Running Rough and terrible service

I've read many comments about poor service on these forums, but always assumed people exagerrate their problems and make something out of nothing. My experience this week has made me rethink this. I will explain.

Monday 8th Jan 10 am - Went to the local town to pick up some school stuff for my lad. Halfway to town the car started running rough (intermittently) and shortly after I lost so much power I had a top speed of 40mph with my foor flat on the floor. Managed to get home (slowly) and tried again at lunch time. The car then ran fine. Note that no warning lights had come on at all.

Monday 8th Jan 3pm - Car was 1/4 full of fuel but I knew I had a trip on Tuesday so I filled up with diesel, then drove to school to pick up my lad. Car was going like a bomb. Halfway home the car started running like a dog again, and this time I was restricted to 20mph going up hill ( I was even passed by a high speed Fendt tractor!)

Got home and decided to ring VW assistance. No problem they were with me in 1 1/2 hours. They subbed to AA, who subbed to the local recovery people. Recovery driver clearly wasnt even going to attempt to fix the car, so rang his head office who told him to haul it to Silver Street Motors in Taunton. This done I rang garage on Tuesday am to see what was happening. They said they hadnt looked at it, but would later. This went on to Wednesday, when I made a surprise visit to SSM who still hadnt looked at the car. They have one mechanic authorised to look at car who the said was away til Monday, so they said they would look then. I was then told that if I want the loan car any longer I had to pay for it!! (because I have the car on Contract hire!!)

Spoke to VW assistance who extended the loan for one day, and I have paid for it for the weekend!!!

Having made a fuss the car was moved to Heritage in Bristol on Thursday, but again the car wasnt looked at until Friday 4pm. Mechanic told me on Saturday they think the car has petrol in it not diesel. i had no receipt for the diesel (bear in mind the fault began before I filled up!!) so I was stuffed. He then said they werent doing anything until Monday, when they would sample the fuel (not yet done for some reason). He said if this was the problem then I would have it back on Monday pm.

However, today I have obtained a copy of my fuel receipt which shows ?70 worth of DIESEL! Chuffed to bits cos I was thinking I had had a senior moment.

Has anyone had similar running problems? I feel there is something major wrong and they are trying to blame the fuel in order to cover for it. Call me cynical. There is definitely not petrol in the fuel - I am 100% sure of that.

The service I have had from the following; Silver Street Motors, VW Assistance and Heritage has been nothing short of scandalous. They have treated me like the dirt off their shoe. Is this a contract hire issue - though I feel to see why it should be!

Any comments would be welcomed, sorry to go on about it for so long!