DGW

DGW

Originally posted by Ross Clarke - Wed Dec 15, 2004

Pros: Brand new building, keen staff.
Cons: Can be tricky to find

New dealer situated in Milton Keynes, been open for a few months. Skoda technicians have long term VAG experiance, one being a Skoda master tech (well me ).


Now carrying out free winter checks for your car.

DGW

Originally posted by Tayman - Tue Dec 21, 2004

I am pleased to be able to say that I am a happy Pillings customer!


I was recently invited to do some test driving, after getting a phone call from pillings in response to completing the info request form on the Skoda web site.


Having already test driven both the Fabia and Octavia vRS, I jumped at the chance to have a second go...


and it confirmed it for me, I just had to have a Skoda, as did my wife!


We got (what I beleive to be) a stunning deal on a brand new Octavia vRS and Fabia vRS!


the only downside, was that I was told I'd have to wait until Feb 2005 for my Octavia... I was however utterly impressed to get a phonecall the other day telling me it had arrived and was waiting for me when ever I want to pick it up!


Service has been great, the Fabia had a paint chip on arrival, and the guys sorted that without hesitation... we are however still waiting for the replacement rear vRS badge which is broken, but I'm told that will be sorted soon...


I guess time will tell if the standard of service will be maintained to our high expectations, to match the levels already shown!

DGW

Originally posted by plumsoul - Thu Apr 7, 2005

Pros: Polite, friendly
Cons: Not enough seats in showroom

Took Octy in for first 20k service (17,800k). Arrived for 8.30am and waited to avoid hassle of getting someone to come with me to drive me back again. Lady on reception pointed me in direction of nearby Morrison's for a full English b/fast @ £3.50 or a Roast dinner for £2.99 - bit early for me though. Plenty of shops in walking disatance to while away the time.
Said it would take couple of hours and it was done by 10am.
Notes on service sheet said how much wear on tyres so far and that wipers starting to smear-that's all.
£264 incl VATseems dear for a service but nothing spent in 20months till now apart from some oil so not bad really.


On a previous visit to get noisy cold start checked out, got lost and phoned garage for directions. A Lady very skillfully directed us there with clear instructions that even my wife could understand

DGW

Originally posted by Bagheera - Fri May 13, 2005

Pros: Polite and very helpful

Raised query on review form after service. Received very nice voice message from them to discuss query. Called back and spoke to Linda who fully answered my query and left me very happy with their service. Nice to see a dealer who cares for the customer after the sale.

DGW

Originally posted by mpopevrs - Tue Jul 26, 2005

Pros: Friendly and efficient.

Took my Fabia vRS into Pilling for it's first service (10,000), the car went in at 08.30 and I was telephoned to say it was ready at about 13.30, along time maybe, but I had been asked if I had any preference for when the car was to be returned, but I hadn't so time didn't matter. Recepetion were very friendly, I booked and was sent email confirmation, and then even when I changed the date and decided I didn't want a hire car for the day they were very accomodating. No problems with the car, helpful report given and cleaned inside and out!

flatfourburble

Pros: Friendly, helpful A1 service
Cons: None aprt from the distance I guess but it's worth it

I've had both my 20k and 30k service done there now, both times all work is carried out to a very high standard and staff friendly.

Today I went to have some warrenty work done after the parts were order on it's 30k service. Again Linda gave me a warm and friendly welcome, booked the car in right away and went through what had to be done. Went and had some breakfast and by the time I had come back the car was ready.

Big Thank you to Ross, Linda and the chap who washed my car, who may I add done a wonderful job as it was diiiirty!

10/10 to Pilling Skoda I would recommend you to all.

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Oh to have the internet back..................oh have I missed it

plumsoul

Took Octy vrs in for a small warranty job. Completed in less than an hour - very efficient. Handy there's a small shopping precinct next door, Morrisons for a cuppa etc.

Test drove new octy vrs while I was there.

derek

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Derek

Blanes

Yep, would agree - the guy in parts reception is a star -

Ordered various bits for my octy and all come in on time and I get a nice phonecall too.

I find Pilling is so much friendlier than a certain Aylesbury car dealer which I wont mention the name of.

- Went to buy a fabia VRs ex demo for 11,000 but salesman (at Aylesbury) was so rude (bald headed guy) and unhelpful that I drove well out of my way and went back to Pilling instead. Ahh well, his loss!......... and no commission for him

mb1rgw

If I'd read the comments more carefully maybe I'd have avoided them, as it seems that no-one who has commented has taken an older vehicle to them. They seem fine for warranty repairs/free services under 3 years, but my experience with my V-reg 1999 Octavia leaves something to be desired.

Some background. I used to work in Oxford, and used Jewson Skoda there, without obvious cause for complaint. But I'm not currently working, and as I needed to make a trip to MK anyway, I thought I'd give Pillings a try on the back of the comments here.

The car was due an oil change service (130k), but the main issue was to get the driver's electric window fixed. It died the night before we went on holiday (fell into the door body and wouldn't come out), so we had an emergency callout to fix it up - it has been wedged shut since. The aircon also needed checking since it was no longer very effective in hot weather.

I explained this on the phone when making the booking, and also asked whether a reasonably prompt service would be possibly if I arrived at around 10.30, since they had no courtesy cars available that day. I received positive noises in reply.

[BTW their "courtesy" cars cost £15+VAT per day - not very courteous in my book]

So I arrived at around 10.30. Nothing was even started until around midday. Things were finally "finished" by around 3. As already noted there is not much to do nearby, so that was a joyous 4-5 hours

And then I find that:

Drivers window was not fixed - they didn't have the part.
Aircon "seemed to be blowing cold" so they hadn't bothered checking/recharging the gas.

BUT they had done an extensive check of every minor system, presumably to try to drum up business for themselves (nearly £1000 worth according to their estimate).

One of the faults they found was a leaking sump. OK, that needs fixing. Had they phoned me on my mobile to ask if I wanted that done there and then? No. They had just left it, and gone ahead with the oil change.

WTF?? What is the point in doing an oil change if the sump needs fixing?

And how much did they charge for this? Bear in mind that what they actually did was an oil change service and very little else...

£250

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY QUID

FOR AN OIL CHANGE SERVICE

WITHOUT ACTUALLY FIXING THE FAULTS I WANTED FIXED

I'm afraid I didn't entirely control my temper. They had some people in the showroom negotiating a purchase, and I will be very pleased if I've put them off.

Maybe I should have refused to pay. Certainly I was very close to it.

I would advise anyone who is actually going to be paying for the work done on their car to avoid Pillings-MK like the plague. Their work may or may not be of good quality, but they are rip-off merchants of the highest order.

roob

PS They even charged me £15 for a litre of oil they said they'd put in the car, but hadn't. Makes sense, doesn't it, do an oil change but leave a hole it'll all leak out of. So charge some extra cash for oil to top it up with. Genius.

Maggle

I have recently had an 'episode' with Pilling's. Took my car to them to get the jammed rear door and inoperative parking sensors fixed. To cut a very long story short, it took 6 visits to get it sorted and during the 3rd visit my car got damaged which resulted in dent removal and a partial respray.

HOWEVER, the staff were very friendly, polite and professional and recognising the complete mess they had made of dealing with the problems waived the bill entirely.

I have used them on numerous occasions for warranty work and servicing and found them to be generally okay. I do object to paying for a courtesy car though! You'd have thought that was covered in their very high labour charges already.

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Superb 1.8T - Black Magic - Uprated brakes (EBC)

wja96

Booked my 18-month old Fabia in for it's 50K service under the Skoda planned maintenance programme. They collected it, serviced it, washed & vacuumed it, then dropped it back to me. Then they phoned me up and told it would have to go back to have the wheel bearing replaced in 10 days time. Pretty standard stuff from a garage you might think, but actually pretty uncommon these days. Full marks from me.

wja96

For various reasons I've needed bits for my Fabia - the little trim piece that goes over the double-DIN stereo, the centres off a set of alloys, the detachable bit off a cigarette lighter and Pillings are the only dealer I phoned who always had the bit. Either they are psychic, or they stock more parts than other Skoda dealers. Full marks. The Parts Manager looks like he could pacify Iraq with one look though