I ordered my i20 with side mouldings fitted, when it was delivered last month one of the mouldings wasn’t straight so I arranged to bring it back another day. Brought it back and it was duly done....but still wasn’t straight! Brought it back yet again and this time it was fine.

Then I got a letter from plod, my car had been clocked at 55mph in a 40mph limit. It was the time that got me, not a time I’m usually out in my car. I scratched my head about it for a few days, removed the splinters from my fingers and realised that I was sitting in the dealer’s showroom at that time and date, waiting for the moulding to be done!

I knew they had taken my car to a body shop elsewhere in the town to be done so I contacted them to confirm that the car was indeed there at that time and date, then tackled the dealer. The Police had confirmed that the picture clearly showed the driver so there could be no argument, and there wasn’t. They gave me the drivers name and address which I duly passed on to plod, and I’ve heard no more about it.

I was advised that the owner of the dealership should know about it so I tried to contact him, waited a couple of weeks for the promised return phone call but it never came. A call to Hyundai themselves resulted in a swift call back from the owner!

Now I was angry about 2 things, the first being the way they treated my car and the second was that where the mobile camera was the guy KNEW he’d been nicked but kept quiet, hoping I wouldn’t twig and so carry the can. The owner tried to play it down and I got the impression that he thought generally it was a big deal.

Needless to say I won’t be using the services of that dealer ever again, more so that since this incident they have closed that branch, opened what is basically a shop and drop off and collection point where you take the car there, THEY drive it to another branch (about 20 miles away) repair/service it then drive it back again, using your fuel!

The lesson is that you should make a note of times and dates whenever anyone else is driving your car and think twice about trusting your dealer....just in case.

A small point, but you said you're angry about it, so how do you know that your driver KNEW about the speed camera?

Actually, getting angry is a waste of time. Doesn't sound like it cost you anything. Consider yourself lucky.

I don't see a problem with the dealer having a third party do the molding work, but they should have told you and offered something for burning your fuel.

It was a mobile camera, he's there now and again, the locals know about it. You come round a bend and bang he's got you, you cant fail to see the bright yellow van, and the copper standing there with his camera on a tripod, thats why he KNEW he'd been caught.

It didnt cost me anything, I do count myself lucky, and I dont have a problem with a third party doing the work. So all that makes it ok then?

I drive for a living, the last thing I need is 3 points on my licence and £60 out of my pocket. But what the ****, I was lucky so I'll take my car back to give him another chance to stitch me up. Good dealer that.

I think it is 'once bitten twice shy' so you are right to think twice about using that dealer given you never had a return call either. I would have expected something in return for the worry and head scratching to say the least. Even a letter of apology from the driver for me would have meant something.
You could have quite easily have accepted the ticket, fine and points it if it had been near to your usual time of travel because then you may have just put it down to a lapse.

Not even a by your leave from him!

Something Ive since found out about the MD of the company is that by all accounts he's a bit of a shyster, and my dealings with him havent done much to change that from my point of view.

As I said I wont be using their services anymore. I cant find it now but I did read somewhere on the forum an article about Nationwide Autocenter servicing, it seems a very good service for a lot less than a dealer charges, might look into that when the time comes.