OAP's frustration over long-running car repair delay

Dave Siddall (74), who lives in Kimberworth, said he was frustrated after Perrys Rotherham, in Parkgate, were unable to fix an electric handbrake on his Kia Sportage.

He said he had never had any issues with the car until taking it to Perrys and feels the job should have taken “no less than a few days to fix” when he took it to the garage on June 27.

Mr Siddall said: “Perrys seemed the logical choice for me as it isn’t far from where I live and they said it needed a new part which they fixed rather quickly in a few days — or so I thought.  

“When I drove away, I knew there was still something not quite right about the car so I went back to Perrys in July.

“They said the problem with the handbrake still wasn’t fixed.

“I was provided with a courtesy car so that I wasn’t inconvenienced but worse was yet to come.”

Mr Siddall said the process was “ridiculous” as Perrys had told him the handbrake would need another part to ensure it was fixed.

He said three months had passed without any communication, so he had gone to Perrys to check up on their progress.“

“I just couldn’t take anymore waiting around for the car so I went to the garage on October 20 and I asked Perrys where my car was?” he said.

“The staff just shrugged their shoulders and didn’t really know what to do.

“They just didn’t care.

“I can’t tell you how furious I was and couldn’t believe no-one knew.

“Miraculously, after the complaint, I received a phone call on October 25 to say that my car was finally fixed and it would be ready to collect on October 27.”

After he collected the car, Mr Siddall said: “I feel I have definitely lost enthusiasm for the car now due to all of this.

“I just wish I had been told rather than being kept in the dark like I was.

“My simple question to Perrys is — why did it take so long?

A spokesperson for Vauxhall said the customer “had been kept mobile throughout the situation” but added it could not offer a comment on the issue because “the part that was unavailable was supplied by Kia”.  

Kia were approached for comment but did not respond.