Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Seat Leon

Hi, Steve here, the owner of the company. Thanks for your review, this is not a bad review for us, as when everyone can read the real story, it will only show how good we are here. So here’s the real story. This car was sold 14 months ago to start us off! The gentleman came to see a 2010 seat Leon with over 100,000 miles on the clock. Not that this makes any difference, as every car and every customer gets the exact same treatment regardless of price or mileage. This gentians got the exact same treatment as everyone. We showed him and his father the car as it was brought in by us. We go round it with the customer, and any bodywork they can fault, we fix. The gentleman and his father pointed out a couple of dents and marks. We noted these down and agreed to have repaired. Every car gets a full 1 year mot, all advisories repaired, full service regardless of the previous service, and a full independent vehicle inspection fixing anything they can fault. Then all agreed bodywork is repaired professionally. This was all done, and when it was at the bodyshop, the painter noticed another little dent that the customer did not point out. Rather than just leave this as it was not agreed, I contacted the customer and asked if he would like this done, it would cost an extra £100. He informed us he did not have the money and just to leave it as he never noticed it at the time, so can’t be bad. Us being us, we got it done anyway and paid the cost ourselves at no extra costs to the customer as a thank you and goodwill. When he collected the car, he was over the moon. Added me personally on Facebook, liked the Facebook page and loved us. I tell every single customer when I sell them a car, we provide the 3 month warranty as standard. Nothing too small, any issues just call. But we also tell every customer, that even after the 3 months, call us anytime with any issues, even 2 years down the line. We will help as much as we can and bend over backwards! No time limit at all. I never heard anything from this gentleman in 14 months. He was a friend on Facebook personally, and a friend to the business page. Yesterday I receive a call from his partner. Saying the car has been endless problems and now the gearbox is faulty. I welcomed her call, said not to worry and I’m sorry she feels this way. I asked why they never called until 14 months after purchasing? I can’t help with what I don’t know. She never gave me an answer to that. I said not to worry, I will have the car collected if they can’t drive it, taken to the garage we use, inspected, priced for repair at my heavily 40% discounted trade rate and I would pay the vat also. Saving them 60% on the repair. Please not this is 14 months after the sale of a 10 year old car with knee 100,000 miles on. This was not good enough. They refused to pay the £40 to have the car collected and moved to the garage. They wanted me to pay that. After 14 months. I politely declined as I did not want to get into paying for recoveries on cars I sold 14 months ago. I did however offer to go to their home personally and drive it if it was drive able. They said it wasn’t. So I said we need to get the car to the garage. The only way is a recovery. They refused to pay for a recovery, slandered me all over Facebook, all over business pages, all over review sites, with this tainted story making me look bad. Well this is the real story. And I’m sure anyone that reads the real story will see how amazing my customer relations are, with what I offered to do. They would have saved 60% on the repair to this car. After the Facebook slandering, that may I point out, was shown to me by other customers that have all bought several cars from me and adore the way I run things. I messaged saying that all offers were now off the table, I do not get involved with slander, when I’m bending over backwards to help after 14 months. Their slander went into overdrive. So please make your own judgement on this situation. But I can assure anyone, that after 14 months, I’m the only dealer in the uk that would do what I offered to do. But you can’t please everyone I suppose. I wish them luck in the repair of their car, and I’m truly sorry they had this misfortune, but it will be without our help. And I feel this is justified. Please feel free to contact me with any further clarification on this story, as I’m happy to share all text messages and correspondence I have showing the truth. Regards Steve Walsh Owner/Director

Rab Rich in response to Seat Leon

No Steve that is complete lies you went on about how I only spent over 4K on the car you did receive £100 extra at the day of purchase as I have original receipt stating extra work was to be done and none was the biggest give away other than the dents still remaining was the car is a different shade of grey as what you sold me it as 😂 so that there is another lie there was also no mention on any dent in the floor behind the driver seat ! On top of that the amount that needed replaced on the car is unreal absolutely unreal now that’s not imaginary as again I have receipts for all work I have personally had done, I have messages for you going on about if I bought a house or even car in America am curious to what any of that has to do with my car ? I have messages of you taughting about you could have fixed it but you won’t, at this point I seriously don’t want any form of help from you, you also block anyone who has a negative review to say, your not a business man your a con artist and that there is the reason I didn’t contact you because I knew exactly the sort of person you were but my partner assumed you had a conscience however that seam not to be the case hence the reason I felt the need to warn people not to be conned by you it’s that simple and I am not going to sit here and be conned by anything you say ! I have every single message showing the extent of your help, and these will be going to the local paper to hopefully warn other people not to make the same mistake, I fixed every other issue myself so why should this be any different I will have a gearbox in a few days but if this review saves even one person falling for you lies and fake promises then it will have all been worth while

Rab from SW Automotive in response to Seat Leon

And also another lie Steve I added you two weeks ago on Facebook not right away because I did think about getting in touch and also another lie not from a single day did I like your garage fb page not once why do you think I didn’t write a review right away like I was going to that’s because I’m the morning I noticed marks dents etc if you remember I picked the car up at night when it was dark Not a mistake I will be marking again let me tell you

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Seat Leon

I guess we just have to agree to disagree. The other 2500 customers I’ve sold cars to would also disagree. The reply I put above is the exact story. Not manipulated to make either myself or the customer look better or worse. It’s the fact story. People can now make up their own mind. The fact that I offered to get the car straight to the garage we used and repaired at a fraction of the cost you will get it repaired for, and offered to contribute the 20% vat. This would save you around 60%, is a fact. And I challenge anyone to find another dealer that would offer this on a 10 year old, 100,000 miles plus car. You won’t find them. I posted this on a trade forum with over 4000 used car dealers. Not one said they would have offered what I did, and they all can’t believe I do. But good luck to you. Regards Steve Walsh Owner/Director

Rab in response to Seat Leon

Haha that’s right Steve me and everyone else is lying I guess eh you weren’t even willing to help with the tow 😂 and for anyone wanting the truth feel free to head over to my Facebook and have a wee look and some of the other people who I don’t know btw that have also been ripped off by this man, all we expected was reasonable help instead we got taunting and blame, this car we relied on to take our infant son to surgery appointments in Glasgow and Edinburgh while fixing constant issues with the car, witch you clearly see as no big deal , and that’s right you see no wrong doing with the dodgy car and issues with it ie dents paint and excessive parts being replaced including break pipes plus loads and loads and loads of other stuff witch if I hadn’t have picked up on could have resulted in serious injuries to myself my partner or any of my kids

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Seat Leon

Update to this review. Customer tried to delete the review but this is not available. Customer took us up on our original offer. So after 15 months of ownership and 21,000 miles covered. We had a brand new clutch, brand new flywheel and a reconditioned gearbox fitted for him. He had to contribute £550. This was a repair worth over £1800 after 15 months and 21,000 miles covered. This was the original offer we made when he called us before this review. We totally understand he was upset. But glad we got it sorted in the end. He now has a brand new clutch and dual mass flywheel in a car that’s now covered over 130,000 miles at a cost of £550. I hope this shows how serious we take our aftercare. No matter how long it’s been since a customer bought a car. We look after them. Any further info anyone would like on this, I’d be happy to explain further. Steve Owner/Director

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Bought a car with endless problems

Mr Foster, Thank you for your review. I would like to set this story straight. As this is mere fiction. Yes Mr Foster has problems with his car. But let’s look at what really happened. But before we start. I need to point out that reviews CANNOT be bought. Otherwise I would have 1 million of them. Google have analytics that stop any fake reviews or bought reviews. So my top 5 used car garage reputation is 100% accurate. So let’s look at what really happened. And future customers can decide. Mr Foster purchased a 11 year old Audi A4 with 83,000 miles on the clock. All my cars receive a full 1 year mot, all advisories repaired, a full independent vehicle inspection and a full service before they leave. This is done by a large independent garage with over 8 depots who we spend roughly £200,000 per year with. So no corners are cut. Mr Foster contacted me almost 1 month after taking the car away to say the exhaust has broken and the passenger rear door has stopped opening. The customer stays 50 miles from us so, so to help him out, we arranged with a depot of the garage we use to repair the car only a few miles from him. We did not have a curtesy car at that time, so did this to make life easier. The car was taken in to the garage and repaired at no cost to himself, even though we were told the exhaust was corroded but had had a knock to break it. I didn’t mind, repaired it anyways and never mentioned it. I know, how terrible of me so far. The customer collected the car from the garage local to him with no bill to pay. And was over the moon. He next contacts me 5 months later. So we are now at nearly 6 months. Saying that the car has a couple of issues. Rear light glitchy, passenger rear door not opening again, a window not going down, window wipers not working and car randomly wouldn’t start. He wasn’t happy. I never even mentioned the car was out of warranty. As this is nearly 6 months on a 11 year old Audi. No question asked, I arranged him to drop the car off and gave him a 14 plate curtesy car to use for as long as it took. Yes! A curtesy car after nearly 6 months. How terrible. We noticed as soon as we jumped in it, the car wouldn’t start. As he had advised. However this was a rather obvious problem. His rubber floor mat that wasn’t meant for the car was sliding underneath the clutch pedal. Pulled it back, and car started no problem. The car was taken to the independent garage. They replaced the window switch and the window worked, replaced the rear light bulb holders and all the lights were back perfect. They could not fault the rear door as it worked 5 times per day, every day for 1 week. They could not fault the window wipers and I personally drove the car for 20 minutes with the wipers on solid. No issue. The customer came back our curtesy car and I talked them through the car. I paid half the bill for them that was already discounted at trade pricing. Clearly evil of me. Talked them through what we had done and said that if any of the issues they could not fault happened again to just let me know and we can check again. But something has to break, to be able to fix it. They were happy. As I’m sure anyone would be with what I had done after nearly 6 months! Then a couple of week later I get a complaint asking for full refund because the customer is having to replace 1 set of discs and pads. Yes you heard correctly! 1 set of discs and pads after 6 months and probably 7000 miles! We replaced front brake pads as they were advised on the mot before it left! Advised. Just pads. Not failed. But new ones went in anyways. If this customer had came to us and said he needed discs and pads, I would have had them replaced at cost price and probably contributed AGAIN. However this customer has decided that he shouldn’t have to do any repairs to this car regardless of mileage and time for the rest of his ownership. And is now threading to slander us all over the world! Papers, reviews, trading standards, court, ombudsmen, dvsa. Wow. I have no words. I’m sorry that he is extremely upset. But more sorry I sold him the car. As if any customer told me he would like a 11 year old car with 80k miles at £30,000 less than the cost new, to run forever with zero maintenance. I certainly would not have sold him a car. I think that with all I have done to date, I have done more than 99% of used car dealers, and I’m constantly told by governing bodies that I do not have to do all I do. But I pride myself on my service. And our customers LOVE US. I do not class these types of reviews as customers. Just slander. Please do contact me with any questions in regards to Mr Foster and his car, as if I have done wrong in this, I would love to know. But for the other 99%, we will continue to go above and beyond and help out regardless of time and mileage. We regularly help customer that have issues 2-3 YEARS down the line! And they love us for it! I will not change how we work. As no1 comes close. And that’s a fact! All the best Steve Walsh Owner/Director

Thomas foster in response to Bought a car with endless problems

Hi Steve my review is fiction? Can you back this up with proof ? I can! I have every message I’ve sent and received from you from day one. First week exhaust fell off and now I’m being advised I hit something but ur a nice guy so didn’t say anything! Not that your garage missed this in the mot as the pipe structure and holding clips should be ch caked in an mot! Of course I was happy when fixed and didn’t need to pay as it was under warranty!,that part of exhaust is recessed up into the car and would have had to been other damage and if this was the case you never supplied a work order explaining it!. We contacted you several times and you’ve never replied and now I think it was to run down the warranty! I stated there was an issue from day one with window wipers and your reply was to send a text telling me how to operate them!,just because I turned up in a clapped out fiesta don’t be to arrogant to think I havnt had new cars before with automatic window wipers! Window wiper with both manual and automatic should still work when operated! You replaced light mechanism at the back and now waters coming through them. You said In the initial messages that no breaks were touched but I assume after doing your research you have now found out that new sets were installed in the front! But if this was the case why have they failed? I have every message you have ever sent please remember this and remember I can screen shot them for anyone who wishes I confirm any complaint or issue I have had and soon as the finance company see the report I hope they strike you off... I would need to be naive to assume issues don’t arise with second hand cars but when there’s been as much with this car from day one and now I see that you have just assumed the position I see with most of your bad reviews that you can’t hide an dits just blame the customer of slander!. Problem with slander is it’s it slander if everything I say is true and can prove it mr Walsh... I am not someone who has just jumped on to make a bad review for the sake to harm your business! This is an honest review from a guy in Dundee and not some competition dealership slating you to harm your business... But When you take my cash and sell me a car not fit for purpose and blame me of being at fault and delusional then you have to be some arrogant human being! your going to end up responsible aone of these days for killing a person or hurt a family. brakes fail with my kids in the car 5.5 months after being replaced....... Come on what kind of man are you really.

Tony in response to Bought a car with endless problems

I purchased a car from Steve. BMW 5 series 2006 £7,500 about 4 years ago. Endless faults. Told I wasn’t experienced enough to drive a car of that calibre. I was 24 at the time. The cars suspension arm was welded. YES welded. When hit a bump in the road the wheel folded in. On closes inspection a mechanic looked at the car and told me to come in. Steve instantly blamed me Said I had hit something and that happened. But Was refusing to accept that it was welded. I get it was second hand. And your bound to get problems. But this could’ve been a lot worse. His cars are not hand picked. They do not go through extensive checks if so the arm welded would’ve been noticed. His cars are priced through the rough. Please be careful when buying from him.

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Bought a car with endless problems

Hi, Steve here again. The owner of SW automotive. A short response to Tony’s comment. I sold Tony a car almost 5 years ago. He put a stupid set of cheap xenon Chinese bulbs in the car and melted the alternator within the first few weeks. I paid the £400 to fix that for him! What a terrible guy I am. That was not covered under warranty with ANYONE! But once again, as a goodwill and being too soft. I paid it for him and hoped he would learn not to mess with more prestige cars like bmw. Then a few months later he had a crash in the car! Called me saying the wheel had collapsed under the car. I saw the pictures and disputed it! The finance company said they would order a specialist independent court report engineer to inspect it. The finance company want the dealer to be found at fault, so we pay to have the cars repaired and keep their customers happy. However as soon as the court report engineer went out. He stated by the car had been crashed on that side and this way why the wheel had folded! Tony was clearly taking advantage of my very good nature. As do many! I’m very generous and understanding.... but I’m no fool. So yes. His claim was denied for a warranty on a crash. I’m sorry if anyone feels that is unfair. But I would not cover any crashes under warranty. However, I did fix his £400 alternative after he blew it fitting cheap Chinese xenon light kits! Think all in all I was the victim here. Being too nice once again. However I will continue to put my customers first. As you will always get the odd person wanting to take advantage. I can’t let that ruin my service for all the great customers that appreciate all I do. And most are quite frankly blown away. Please feel free to ask me for any evidence of any of these false negative reviews. Have it all saved and happy to show how much I did go above and beyond for these customers . Regards Steve Walsh Owner/Director

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to ok....to good......but not good enough

Hi Phil, Thanks for your review. I take my reviews very personally as you know, and pride myself on my service and going above and beyond. But I hold my hands up to this one. It was my mistake. Phil bought the car over the phone due to my reputation and passion. I told him how thorough I was and he was happy. We were absolutely crazy busy that month, and I was so paranoid about making sure the car was mechanically perfect and bodywork was perfect that I took my eye off the ball on the silly little things phil had asked me to do. The car was missing the parcel shelf in the boot and I said I’d make sure he had one. I totally forgot due to no other reason than having way to many cars going out and being sold for just one man (me). I did however send one straight down as soon as he made me aware. I forgot to paint the tow bar bracket black as was little corroded as they all go. But again I offered to pay to have that done with him. And I never checked the car had been thoroughly valeted before it left. Again I was just trusting it had been done by the people I pay to do it. I normally check every car before it leaves, but in this case I slipped up due to several cars going away in one day. I offered to pay for a valet to phil also. On the plus side, phil took the car to Kia main dealer, which is scary to all used car dealers selling near 10 year old cars. But phil informed me they signed it off as very very good car that had been well prepared and looked after. Mechanically perfect! I was extremely happy with that. But still very disappointed that I missed the little things I promised phil. I have genuinely learnt that the little things in preparing a car are just as important that the big things. I spend a lot of money making sure my cars are mechanically perfect, and visually perfect. But in this case for got to check the little things like a parcel shelf and a proper valet. Resulting in a 3 star review. When all I have is 5. Not offended as my fault completely and phil could have rated me 1. Thanks again. Lesson learned. No excuse. Being crazy busy is not a defence. Just causes little mistakes to be made. Even when I make mistakes, I always come through with my after service. Rectify anything regardless of cost. Apologies again and thanks for the review. On a plus side, it shows I am only human haha. Regards Steve Walsh Owner/Director