Car faulty after just 1 month - Help!

[birdyboy]

Hey again.

Received letter today to confirm my VT has been accepted

 

However, letter also states that I am liable for £1342.50 in repairs. If I make payment within 4 days of letter, it will be reduced by 10%. Woopee doo!

 

I have found a picture of my car on the forecourt showing 2 signs of repair before I even had it!

 

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e90/birdyboyuk/Zafira%20Pics/Zafiraforecourt.jpg

 

Bottom right of windscreen is crack. Left door mirror has a dent in it.

As you will see the car was RAC inspected.

The report states that a spare tyre was present, but when purchased it wasn't there. The garage was aware and I have an email trail that includes the following quote from them

Also I understand Richard spoke to Vx about the spare wheel and it was them who informed us that this model does not have a spare.

The report unfortunately doesn't mention the crack or door mirror so probably can't use this as proof.

 

The rest of the repairs required are 'poor repairs' to the following door panels:

Rear Door R

Front Door L

Rear Door L

Quarter Panel L

 

A couple of light scratches and a chip in the bonnet.

 

Here's an album off my car when it was last in for repair for the DPF in January.

The car may be dirty, but can anyone see any 'poor repairs' to door panels?

The car came back to me in the same condition!

 

http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e90/birdyboyuk/Zafira%20Pics/

 

Unfortunately, I have no pics later than this.

 

I guess I now need to send a letter to finance company disputing the 'repairs'.

 

Does anyone have any further advice?

 

Thanks

[birdyboy]

I have also noticed on the letter, it states:

 

From the Inspection Report that you signed to agree to the damages required and the items returned to us

 

I signed to say that I disagreed with the damages. I signed a handheld device and the guy put a D next to it, I assume to mark it as 'disagree'

[Conniff]

What make it all a total load of bulls poo is if the damage is £1342.50, how and more importantly, 'why' are they reducing it.

 

First thing would be to ask for a copy of the bill for the repairs which should show who has given the quote or done the repairs.

Edited August 20, 2011 by Conniff

[sailor sam]

Clearly the finance co will be aware of all the history on this and no doubt you still have a paper trail. You obviously know what issues were with the car when you bought it so I would list those and inform the finance co that they should take these up with the seller.

 

No way should you be paying for them.

 

Please Note

 

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

 

[birdyboy]

I now have an email prepped. Just needs looking over 1st before I send.

Sailor Sam, would you like to see a copy before I send also? You may be able to add something useful!

[sailor sam]

Feel free to PM it to me.

 

Please Note

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

 

[birdyboy]

Sorry I didn't get back to your PM Sam.

 

Well, email has been sent (24/08/11). I sent from Outlook requesting a read receipt and delivery receipt. Got none of those, so I sent again on 01/09/11, again, have yet to have a response.

I'm not going to bother chasing them up.

I have also had the refund on my car tax and I am no longer the registered keeper.

[robotrobo]

Sorry I didn't get back to your PM Sam.

 

Well, email has been sent (24/08/11). I sent from Outlook requesting a read receipt and delivery receipt. Got none of those, so I sent again on 01/09/11, again, have yet to have a response.

I'm not going to bother chasing them up.

I have also had the refund on my car tax and I am no longer the registered keeper.

 

my word birdy i have read your saga all the way through & i really feel sorry for you & really glad it was not me haveing all that trouble that you have had !, it sounds a bit selfish. i hope now you are a bit wiser on the purchase of your next car , if you can, do not go in to debt for one , my last car i bought in 2003 NEW was £13000 i have still got it with only 48,000 miles on the clock & worth no more than £2,000 , look at the money lost in depreciation!!! . but i have not spent to much on its upkeep, cambelt , brakes , tyres , yes but nothing out of the ordinary. i hope the next purchase you make is a good one a bit of good luck & a bit of self service on maintenance & try & keep away from the dealers & buy at the right price !! then you have a bit of money in reserve if you are unlucky with breakdowns.

best regards

mr bean!

Edited September 11, 2011 by robotrobo
new car in 2003

[Popeye1000]

Hi All,

 

Birdyboy i feel gutted for you, you bought this vehicle in good faith, yet someone knew the history of this vehicle yet they, didn't disclose it's history.

Why is it that finance company's can get away with chargeing over the top price's, and their garages can charge what ever they want because it say's in the contract.

 

Two finance company's told me i wasn't allowed to have an independant evualtion done on a vehicle, so i walked away.

 

Always ask for an evualtion on a vehicle if they don't allow this walk away.

[birdyboy]

Last & final update for you all!

 

Ok, after still not hearing from them, I emailed again and also sent a letter through registered post after a default had been put on my credit file.

I threatened them with FOS.

 

I received a phonecall yesterday from the finance company stating the 'repairs' have been wiped off (after looking at my photo evidence) and also the default shouldn't have been put on my file. (Some excuse about a supervisor dealing with it while the manager was on annual leave)

This is now going to be rectified and back dated to end of August.

 

So, now I can safely say,the matter is now closed!

 

Thanks again for all the help and advice given.

Unfortunately, this means that if/when I buy a car in future, my confidence in purchasing one isn't going to be so great!

[Brayo1971]

I'm in dispute with the finance company and dealer I bought my car off.

 

i bought the car 4 months ago (BMW 320th 03 plate 68,000 miles on the clock £4,500). A couple of weeks ago the car suffered engine failure. A 'Swirl Flap' had broken off and was ingested into the manifold and engine etc repairs have been estimated at approx £4,000.00. I have been trying to hold the finance company to account under the Sale of Goods Act (I have been receiving advice from Trading Standards). The finance company sent out DEKRA to carry out a engineers report. The issue here is if the 'fault' could have existed or been developing when I purchased the car. The DEKRA report states that the flap had failed suddenly and unpredictably and could not have been broken at time of purchase. It should be noted the finance company's instruction to the engineer was fairly leading and it was obvious what they wanted the outcome to be. I have corresponded with several BMW 'experts' that have suggested that the flaps can fail due to debris build up over a period of time (that is they can work loose etc), The report also suggests BMW have acknowledged this issue with improvements to the design although I have correspondence from them saying this is not the case.

 

i would welcome your comments,

 

Regards, Neil.

[robotrobo]

I'm in dispute with the finance company and dealer I bought my car off.

i would welcome your comments,

 

Regards, Neil.

 

hi neil.

sorry about your problem with your new car! , it sounds like you have gone down the correct avenue so far !, my question to you is did you not have some kind of warranty when you purchased the car , you normally get some kind of deal?, is the cost of the repair more than the purchase cost ?, i hope someone on hear can give you the advice you desperatley need .

good luck