Corrupted VW Cluster - Key Coding at Barons
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:30 pm
Hi all
I am at a stale mate with VW Barons at the moment and I'm looking for guidance. Here is my story.
I have a VW 2010 Polo (polo 6) 1.6TDi (I am the second owner).
Earlier this year I lost my key for the car while I was at work, and at the time this was the only key for my car.
Naturally, I called a locksmith to find out if they could sort me out.
The locksmith sorted me out with a new key within the day and also asked if I would like to remove the lost key from the system - I said yes as I didn't want somebody random who maybe picked up the lost key to gain access to my car. My lost key eventually was then found at work a week later.
A couple of months go by and I take my car for a standard service at Barons, I also requested Barons to code the 'lost' key. They say sure thing and go ahead with the service and do whatever they do with the cars that need work to be done.
Later in the day, the paw paw hits the fan.
Barons informed me that during their key coding process, my cluster was corrupted of sorts. They then asked if both of keys were obtained other than through them. I said yes, for the new key the locksmith sorted me out. I also told them that the 'lost' key (the one I needed to be coded) as far as I know is original (I got this key with the car when I purchased it through a dealer - Westvaal).
Barons said that both of these keys are unoriginal keys and as a result my cluster is corrupted. Also, they can only know if the keys are unoriginal when they perform the coding process.
I was given two choices: 1) Get 2 new keys through them at an expensive and 2+ days or 2) Get the locksmith to sort it out from my experience was quick.
I opted for option 2 as it's the cheaper and the quicker option. Barons said that they will tow the car there and get the locksmith to sort it out.
The locksmith luckily had a backup of the software for my cluster, reload it up and sorted out the new key with a new chip. The locksmith didn't sort out the 'lost' key. Basically the car is back in the same state I took it to Barons.
I get a call from Barons to say my car is ready for collection. I arrive at Barons and find out that my car is still at the locksmith as the locksmith is not releasing the car because he hasn't been paid. Barons tell me that I must pay for the service and then I must go to the locksmith to collect my car and then pay the locksmith.
Barons believe that I should pay for the locksmith work because It was may fault because I didn't disclose that they keys are non-original.
I believe Barons should pay because I am not aware of any of these issues/risks as I am basically a layman and Barons didn't disclose these risks. Obviously if I knew the risks, I wouldn't request the coding to be done by Barons. I don't know the difference between an original key and non-original key and the risks they oppose - I am not the expert here, Barons however are!
I am currently going to take this issue up with the Dealer Principal.
Any advice out there? Am I being unreasonable, I don't think the liability solely rests on me?
I am at a stale mate with VW Barons at the moment and I'm looking for guidance. Here is my story.
I have a VW 2010 Polo (polo 6) 1.6TDi (I am the second owner).
Earlier this year I lost my key for the car while I was at work, and at the time this was the only key for my car.
Naturally, I called a locksmith to find out if they could sort me out.
The locksmith sorted me out with a new key within the day and also asked if I would like to remove the lost key from the system - I said yes as I didn't want somebody random who maybe picked up the lost key to gain access to my car. My lost key eventually was then found at work a week later.
A couple of months go by and I take my car for a standard service at Barons, I also requested Barons to code the 'lost' key. They say sure thing and go ahead with the service and do whatever they do with the cars that need work to be done.
Later in the day, the paw paw hits the fan.
Barons informed me that during their key coding process, my cluster was corrupted of sorts. They then asked if both of keys were obtained other than through them. I said yes, for the new key the locksmith sorted me out. I also told them that the 'lost' key (the one I needed to be coded) as far as I know is original (I got this key with the car when I purchased it through a dealer - Westvaal).
Barons said that both of these keys are unoriginal keys and as a result my cluster is corrupted. Also, they can only know if the keys are unoriginal when they perform the coding process.
I was given two choices: 1) Get 2 new keys through them at an expensive and 2+ days or 2) Get the locksmith to sort it out from my experience was quick.
I opted for option 2 as it's the cheaper and the quicker option. Barons said that they will tow the car there and get the locksmith to sort it out.
The locksmith luckily had a backup of the software for my cluster, reload it up and sorted out the new key with a new chip. The locksmith didn't sort out the 'lost' key. Basically the car is back in the same state I took it to Barons.
I get a call from Barons to say my car is ready for collection. I arrive at Barons and find out that my car is still at the locksmith as the locksmith is not releasing the car because he hasn't been paid. Barons tell me that I must pay for the service and then I must go to the locksmith to collect my car and then pay the locksmith.
Barons believe that I should pay for the locksmith work because It was may fault because I didn't disclose that they keys are non-original.
I believe Barons should pay because I am not aware of any of these issues/risks as I am basically a layman and Barons didn't disclose these risks. Obviously if I knew the risks, I wouldn't request the coding to be done by Barons. I don't know the difference between an original key and non-original key and the risks they oppose - I am not the expert here, Barons however are!
I am currently going to take this issue up with the Dealer Principal.
Any advice out there? Am I being unreasonable, I don't think the liability solely rests on me?