Repco Authorised Service

I had the serious misfortune of coming across these shady characters a couple of years ago. I’m still salty at being ripped off, so I’ll just leave a copy of my correspondence with Repco head office. It pretty much covers it and gives you an idea of who you’re dealing with if you choose to use this business.



Hi ********



Thanks for your response.



I can assure you that Damian is a liar. He told me the tyres are dangerously worn, and that it wasn't possible to carry out a wheel alignment in their condition. He also said that they were cracked which meant they were going to fail.



He took me into the workshop while the car was up off the ground and showed me the 'wear' and the 'cracks'. So if you communicate via inference to a mother halfway through a long distance journey, travelling on roads that have a 110km/h posted limit, with her young children in the back, that her tyres are going to blow if she drives on them, what do you think her response will be?



So no, I wasn't 'forced' to buy the tyres, but tricked into doing so by being presented with false information that could only have one possible outcome. What person would drive off on tyres that she has been told, indirectly, are probably going to result in the deaths of herself and her children? Exactly.



I have attached photos that I took of the tyres after they were taken off my car for you to inspect. As you can see, they are not dangerously worn, nor are they cracked.



The tyres that he put on, he told me are better quality than the ones I had. Another barefaced lie. I had Kuhmo midrange tyres, he has replaced them with Kenda Komet 23a which are an inferior budget tyre. I was charged $160 per tyre. I refer you to http://www.highwaytyres.com.au/tyres/kenda where you can see they retail for $76 each.



So I have been lied to, tricked, and ripped off. I was kept there for nearly four hours, significantly delaying my journey, when I had phoned ahead to see if they could squeeze me in, so as to continue on as quickly as possible. Lied to before I even got there.



I am not surprised that Damian has dug his heels in and refused to negotiate. He is a liar and unscrupulous and overly motivated by money. He has lied to you, lied to me, and has no compunction about ripping off 'customers' who have little automotive knowledge.



I was brought to his place based on a Yellow Pages ad placed by Repco. This is a decision I have come to regret. This outcome and the business practices of Murphy's automotive have proven that Repco service agents are not necessarily trustworthy and cannot be held to account for their conduct in any meaningful way. The Code of Ethics you refer to is a hollow document espousing that service centres will 'in every instance provide total Customer Service "Excellence".' but cannot enforce this.



Although I may not receive a rebate on the extortionate price I was gouged for the unnecessary tyres, or an apology for being lied to and treated with zero respect, I can make use of social media and internet reviews to warn others of his conduct. I have not yet explored any Consumer Law avenues, thank you for your suggestion.



Disappointment doesn't quite convey how I feel. I sincerely hope you pass this on to both Damian and your own supervisor.



Kind regards,



********













Hi *******,



I have spoken to Damian at length.



Damian is adamant that he advised you correctly, and as a result is not prepared to concede anything. He reiterates that he advised that a wheel alignment was not effective with the tyres that were fitted to the vehicle, due to wear. He also states that he did not attempt or intend to force you to buy two tyres, he simply reported the facts as he saw them.



He maintains he was open and honest with you in his dealings. So I have not been able to negotiate a settlement of any type on your behalf.



I have included below, some points to be aware of with complaints and how I can deal with them.