Probably not that unusual, but Glocs Live have certainly went to town a bit with this.
But that's one reason I bought a VW rather than something more obscure, particularly with new cars where there might be more of a supply issue with replacement parts (even before Covid and Brexit etc).
But as this demonstrates, it can certainly still happen even with a big brand. Of course, I know some on here don't like Vauxhalls anyway
Forest of Dean taxi-driver feared losing livelihood and home waiting for £67 car repair
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/n ... ed-7860371
Andrew Hale ended up going £10,000 into debt to buy another car because he couldn't wait any longer
Gloucestershire Live
Taxi-driver Andrew Hale says he nearly lost his livelihood and his home after being forced to wait for a small car part worth just £67 from Vauxhall. The one man band said he is thousands of pounds out of pocket after his Vauxhall Insignia was taken off the road for what he was told would be a simple repair job.
A series of false promises about when the small part would arrive made matters worse because he kept taking bookings and then having to try and make sure he did not let his customers down. Fearing he was about to lose his reputation, his business and his home he eventually borrowed £10,000 to buy and licence another car which conformed to the strict regulations.
Days after Gloucestershire Live contacted Vauxhall HQ to ask what was going on, the Vauxhall dealership rang up the Cinderford- based driver to say it had been done and he could collect his taxi. But he is still angry about the seven week saga and says it caused him so much stress and cost him thousands of pounds in lost earnings.
“They said it would be a two day job but it went on and on and nobody seemed to care that it was costing me thousands and thousands of pounds,” he said. “It was crazy. I couldn’t work but I still had to find the money to pay my mortgage and all the other bills.
“I really thought I could lose everything. And for what, a tiny part? What made it worse, is that they kept telling me it would be arriving soon so I was taking bookings and then having to spend ages on the phone sorting things out so I didn’t let people down.
“I even wrote the chief executive of Vauxhall a begging letter asking for his help but there was no reply. Nothing. Customer services kept saying they would get back to me but nothing happened and all the time I was worried I was going to lose my house and my business.”
The former Dursley cobbler decided to go it alone as a taxi driver in the Forest of Dean after a family tragedy made him rethink his life. His business Hale A Ride had just started picking up after the Covid-19 pandemic when his car started playing up and he was advised he needed a small clip.
Andrew took the car to the nearest franchise, the Baylis garage in Hereford on October 3, 2022 to speed things up, and says he was initially told it would take two days to obtain the part, fix it and get him back on the road. There followed a series of broken promises which led to him paying more expensive taxi companies the difference between the two fares to take his customers so he didn't let anybody down.
He explained that a courtesy car wasn't any use because of the strict rules over taxis. After five weeks with no end in sight he was so worried about losing his school contract and reputation he went into debt to buy another car. In the end he did not pay the £67.07 bill but he is angry with Vauxhall rather than the garage about the saga.
“They kept stringing us along and giving new dates, “ he said. “I lost five weeks work and had to keep letting people down. I was begging and pleading but the garage kept ringing me up to apologise because the part had not come in.
“When I collected the car the garage seven weeks later they said it had nothing to do with the press. I just laughed because that is a a big coincidence. To be honest I don't think it was their fault, it was down to Vauxhall. "
Vauxhall confirmed Mr Hale took his vehicle in on October 3 2022 was told it required a new servo. The car giant added it apologised to Mr Hale.
It said: "The retailer awaited the part and then experienced supply issues from the part supplier, for a particular retaining clip that was needed for the repair, and the date moved back from being two days, to late October and then arrived on November 18.
"The retailer have confirmed to us that they updated Mr Hale multiple times with regards to the delay. The part was covered and fitted under parts warranty.
"Mr Hale was supplied a courtesy vehicle whilst awaiting the part but was unable to use the vehicle due to his work as a taxi driver. The delay in obtaining the part was very unfortunate and despite having done all we could to manage the situation we apologise to Mr Hale for the inconvenience caused."
