Some issues in common with others but.........

Fowlers Finance - www.fowlersfinance.com
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Seth2010's review of Fowlers Finance - www.fowlersfinance.com

“Some issues in common with others but.........”

★★★★☆

written by Seth2010 on 02/12/2015

I bought my Mondeo TDCi Titanium X from the Stoke branch back on September the 1st. It was an internet/phone purchase and from the outset, the salesman was utterly brilliant. I had a specific make and model that I wanted and he scoured the place and found the car for me. When I collected the car, there was no V5 ( the auction house has lost it) so they said they would apply for one and send it to me so I could tax the car. On day 2 of ownership, a number of problems came to light which were: The wipers didn't clear the screen, there was a seal missing from the door allowing water in, the engine cover was missing its locating rubbers and was rattling around and there were DPF pipes that had failed. I contacted the salesman and the next day, I was told to take the car to a local Ford dealer and it would be sorted. I had already bought the trim, wipers and cover mounts, and they refunded the cost to me without argument and when I took the car in to the Ford dealer, they had already been paid to do the job so it was done in a morning. The logbook issue dragged on until mid November and as a result, I couldn't re-tax the car from September. To their credit, they provided me with a courtesy car and once they got the V5 the car was taxed. The car I have is in really good condition and I paid a fair price for it - a little under the going rate, in fact. The problems were dealt with, although when I was waiting on the log book, I did find that they were very hard to get hold of and there were a number of times where I was promised a call back that never came. That really is my only issue - they are very hard to get hold of and don't return calls when they say they will. That said, and with all things considered, I have certainly had a much, much, better experience with them than most of the people that wrote reviews on here, so I count myself lucky and hope that they are genuinely improving their customer service - I will go back to them for my next car based on my experiences.

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Seth2010's Response to Seth2010's Review

Written on: 07/01/2016

So, time for an update to my review. I have just had reason to call Fowlers to look at getting 2 faults sorted with the car, a noisy rear suspension and a boot that fills with water. The bottom line is that they were cold and callous, dismissed my issues out of hand stating that the warranty only covers engine & gearbox. This is in direct contradiction with what I was told when they sold me the warranty. Bearing in mind that I bought the car in September 2015 and couldn't use it until the second week of November, I was shocked at being dismissed so abruptly. I think that all of the other reviews are probably nearer to the way this company operates and I was lucky at the start to get something from them for their muck up. If anyone is looking for a car then AVOID THIS COMPANY they are just useless. They don't answer the phone or respond to e-mails. I have been trying to contact them for a week and finally got them to answer today, though it did me no good. PLEASE DON'T GET INVOLVED WITH THIS LOT, YOU WILL HAVE A NIGHTMARE.

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Fowlers_Finance's reply to Seth2010's Comment

Written on: 27/07/2016

I have just come accross your review and I am sorry to hear about the issues that you have been having. It sounds like the person you spoke to on the telephone did not do a proper investigation to understand that you have the Enhanced Mechanical Guarantee, rather than the standard 6 month engine and gearbox warranty. Hopefully all of these issues have since been rectified, although if not PLEASE e-mail me and I will do my utmost to deal with these as a matter of urgency. Thanks, Danny.

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Seth2010's reply to Fowlers_Finance's Comment

Written on: 28/07/2016

Thanks for the commend, however your talk of an investigation would be funny were it not for the heartache and trauma caused to me by the company. Every phone call started with the agent being dismissive, then progressed to the book of excuses and on to belittling me before ending the call no further forward. Not once was a promised return call made to me. If I am hones, Fowlers Finance have treated me appallingly and this has seriously affected my disability, especially not having a car to use due to many issues since it was purchased. I have never before witnessed such disturbing customer treatment. The faults turned out to be a rear wheel bearing, the trailing arm bushes and a broken front strut bearing. I was told that the bearing wasn't covered, along with the other items as it was just wear and tear. When I pointed out that my warranty paperwork explicitly included wheel bearings, I was then told that I had done too many miles in the car since I bought it for it to be covered under the warranty. In order to stop the stress I paid the finance up to the half way point and exited the agreement handing them the car back. I will never again use Fowlers and I urge everyone else to think seriously before doing so. My experience doesn't seem to be the exception looking at these reviews.

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Seth2010's reply to Fowlers_Finance's Comment

Written on: 28/07/2016

Thanks for the commend Danny, however your talk of an investigation would be funny were it not for the heartache and trauma caused to me by the company. Every phone call started with the agent being dismissive, then progressed to the book of excuses and on to belittling me before ending the call no further forward. Not once was a promised return call made to me. If I am hones, Fowlers Finance have treated me appallingly and this has seriously affected my disability, especially not having a car to use due to many issues since it was purchased. I have never before witnessed such disturbing customer treatment. The faults turned out to be a rear wheel bearing, the trailing arm bushes and a broken front strut bearing. I was told that the bearing wasn't covered, along with the other items as it was just wear and tear. When I pointed out that my warranty paperwork explicitly included wheel bearings, I was then told that I had done too many miles in the car since I bought it for it to be covered under the warranty. In order to stop the stress I paid the finance up to the half way point and exited the agreement handing them the car back. I will never again use Fowlers and I urge everyone else to think seriously before doing so. My experience doesn't seem to be the exception looking at these reviews.

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Seth2010's reply to Seth2010's Comment

Written on: 29/07/2016

Just to illustrate the type of after sales service I experienced, 2 days after I bought the car it had to go to Fords local dealership to have work done, which was paid for by fowler so, to be fair. However they told me that the trailing arm bushes were worn out and needed replacing. When I passed the invoice, with the recommendation on it from the garage that the bushes needed changed, to Fowlers, who's agent told me, and I quote "they are fine, it was mot' d not long ago". Not long after it was back on the road, the bushes caused the back of the car to break away, almost ending in a crash with my children in the car. It was avoided because I was going at a safe speed. When I booked it in and paid for the work myself, the bushes fell off the car onto the workshop floor. I was told before hand to send the invoice to Fowlers, who rejected the claim out of hand as wear and tear. It was brought to Fowlers attention after 2 days of ownership and covering 250 miles, yet they did not see why it was a valid claim, under an extensive warranty that meant, according to the salesman, that I was "fully covered". Of course, I would have emailed this to him after his comment above, but there is no email address. What a surprise! My point of view is that if anyone is looking to Fowlers for a car, think long and hard and take heed of the reviews on here. I know that people don't generally leave anything positive, they prefer to highlight bad things, but all these experiences draw a disturbing picture. Be very careful, people. I was left with a non roadworthy car, as a disabled person, it made life very hard, and i had to stump up £2k to exit the agreement. Please don't put yourselves in that position.

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Seth2010's Response to Seth2010's Review

Written on: 08/09/2016

Here is an update. After all the trauma caused by Fowlers, which I could only end by paying the finance company £2500 to exit the agreement and give the car to them, I have been getting texts telling me that I am now eligible to buy a new cay, no deposit, low rates. Those messages are from Fowlers...texts and calls.

They really do not have any morals, so it appears to me anyway.

I would rather boil my head than buy anything from them.

These reviews really show that they are very poor - but Fowlers don't seem to get that do they!

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