I'm hoping that there is someone out there who has experienced a similar problem because im unsure how to go about dealing with Vauxhall again after so many heated arguements via phone and in person.

I own a Vauxhall Astra 1.6sxi 02 plate and i purchased it in dec 07 from and independant seller. I did not receive a manual with the car but didnt see it as a problem at the time. My trouble started last yr when my battery died when we had heavy snow in late january. My radio reset itself and needed a code for it to work again. I was told that the code was in the manual for the car. Doh. Anyway i phoned my local vauxhall dealer and got through to the operator that told me to bring my car to the vauxhall parts dept/dealer and there i would be able to get the code, he told me it would cost around £20. When i took the car to the dealer they told me it would cost £25 to obtain the radios serial number(in other word take the radio off and read a few numbers!!!) and a further £25 to get the code from the Vauxhall part dept.! was not happy that i had 1. had to dish out £50 and 2. been miss-informed! Anyway i complained about not being told the whole process and i only had to pay for the code. Job done, a week later i took my car back in and a mechanic entered the code into my radio. I wrote the code on my reciept and store it in my phone.

Sorry not done yet... in August my battery died again.
So i got instuctions from the internet of how to reset the radio... bam you guessed it the code didnt work. Now i have gone over and over this. I wrote down THE RIGHT CODE. theres no question of that. So my next move was to phone Vauxhall, i was told very rudely that i would have to pay out again for a new code, and when i asked dont they have a record of what 'work' was done on my car i was told no they dont keep any record of the work done on cars. I find that very hard to believe. i have my reciept and there, clear as day is a detailed description of work carried out, bar the code of course!

I phoned back a few days later and spoke to someone different and was out right accused of trying to obtain a code that i have never paid for. He said 'how do i know you are not lying just to get a code for free?', i told him i would happily come down there with my receipt. The phone went dead.

I know i could go and buy a new car stereo and be done with it but its the principle that matters to me and also as the code is in the manual its my code by rights, not to have to pay for.

I feel because i am female i have been treated as an idiot. True i dont know the ins and outs of car dealers and what to ask for, what to say etc.

I know its a long winded complaint but if anyone can help canyou please email me @ [email protected] i would be greatful.