, physical damage to my vehicle, and the severe mental and professional harassment I have endured, I hereby formally demand the following compensation from Skoda Auto India and Zedex Skoda, Sahibabad:

# Compensation Head Amount / Action
1 Full refund of amount paid for cooling coil replacement ₹28, 750
2 Repair of all scratches and dent on the boot At no cost to me
3 Full rectification of keyless access malfunction At no cost to me
4 Compensation for mental harassment & loss of peace of mind ₹1, 00, 000
5 Compensation for professional disruption & time loss (25+ days, multiple visits, OPD delay) ₹50, 000
6 Reimbursement of travel costs for multiple visits to service center (25 km each way) ₹5, 000
Total Minimum Demand ₹1, 83, 750 + vehicle restoration

Failure to address these demands will result in the matter being escalated to the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, where I will additionally seek punitive damages for the deliberate and fraudulent conduct of your service center staff.
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8. Legal Action
I wish to formally notify you that I am filing a complaint with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Consumer Court) for financial loss, mental harassment, negligence, and fraud. I am also exploring action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with respect to the suspected theft of vehicle components.
This email serves as advance legal notice to Skoda Auto India and the concerned service center.

I expect the following from you within 48 hours:
1. A formal written acknowledgment of this complaint
2. A thorough internal investigation into the conduct of Zedex Skoda, Sahibabad
3. Full reimbursement of ₹28, 750
4. Rectification of all vehicle damage and the keyless access malfunction — at no cost to me
5. A written explanation regarding the AC compressor replacement
6. A formal compensation offer addressing the demands listed above

Failure to respond appropriately will only strengthen my case before the Consumer Court and may also attract media attention.