I own a Fiat Palio EL PS (2006 model). This is not a review of the car. I am sharing a bad experience I am going through for the last few weeks because of Fiat’s incompetency.
My Palio had a bad accident on 22nd July, 2010 and the next day I sent the car to Automobile Sterling (Noida) for repairs. I was told that the repairs will take 15-20 days. Though my car is insured, the insurance is not cashless and I was asked to deposit Rs. 50, 000/- as advance for the repairs. I wasn’t in favour if paying more than half of the expected bill in advance and finally settled for paying Rs. 10, 000 in advance.
Since then I have been in regular touch with Mr. Navin Kumar Gupta (the person in charge of repairs at Automobile Sterling) who assured me of timely delivery at first but then kept extending the delivery date. According to him, the required parts are not available at Fiat’s end and he is helpless.
I was first promised the delivery of the car on 16th August, then I was told that I will get my car by the 25th. Today is the 27th and according to Mr. Gupta, they still haven’t received the parts from Fiat. Now he has told me to wait for some more time but is unable to specify for how long.
My car is lying at Automobile Sterling for 36 days and the work has not even started as yet.
In absence of my car I am spending a good amount on taxi fare for my daily commuting. Why do I have to bear the cost of Fiat’s incompetency? Who will compensate me for the inconvenience I am going through?
I was thinking of upgrading my Palio with a Punto but after this horrendous experience I’m going to stay far away from Fiat cars and will recommend the same to everybody who reads this review.