Ford

I actually don't know if I have the energy to write this but I will find it. If it helps prevent anyone else going to this company to buy a car it will be worth it.

Went into the showroom mid August with a view to buying a Smart Roadster Coupe 80 which was in one of their branches in Yorkshire. I asked if it was possible to source it for me! Oh yes was the answer, no problem, went through some initial details and found out that I was going to be paying £250 to bring it up from Yorkshire. I said to them, what if I don't like the car and was told I had to take it. I then said that I would rather pay the £250 for it to be sent back again and couldn't understand why I had to take a car if I didn't like it.
Anyway, decided to go for it and was trading in my Vauxhall Astra, 56 plate, mechanically sound, a couple of tiny scratches due to people opening their door against my car. Was told it was worth £2000 - I really hoped for a lot more than that and would have like at least £3000 - one of the senior sales persons came out and scoffed at me telling me my car was worth no more than £2000 - I accepted that thinking it was probably right, trusted them (ha ha - how stupid was I) . Started going through the process on the system and the bully tactics started with the extended warranty £300, wanted me to pay for the HP check £98, lots of other things but I stood my ground and had them all taken off. I then paid £250 deposit, also they added in the £250 for me to pay to bring the car up from Yorkshire.

I signed all the paperwork for the part finance (Northridge Finance, based in Northern Ireland). Was told the car would be up from Yorkshire and then ready for me to uplift at the end of the following week. The end of the following week came - no car - hold up with the finance company, they haven't released the funds, they then had me rushing out to get the 7 day insurance cover with Ford in order that they could get the car tax! Told them I had my own car insurance and could use that to get the tax. No - I had to get this cover through Ford! I did this as I was supposed to then get the car the next day. Next day came - as usual, no phone call from them and no car. Went in and the senior sales person looked a tad sweaty as I had turned up. I accepted I wasn't getting the vehicle - they let me look at it but I was never offered a test drive - hindsight a wonderful thing.
Another week came and went - problem with the finance company next and wrong paperwork signed - I know there was some muck up by them as the salesmen who was dealing with me was off sick - signed another bit paperwork, finally got the car on the 28th August 2011. This must have been the worst day of my life! Signed more paperwork re handing my car over - signed it saying my car I was trading in was mechanically sound and roadworthy etc etc. How I laugh at this when they can't give me the same back and now I am car less and using a courtesy car! I cringe and hate using it as they have a huge excess on it so once again I will be stuffed if anything happens.

The new car to me - 6 years old, 46000 miles on the clock, £4500 - I now have finance on this £2500 - got home and my fiance tried to get out the passenger door and couldn't - phoned the garage the next day, they took it in the following day and brought it back that night saying it couldn't be fixed and would have to arrange for it to go to Mercedes . At the end of that week got a phone call apologising but it would now be the following week it would go in, this is when I noticed a problem with the steering as well - told them I relied on car for my work as I work shifts. By the Tuesday they gave me a courtesy car and took the car - I finally got it back a week later with door fixed but the leak was not fixed at the drivers door mirror - they just put some sealer in!!! It was still leaking when I got it back and they said that the fluid levels re the steering were 'topped up' which I was surprised about. The car still leaked, the passenger door was fixed by someone in their own workshops and not Mercedes. I still heard the steering sounding grindy - thought maybe I was imagining it.
Had the car four days and driving to work on night shift the steering went!!! I got the shock of my life - felt sick at the thought of what lay ahead.

Car straight in on the Saturday morning back to Evans Halshaw for at third time, I never had a phone call for two weeks. Have now have spoken to Trading Standards who advised to get the Finance company advised, wrote a letter to the Dealer Principle and surprise, surprise, no answer again!

Evans Halshaw have not answered any e-mails, I did get a call from them on Friday but only I believe on the back of a phone call from Raw Deal at the Sunday Post. I found the after sales manager to be patronising and I was understandably raging but remained as polite as I could under the circumstances.

They never put anything in writing, don't answer e-mails, rarely return phone calls or phone when they say

I have been in and taken a photo of my old car on the forecourt which they gave me £2000 and said it was only worth that but they are selling it for £4052 - I have all documenatation, all emails I have sent them and now I intend going in tomorrow with a print out of details from the Citizens Advice Bureau - I truly think they are trying to get my car sold so they cannot undo the deal.

This has caused so much upset to me and my family - if there is anyone else out there who is having similar problems with Evans Halshaw we have to get united on this and do something about it - the are morally wrong in what they offer people for their trade in and worse how they deal with them after they buy a car which is faulty and not fit for the purpose which it was sold!

I am angry and upset at the shoddiness of a company who treat people badly and cannot believe they get off with it and will continue to do so unless something is done

I have had comment that this is not a review - believe me, the after sales of this company is ridiculous, they do not answer e-mails, never phone you back, give you the runaround, they are liberal with the truth and underhand in how they deal with you. It is a review as I went against other peoples advice and went to this company and I am now getting my just desserts - I do not want anyone else to experience the same. They are to be avoided - and for the record I got my other car from them 4 years ago - and although my car has been good as it was an ex driving instructors car and only over a year old and I luckily had no problems with it, I can honestly say the tactics in the showroom prior to buying were just as bad - they kept me sitting for about an hour while they pretended they were waiting on a phone call which I know never occurred as I was sitting near to the three salesmen's desks. That was a stressful time too - why did I go back?? Because I saw a car that I wanted on their website and had no alternative as it was not up for sale anywhere else.

I am in touch with Trading Standards regarding this situation and much more! Won't say on here as it seems to upset some folks - to the people that it does affect I hope that you will avoid dealing with this company or at least be very careful - I also read a review from a guy who was an ex salesman who said he had read reviews on the company and couldn't believe they were that bad - he was horrified and believe me he gave lots of advice about the company