HM Service Centre Woes All these days I had been hearing about HM's poor A.S.S but never experienced it first-hand. Now that I purchased a second-hand Lancer, I got the red carpet treatment.
I'm going to get some mods done to my car alongwith an overhaul of the engine, brakes, suspension and anything else that merits it. I needed some basic running repairs done by HM's authorized workshop, Shah Automobiles before I get the mods done elsewhere. These were:
1. Fix the door hinges, which were rattling
2. Take care of a droning sound that was coming from the wheels
3. Tighten the front seats
4. Paint the dashboard which had become dull and scuffed after 7 years.
The only reason I chose HM to do #4 was that it involved opening & refitting the dash, which I wasn't too keen on getting done from outside. To make sure there was no misunderstanding, I even took my laptop and showed them the exact colour-scheme that I wanted.
They promised me the car within 4 days. Eventually, they returned the car a day late.
The only thing they had fixed was #2, which needed a wheel bearing change. Cost me a pretty penny, but I knew Mistubishi parts were expensive.
The rest of the things, however, were another sorry story.
All 8 hinges (2 per door) had been changed, but all the doors continued to make noises while opening/closing. The front seats were still wobbly.
The dash paintjob was the most disappointing. I had asked for a matt black - light grey combo, but they made the black so dark & shiny, and the grey so light, that the interiors resembled a chess board. The finishing was also poor, with over-running colours at the edges and dark smudges on the lighter (grey) trim.
In addition to these, the dash rattled, there was increased wind-noise in the car with the windows up, the right seat belt cap was missing and they had cracked the cover of one of the alloys.
And the best part is I was charged 18.1k for the job, which resulted in me having more problems after, than I had before the service.
I returned the car the next day, and told them to clean up their act and rectify these issues. I was promised it would be done, and that the car would be ready by the weekend (it was Wed morning then).
Friday came, but there was no sign of any progress... they guaranteed the car on Monday (today). Went there today, and was informed that the dash painting hadn't even started - apparently the painter was absent for the last 4 days (wonder how I had seen him on Friday then!!).
The car is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. It has been a frustrating and disappointing experience with these guys, and the worst part is.. they are supposed to be the better of the two A.S.S centres in Kolkata!
I will post some updates on this thread. I hope I get my car in a decent condition tomorrow.
If someone else has faced this sort of plight at the hands of HM, pls add your bits here. And is there anything that can be done about it? |