Hi,
Thank you for…read moreyour phone call from this morning, April 30th, 2026.
I postponed my review for this service experience, since I wanted to be sure that my car is driving well and it is responsive the way I like it to be. It is my safety on the line and it was more important for me to monitor my car than writing a review for the company's statistics.
Additionally, I wanted to be totally convinced that the time between my previous service in November 10th, 2025, and the one on April 20th, 2026, healed the wounds I've gotten back then, in November.
I will explain.
In November 10th, 2025, I came to my appointment for a regular maintenance and tires switch from summer to winter, as I always do. I had a list of requests, because I know my car, and I take care of it. It is my safety. I was received by Rebecca who is still working at the service department, and I wasn't treated with much respect. I guess that it is unusual that a woman understands much when it comes to cars, while she is not a technician (mechanic), but in a complete different field. Although Rebecca is a woman, but working in a men's world, she did not treat another woman (me) with the necessary respect for a human being of the same gender. It was her body language and the tone of her voice that projected the lack of respect. After the maintenance was done, I was informed that the burned bulb that needed replacement wasn't in stock, and when I asked how much would cost to be replaced, I got a price that triggered a reaction on my side, as following: "Forget it!". However, minutes after, I realized that I have to change the bulb whatever the cost would be. Again, it is my safety! So, I went back to Rebecca and I told her that I want to change the bulb, I asked her how long it will take to get it into the service department, and I was told that it will take about 2 days. Rebecca and I laughed and I told her to call me. I guess that I was happy that the car was ready for the winter, excepting for the bulb, and glad that the bulb will be replaced in two days, and so I laughed on my way out.
Long story short, two days became four months, until another bulb burnt and I needed to get an appointment to change it. Then I came back to Volvo Service Dept. for an appointment. Rebecca was sited at the same desk, oblivious. She never remembered that I was there and she was supposed to call me for the burned bulb. I mentioned that I was supposed to be called, mentioning that as a client, Volvo needs to take care of me, and not me "running" after Volvo and pursuing the company, because the bulb wasn't in stock. Overall, when we talk bulbs, or any other parts of a car, we talk safety. A car is a machine and it needs to be taken care of, for our own sake and others safety. I am European and we do take care of our stuff. We fix it and we love it. We do not throw the car and buy a new one, just because of a bit of rust (as an example). This is the North American style, unfortunately.
I had a Saab for 15 years and I took care of her and I loved her for the safety she provided me with (like Volvo, by the way), until the company disappeared from this planet.
Nevertheless, I came back for my spring service and I was treated well. The same Rebecca, but very respectful. She took care of me the way it should be. She called me when it was necessary, she helped me purchase new rims for my new winter tires, I was offered the help and I took it, and she called me when the time to make my payment came. Then, being treated like this, with respect and consideration, I feel that my wounds caused last November, healed. It is not only the time that heals wounds, as the proverb says, but the attitude of people that we come in contact with.
I am completely satisfied with the service this time and I know that the Service Department at Volvo Carling is my place to go when I need it. I hope to be always treated with respect when I enter the men's world, the Service Department at Carling Volvo, regardless which gender is sitting at the desk, as I was well respected at the Collision Centre, when I was their client for my rust fix.
If you have any comments, I would like to hear from you.
Thank you,
Josette