Kathleen H.
Aug 28, 2023
Gave me a courtesy car that was difficult to drive, a Vauxhall Grandland. I drive an Astra because the height is correct for me to get in and out. I use my speed limiter for comfort and safety. The grandland model has a different way of setting which meant it was saved at 60mph. I didn’t know how to operate it. The ergonomics of the pedals are unsuitable for me without the speed limiter working. My car needed a new windscreen mirror. When I first reported the fault on April 26th I was Tod by a member of the reception team that I had probably pressed a wrong button in the settings menu. Not the case. It took more than 3 months to diagnose the fault and 5 months to fix it. Service department made no provision for a courtesy car, I live alone 14 miles away. No one is available able to drive me during the working day. I rang ahead a week before the booking and asked what the courtesy car would be. I was told a Grandland. I specified that it was too high from the ground. The person I spoke to told me that she had change it to a Corsa that I had driven before. On the day it wasn’t available. I had to go into service 3 times. Computer diagnostics initially said it was fine, but no one took it for a test drive. It was only when they received new software from Vauxhall on the third visit, a 2.5 hour appointment, and the software wouldn’t calibrate, that they realised that I needed a new front camera. After the first appointment when I realised that nothing had changed I went back to the service department. A member of the service team booked an appointment for 5 weeks time. I said that I didn’t think much of the way they treat disabled customers. He told me that the problem was nothing to do with my disability. It has everything to do with my disability. I chose my Astra Ultimate for the AGR seat, essential for my comfort and the safety alerts which I have come to rely on. As a disabled person I want to get to my destination with as much ease as possible. Apart from which, I paid an advance payment of £3,500 together with my lease hire charge. I wanted what I have paid for. I have been a customer with Vauxhall since 2012. I have the petrol engine 2022 Ultimate on order.There was approximately a 5 week wait between appointments. The Equality Act 2010 clearly states that disabled people have protected characteristics and reasonable adjustments should be made to access goods and services. In spite of the amount of time my car was with the service department, I still have to return on September 14th for what I have been told will be a 1 hour service. I am dreading going there. After driving the Grandland and not being able to engage the speed limiter, I suffered excruciating pain from muscle spasms caused by my one of my health conditions. The service staff should shoe interest in disabled people’s needs. If it wasn’t for the fact that the Astra Ultimate is the very best car for me, and no other brand has a model with an AGR seat, I would be leaving Vauxhall. I have always enjoyed excellent service from the sales team.