how does that saying go... the devil your know vs the devil you dont.
Car purchase gone wrong…. No.2
- Thread starter wingman
- Start date
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
RTFT versus not RTFT
what does Right To Fair Trade have anything to do with this?
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
As much as Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks
No update or response from the garage since they collected today.
Probably a £15k car..
Probably a £15k car..
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(had to fix a washer problem today 2000's 3 series - during freeze the -15C eurocarparts concentrate decided to breakdown with a level of slime on the surface of washer bottle,
got that snot out with a paint brush, then had to lever out and disconnect both jets for pump to blow out the slime in the jet piping, and syringe both jets )
got that snot out with a paint brush, then had to lever out and disconnect both jets for pump to blow out the slime in the jet piping, and syringe both jets )
Re courtesy car...
Fair enough. If it were a clapped out POS and they had the 5k X5 and your money... I wouldn't be sleeping well.
I'd be parking that courtesy car somewhere where it's blocked in and Dave can't turn up at 4am with the spare key and take it back.
I would have already taken all Diesel out of it and the new battery before they took it back just in case you never see it again and end up in court. These people just can't be trusted. You have to take all precautions and treat them as see you next Tuesdays.
Fair enough. If it were a clapped out POS and they had the 5k X5 and your money... I wouldn't be sleeping well.
I'd be parking that courtesy car somewhere where it's blocked in and Dave can't turn up at 4am with the spare key and take it back.
I would have already taken all Diesel out of it and the new battery before they took it back just in case you never see it again and end up in court. These people just can't be trusted. You have to take all precautions and treat them as see you next Tuesdays.
I had a problem with my Corsa about 2 days before the MOT, the washer jets weren't releasing any water. Turns out mixing types of screenwash can cause this kind of breakdown in the bottle causing them to clog the washers.
Popped a few steradent tablets in there and a few hours later they started working again.
I had removed bottle/bottle-brushed it, and flushed system with water and disinfectant before switching to current washer brand, so was surprised to see it's breakdown,
also removed fragile BMW non-return valves near nozzles that are particularly liable to clogging - steradents a good idea.
Re courtesy car...
Fair enough. If it were a clapped out POS and they had the 5k X5 and your money... I wouldn't be sleeping well.
I'd be parking that courtesy car somewhere where it's blocked in and Dave can't turn up at 4am with the spare key and take it back.
I would have already taken all Diesel out of it and the new battery before they took it back just in case you never see it again and end up in court. These people just can't be trusted. You have to take all precautions and treat them as see you next Tuesdays.
I appreciate what you're saying and I've dealt with some dealers who I'd very much exercise this caution on, but they don't strike me as that sort of setup.
Are they similar to other dealers in being utterly difficult to work with on after sales? 100%, and am I put off by this £1 per mile debacle, again 100%, but their staff, premises, long standing business, and other motors lead me to believe that they wouldn't pull a stunt like the above.
With that said, still haven't heard anything for 24 hours now, it's been three days, five or six phone calls, and three e-mails, and I've still no idea what their plan is.
I keep thinking just start a Money Claim online and take it from there to get things moving but not sure if that's me being too hot headed.
I think you should get some professional advice,
An MCO (money claim online) is probably the best way, but you might want to speak to somebody before you do it.
You really need to know what your position is legally here, nobody on here can tell you what it is, and/or exactly what you should do or not do.
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
Too hot. I'd suggest sending them a special delivery letter but RM is screwed.
We're now on day 4 of them having the car with no update whatsoever, and no response to my e-mails.
Losing patience now.
I'm clutching at straws here but one thing I'd bear in mind is the time of year. Maybe people are off sick or on leave etc.
At least you have a courtesy car. I think you do need to give them a reasonable amount of time also.
Maybe see how things are by the end of first week of Jan?
When you issue the MCOL thing I think you need to give them 14 days to reply to your first letter (letter of intent I think). So, using that as a sort of guide, giving them at least 7 days plus Christmas break etc seems reasonable for pre-MCOL patience.
Remember you're going to be low priority for the garage.
Leaving it a little longer will allow you to say, "you've had the car for X days and have not provided any updates which leaves me with no other option" etc.
If it does go to court you can then say this is you being reasonable. I don't think 4 days ticks the reasonable box unfortunately, especially as they gave you a courtesy car. The courtesy car is quite a good thing from their perspective, and for the judge (guessing here) it does show that the garage have been reasonable also. Garage could (probably will) have some good excuses lined up for not replying to you, truthful or not, it doesn't really matter, unfortunately.
This is really where your timeline log of events really helps and is critical - from first breakdown through to letter issued as part of MCOL claim.
At least you have a courtesy car. I think you do need to give them a reasonable amount of time also.
Maybe see how things are by the end of first week of Jan?
When you issue the MCOL thing I think you need to give them 14 days to reply to your first letter (letter of intent I think). So, using that as a sort of guide, giving them at least 7 days plus Christmas break etc seems reasonable for pre-MCOL patience.
Remember you're going to be low priority for the garage.
Leaving it a little longer will allow you to say, "you've had the car for X days and have not provided any updates which leaves me with no other option" etc.
If it does go to court you can then say this is you being reasonable. I don't think 4 days ticks the reasonable box unfortunately, especially as they gave you a courtesy car. The courtesy car is quite a good thing from their perspective, and for the judge (guessing here) it does show that the garage have been reasonable also. Garage could (probably will) have some good excuses lined up for not replying to you, truthful or not, it doesn't really matter, unfortunately.
This is really where your timeline log of events really helps and is critical - from first breakdown through to letter issued as part of MCOL claim.
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Like Sigma says there's little chance you'll hear anything until Jan now.
I went through my insurance for some front end damage on Wednesday 14th, all pictures/info provided by the close of business and the company called me this Tuesday and basically said "We've heard nothing from any of the body shops and I wouldn't hold your breath until Jan".
I went through my insurance for some front end damage on Wednesday 14th, all pictures/info provided by the close of business and the company called me this Tuesday and basically said "We've heard nothing from any of the body shops and I wouldn't hold your breath until Jan".
Regarding time frames the other thing I'd add is to be prepared for small claims to take at least 6 months I reckon, maybe even longer if COVID backlogs are still there.
I'm guessing once you send that letter they will change tune and want the courtesy car back also. Something to bear in mind.
I'm guessing once you send that letter they will change tune and want the courtesy car back also. Something to bear in mind.
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Fair points gents, I'll hold off doing anything now until the first week of Jan as, as you say, makes it look like I'm being reasonable.
Agreed, once it's sent it can't be unsent; I clearly don't wish for it to get nasty.
Agreed, once it's sent it can't be unsent; I clearly don't wish for it to get nasty.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 21 Nov 2004
- Posts
- 47,223
Yup, as others have said, most car garages just shut up shop now until early January. You don’t want to get their backs up unnecessarily, regardless of how frustrating it must be.
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So they’ve just called me, they’ve not started anything on the car yet, they said it’s a massive shame I won’t let them fix it but I said I’ve lost confidence in the vehicle. They then went onto say fine, you’ve done 743 miles and we’re legally allowed to charge you £1 per mile, I advised him that he should know that’s not legal at this point, at which point they said that it very much was (and getting very stern).
The conversation ended with them saying they’ll be getting their legal team in touch with me, which I don’t quite understand what they’re suggesting since I’ve not done anything yet
Merry Christmas haha
The conversation ended with them saying they’ll be getting their legal team in touch with me, which I don’t quite understand what they’re suggesting since I’ve not done anything yet
Merry Christmas haha
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