Anonymous

The Amazing Disappearing Satnav

Community nurse here, needed a replacement car asap as my fleet car was being returned. As an essential car driver I needed a reliable car with good space and a satnav. The sale itself went well and I believe the adviser sold the car in good faith. A week or so after purchase the car battery died and AA attended and it needed replacement, the satnav also disappeared. Not a big problem as the sales adviser was helpful and it was sorted in a day or so. After this the car battery died again and the satnav didn't return. The nightmare then began of repeated attempts to get some sense or communication from the dealership. The clock was ticking on my work car and it became extremely stressful, my sister (also a nurse) had lent me all of her savings to fund the car (she was a returning customer to Chapelhouse, which counted for nothing). The car went to a manufacturer garage and then sat there for 2 weeks after the work was completed. In this time the battery went flat again waiting for the nod from someone at Chapelhouse. I received legal advice to request to return the car after the second breakdown and was totally ignored, aside from some 'nonsense' (to quote a consumer rights solicitor) about batteries not counting in a returns policy. I lost patience when it became clear this company were aware of the situation at a reasonably high management level and really didn't care if I lost my job or they robbed someone of their savings. I eventually pulled the car myself from the manufacturer's garage and the helpful advisor there told me the car couldn't have integrated satnav (whatever navigation system was there on the test drive and before the first breakdown is a puzzle). Also informed of a mystery grease they had to remove from the back brakes which were 70% worn and quite a worry to them. Nurses tend not to have the time or money for a drawn out arbitration and court case, let alone weeks of stonewalling from people across the company at managerial level (including 'compliance' which is hilarious now I look back). We had to take the financial hit ( which was substantial) and trade the car in as I need a work car asap. If you're a masochist with money to burn and a solicitor who has read a pamphlet on the Consumer Rights Act this is the dealership for you, if you are just a normal hard working person please avoid this appalling company