Do I Smell A Rat? - Unusual Dealer Request
Discussion
Hello Folks,
My car has been off the road and in my garage for the last 2 1/2 years for many reasons. I have decided to put it back on the road so took it to a main dealer in the North of England have an MOT and a 12k service (which it needed anyway). Most of the disks and pads have corroded beyond repair, suspension has failed on several corners (both springs and dampers) along with several other items. I knew it was going to need a lot of work as it's last service was almost 4 yrs ago!!! The bill is fairly astronomical and I have yet to see a breakdown, I will hopefully get a fax tomorrow morning. The size of the bill is not the issue as I knew it would need a lot of work to get it roadworthy.
My wife is due to pick the car up tomorrow afternoon, as I am away, and received what we think is a fairly unusual request. She spoke to the boss of the servicing dept this evening who has asked her to pay by cash as he thinks their card reading device is going to be removed by the bank tomorrow as they are 'changing banks'. We would get a discount for cash, some £250. After some digging by my wife he admitted that some of them haven't been paid recently hence the request. He freely admitted it was a very unusual request and could offer no defence for it as he had been told to do so by his boss - I can only assume this is the boss of the showroom.
I would appreciate any suggestions or comments you may have as I have never been put in this position before. I have never been directly asked to pay by cash by a supplier before, especially such a well known company. I understand (dear HMRC if you're reading this) that the discount is often the amount of the VAT so the discount suggested falls well short of that figure. If I pay cash do I lose any customer protection in the event of faulty work? Please also let me know if you think I am just being a bit sensitive on this issue and should just take the discount and run.
Cheers, Flash
My car has been off the road and in my garage for the last 2 1/2 years for many reasons. I have decided to put it back on the road so took it to a main dealer in the North of England have an MOT and a 12k service (which it needed anyway). Most of the disks and pads have corroded beyond repair, suspension has failed on several corners (both springs and dampers) along with several other items. I knew it was going to need a lot of work as it's last service was almost 4 yrs ago!!! The bill is fairly astronomical and I have yet to see a breakdown, I will hopefully get a fax tomorrow morning. The size of the bill is not the issue as I knew it would need a lot of work to get it roadworthy.
My wife is due to pick the car up tomorrow afternoon, as I am away, and received what we think is a fairly unusual request. She spoke to the boss of the servicing dept this evening who has asked her to pay by cash as he thinks their card reading device is going to be removed by the bank tomorrow as they are 'changing banks'. We would get a discount for cash, some £250. After some digging by my wife he admitted that some of them haven't been paid recently hence the request. He freely admitted it was a very unusual request and could offer no defence for it as he had been told to do so by his boss - I can only assume this is the boss of the showroom.
I would appreciate any suggestions or comments you may have as I have never been put in this position before. I have never been directly asked to pay by cash by a supplier before, especially such a well known company. I understand (dear HMRC if you're reading this) that the discount is often the amount of the VAT so the discount suggested falls well short of that figure. If I pay cash do I lose any customer protection in the event of faulty work? Please also let me know if you think I am just being a bit sensitive on this issue and should just take the discount and run.
Cheers, Flash
sounds like they have already done the work if you're wife is picking it up tomorrow. I'd want some verification that the work you're paying for has actually been done. If it's an otherwise reputable firm then you're probably ok but I suggest your wife takes along another TVR owner who could take a look at the underside with the car on the ramps and visually check off the parts list (maybe your wife is more than capable of doing this herself, if so apologies!)
I am pretty confident that the work has been done - I went to the workshop about a fortnight ago and saw the state of most of the components. Disks were very heavily pitted, suspension snapped, rear disk spacers and ARB mounts all broken. It was in a pretty bad way really. On account that most of the parts were on the workshop floor in pieces they must have fitted new ones. Getting sight of the bill will make interesting reading.
Does anybody know if paying by card attracts any extra consumer protection at all or is it just protection from the card being used fraudulently? Unless the company goes bust, if there is any problem with the work I would just take it back, would it make any difference how I paid for it. If they want cash so it doesn't go through the books I would want more of a discount!!
Does anybody know if paying by card attracts any extra consumer protection at all or is it just protection from the card being used fraudulently? Unless the company goes bust, if there is any problem with the work I would just take it back, would it make any difference how I paid for it. If they want cash so it doesn't go through the books I would want more of a discount!!
Personnally, if the work is done and the car drives alright then pay them cash and walk away with a warm feeling in your heart.
This way the guys who slaved over you car might get paid!
If the company is going down paying with a Credit Card wont give you anymore protection as there'll be no-one around to sort the problems.
This way the guys who slaved over you car might get paid!
If the company is going down paying with a Credit Card wont give you anymore protection as there'll be no-one around to sort the problems.
They could be experiencing cash flow problems - and lets face it cash in the hand is preferable to waiting for a cheque to clear. Also a credit card payment may well be soaked up by an overdraft. None of this means that the work done was poor.
I'm self employed and these days my heart sinks when someone gives me a cheque.
I'm self employed and these days my heart sinks when someone gives me a cheque.
ridds said:
If the company is going down paying with a Credit Card wont give you anymore protection as there'll be no-one around to sort the problems.
Not so:- Your contract is initally with the cc company....Not sure how it works with servicing, but if you booked a holiday and the company went tits up, you should be protected by law, and able to submit a claim to your cc company, who are jointly responsible......(No protection with debit cards)
Surely there's three different issues here - the quality of the work, the tax situation and the payment mechanism:
1. Is the work done to your satisfaction, and therefore you're willing to pay. For that amount of work and a large bill I would want to see the evidence of what had been done irrespective of the other circumstances here but if you don't need to do that to be happy then that's your call.
2. Are they going to give you a VAT receipt for the work. If so then I wouldn't expect any more discount than the card commission and maybe a bit more as it's them doing the asking.
3. If they're not giving a VAT receipt then the cash discount should be considerably more - up to you to decide what you think and negotiate accordingly.
1. Is the work done to your satisfaction, and therefore you're willing to pay. For that amount of work and a large bill I would want to see the evidence of what had been done irrespective of the other circumstances here but if you don't need to do that to be happy then that's your call.
2. Are they going to give you a VAT receipt for the work. If so then I wouldn't expect any more discount than the card commission and maybe a bit more as it's them doing the asking.
3. If they're not giving a VAT receipt then the cash discount should be considerably more - up to you to decide what you think and negotiate accordingly.
Looking at a couple of threads on 'Gen TVR' I'm guessing that it's a cash flow problem. If they're offering you "cash no receipt" then I'm guessing it's not going through the books, and they could let you off the VAT 
If they're giving you an invoice, then sounds like they're giving you the discount for your inconvenience .
Also worth considering.... Suppliers don't have to take cards, it's a useful tool for helping sales, but at 2.6-3.3% to the card company.... Even on the vat amount, I could understand people not taking credit cards.
If they're giving you an invoice, then sounds like they're giving you the discount for your inconvenience .
Also worth considering.... Suppliers don't have to take cards, it's a useful tool for helping sales, but at 2.6-3.3% to the card company.... Even on the vat amount, I could understand people not taking credit cards.
Edited by RUSSELLM on Friday 29th August 08:08
Thanks a lot folks for the replies. I note the comments about the work not being done properly, I guess that will be a judgement call by my wife this afternoon. I never had any issues when they were a main dealer but have not dealt with them since it changed hands. There were a couple of Bentleys in the car park when I was last there, many Lotuses and Tuscans so it is a popular place (of course they may have been the owner's cars 
).
Never thought of the commision factor, if they provide me with an invoice (not too fussed about a pukka one but I would like some form of list of work done, a fag packet will do) then the discount they are giving is a lot more than the commission they would have to pay to the card company. I have not really experienced cash flow problems with a fairly large company before.
Can't wait to get the car back. Thanks once again folks, I appreciate the advice.
TTFN
Flash
).Never thought of the commision factor, if they provide me with an invoice (not too fussed about a pukka one but I would like some form of list of work done, a fag packet will do) then the discount they are giving is a lot more than the commission they would have to pay to the card company. I have not really experienced cash flow problems with a fairly large company before.
Can't wait to get the car back. Thanks once again folks, I appreciate the advice.
TTFN
Flash
Flashheart said:
Does anybody know if paying by card attracts any extra consumer protection at all or is it just protection from the card being used fraudulently? Unless the company goes bust, if there is any problem with the work I would just take it back, would it make any difference how I paid for it. If they want cash so it doesn't go through the books I would want more of a discount!!
It offers very good consumer protection, read your small print - check with CAB. Tell them you can't afford to pay cash, as you always intended to use a credit card, and pay it off once you've sold the car, but as the work is worth more than the car, you're not sure if you can be arsed.
To be honest guys as long as you check the work ask to see all the old parts that have been replaced and you are also getting an MOT which is your gaurentee and comeback if anything is found to be wrong pay the cash smile and run. You can of course get it checked out by an independant afterwards and if anything is wrong you do have a comeback as they Mot'ed your car. I would ask for a written reciept and they should not have a problem givsing you that cash or not? Just my opinion not allout there are crooks who want cash> Times are hard
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