Automotive Hospital

Below my story about a misdiagnosis done by Automotive Hospital, a European Car specialist, that ended up costing me big $$ and lots of time and money wasted. Automotive Hospital refuses to take responsibility and/or issue a refund. Read on for the detailed timeline:



3/3/2024; the stereo/sound system for my 2017 Volkswagen Golf Wagon stopped working.



13/3/2024; local mechanic/electrician made assessment: it was potentially an issue with the head unit. They advised me to take it to a Euro car specialist for assessment to make sure.



14/3/2024; Automotive Hospital diagnosed the sound system; cost: $220. Diagnosis: faulty head unit. Suggested remedy: replace that unit. Quote to be provided.



19/3/2024; no quote received, followed up with Automotive Hospital. Quote to be received shortly. 



27/3/2024; still no quote received. They advised that it must have gotten lost somewhere and would come back to me ASAP. Quote never received.



28/3/2024; on strength of original diagnosis from Automotive Hospital I bought a second-hand head unit from European car wrecking specialist, cost: $381.15. 



29/3/2024; local mechanic/electrician replaced unit that Automotive Hospital diagnosed as faulty and installed/coded 2nd hand unit cost: $50. Result: stereo/sound system still did not work. Original head unit put back in place.



15/5/2024; return to Automotive Hospital to re-check the original diagnosis. Their advice: the replacement head unit I bought must have been faulty. 



20/5/2024; returned the replacement unit to wreckers and received another replacement unit.



30/5/2024; (2nd) replacement unit installed in the car; result: stereo/sound system still did not work. 



12/6/2024; Took the car to a Volkswagen dealer to have the stereo/sound system tested; cost $190. They advised that the head unit was not faulty; the problem was with a faulty F5 control unit instead.



13//6/2024; I bought a 2nd hand control unit from an interstate wrecker; cost: $310. 



17/6/2024; 2nd hand control unit was installed and coded by my local mechanic/electrician. The original head unit, deemed faulty by Automotive Hospital, now worked perfectly. 



26/6/2024; I went back to Automotive Hospital to ask for a refund as they clearly made a misdiagnosis. They advised they would not issue a refund accepting no responsibility for the fact that the head unit. They diagnosed as faulty, was not faulty at all. 



Why am I writing this: I am extremely disappointed that a business, purporting themselves to be ‘upstanding’, took no responsibility for me being out of pocket to the tune of $651.15 being; the original diagnosis from Automotive Hospital - $220, the cost of the replacement head unit - $381.15, and the cost of fitting the replacement unit - $50, plus oodles of time wasted all because Automotive Hospital issued an initial incorrect diagnosis and subsequently repeated that misdiagnosis.



The least I would have expected is the refund of $220 (their invoice) and an apology. May this factual statement be a lesson for all: this business accepts no responsibility for their faulty actions. Be aware if you take your car there!