This incident happened in Montreal. I had driven our GM Montana van to Montreal to transport my daughter’s basketball team. I picked up the van from the dealership after having some service work done. After getting to Montreal there was a loud bang in the engine compartment. It ended up that after the repairs something had not been replaced correctly, and the starter was broken. I took the car to a Montreal GM dealership. They repaired the car. However, I had to rent a Van to get the team home. Then I had to drive back to Montreal to retrieve my Van.
After lodging an incident report with my Car Manufacturer’s website, I sent them a detailed description of what had transpired. I also sent a copy of my car rental charges. Low and behold, I received a call from my Dealership (and my assigned service clerk). He was almost incredulous in tone. I had not mentioned a rental, expecting payment for it. Certainly, they would have done that if I had asked.
Now if I take that at face value I am either being called:
- A liar, because I know I did mention the rental and the charges more than once.
- An idiot, because I didn't ask for proper compensation.
- A whiner, for wanting more
Call me what you want. Ishmael, if need be. They are sending me a cheque to cover my rental charges. This shows that you need to stand up for your rights. Do so if you have been wronged or you perceive you have been.
One for the good guys
💬 The Value of Persistence – A Few Reflections
There’s an old saying: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In this case, it wasn’t just noise—it was about fairness, and about not letting the issue drop. When something goes wrong, and no one steps up to fix it, the temptation may arise to just move on. You might want to avoid the hassle. But real change—and real results—often come only after you’ve followed through, sometimes more than once.
Persistence isn't about being rude or unreasonable. It’s about being consistent, thorough, and honest in your dealings. In my case, I took the time to document what happened, to send receipts and calmly explain the impact. I didn’t yell or threaten—I just didn’t give up. That made the difference.
What struck me most was the dealership’s reaction. They may have genuinely forgotten. Alternatively, they might not have taken it seriously until it was escalated. This showed me how easy it is to be dismissed if you don’t insist on being heard. I might have been seen as a nuisance, but that’s often the price of being right.
So if you ever feel like giving up on a complaint, a refund, or a broken promise—don’t. Take a breath, gather your facts, and try again. You may find, like I did, that persistence pays. Literally.
