CarCraft West Thurrock (Carcraft of Sheffield)

Member Name: plumbersmate

Product:	Carcraft of Sheffield
Date:	20/07/09 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Rip off merchants

My Son in Law bought a Fiat Stilo from these Carcraft(West Thurrock) people less than 2 years ago and are still paying for it now.
Just over a week ago the car just wouldn't start,so he called out the AA who thought it might be the main PCU but didn't know for sure.
S.I.L called out another mechanic who deals in electrics and they too had no idea what part of the Unit was dodgy and towed it away for yet another mechanic for further diagnostic tests.
The resulting cost of replacing the unit would be £2000,and the son in law told them just to bring it back to him and he would pay for all of the tests but that was all.
We had told Son in Law to contact CarCraft directly but in the end my Daughter had to do it because she can think on her feet so to speak.
They directed her to their customer service centre and the cost was £1.50 per minute.!(DAYLIGHT ROBBERY)
She told them what was wrong with the Fiat,and she was informed that they were still under warrenty,..BUT..this didn't cover electrics!As it had only done 17,000 miles,surely there must be something that can be done.
They will now be going back to the original mechanics who will charge a staggering £1,000 fix the unit because the AA,when asked if they could assist,through insurance if they could help said that they would give up to £500 but only if they used a Fiat Dealer..price..£3.500!
Avoid Carcraft at all costs and buy a bike.
In the meantime they have no vehicle and it's left to us to ferry them backwards and forwards.
(Sigh!)
Ad Endum

2 weeks later the car was still awaiting pick-up from a small company in West Thurrock for repairs at the cost of £1000 and the excuse was that they were making room for the vehicle in the workshop and had to find the part first.
My S.I.L. cancelled the job and after a lot of grief from the company
(who said they had found someone who could do the job for £250 if he could wait!)
went to a Fiat Dealer and after checking the vehicle has told my family that there was only a problem with the BATTERY and not the actual PCU.
Cost for replacement battery £124 + £60 Diagnostic.
Happy to say they were over the moon at the resulting cost and they can pick up the car tomorrow.
So although the AA,and the dubious small company stated £1000s of pounds,it always pays to shop around.
Yes it can be tedious but could save you a pretty penny in the end.

Summary: Don't do it..Beware