I want to take legal action — PCP Finance

[P4D]

Hello all. I'm not sure which category to post this in so apologies if it's in the wrong place.

Anyway...

I bought an Abarth 500 on a PCP deal back in August 2015. I've had nothing but problems with it and the dealer is useless.

I've had it 20 months and this is what work has been carried out on it:

- Rear lights replaced x2
- Front lights replaced
- DRL rewired
- Whole aerial including mast etc has been replaced
- Steering column altered
- Exhaust sealed
- Top mount squeaking x3 - They still haven't resolved this as they claim they can't hear the sound.
- Centre caps replaced as some of the clips were broken

And today, the mount has started making a grinding noise. It's been booked in yet again to be looked at and replaced. My dealer is saying it might not come under warranty which I don't quite understand? It's been in three times before its gotten this bad so surely it's their fault for not noticing it early on?

To be truthfully honest, it's causing me so much stress. I travel 20 miles to get to the dealer and when I go to pick it up, it's never fixed either. I have to get my father to take time off work to pick me up from the dealer as they will not provide me a courtesy car, I have to take time off uni to get there and it's also adding irrelevant miles onto my car and I'm also contracted to 8k pa . I'm paying over £200 a month for a car which quite frankly has never been in an acceptable condition.

Can anyone give me any advice on what I can do to resolve this legally. I'd be over the moon if I could hand the car back in and call it quits, but I don't think that's ever going to happen!

Cheers,

Patrick

[Alucidnation]

What did the dealer say when you told them you wanted out of the contract?

[elanfan]

How about going over the dealers head and straight to the manufacturers? A complaint to them might at least get your problems sorted (and hopefully free). Tell them you've lost faith in the dealer and would rather it be dealt with elsewhere, with any luck they could arrange collection by another dealer.

[P4D]

I've not even mentioned about getting out of the contract. Last week it went in for a service and supposedly warranty work. Came back to find out none of the work had been carried out. Told them I would take legal action as it is becoming a bit of a joke. I asked to speak to the manager, took him outside and pointed out the things that should have been fixed, one of them being the squeak in the top mount. He said they'd keep it in over the weekend and fix it, and due to the inconvenience caused, they agreed the courtesy car was free. Collected it three days after, all things fixed except the mount.

Edited by P4D on Wednesday 19th April 19:13

[P4D]

elanfan said:

How about going over the dealers head and straight to the manufacturers? A complaint to them might at least get your problems sorted (and hopefully free). Tell them you've lost faith in the dealer and would rather it be dealt with elsewhere, with any luck they could arrange collection by another dealer.

I contact Abarth direct today, they've escalated the case and said they'll be in contact with my dealer to find out why I've had all these problems. Hopefully hear back by Friday.

[Barkychoc]

If you have paid 50% of the finance agreement you can hand it back. You won't get any residual value, but it may be an option.

[P4D]

Barkychoc said:

If you have paid 50% of the finance agreement you can hand it back. You won't get any residual value, but it may be an option.

I've no where near paid 50%, i'm only 20 months into my agreement. Won't have paid 50% till the near end of the third year.

[Short Grain]

P4D said:

elanfan said:

How about going over the dealers head and straight to the manufacturers? A complaint to them might at least get your problems sorted (and hopefully free). Tell them you've lost faith in the dealer and would rather it be dealt with elsewhere, with any luck they could arrange collection by another dealer.

I contact Abarth direct today, they've escalated the case and said they'll be in contact with my dealer to find out why I've had all these problems. Hopefully hear back by Friday.

Hopefully Abarth will get it sorted if they've escalated it themselves.

[P4D]

Short Grain said:

Hopefully Abarth will get it sorted if they've escalated it themselves.

I'm hoping so. I've hard the worst luck in the world with this car. Just praying if it is the top mounts, they're fixed under warranty.

[br d]

P4D said:

I've no where near paid 50%, i'm only 20 months into my agreement. Won't have paid 50% till the near end of the third year.

Scary things these PCP deals.

[P4D]

br d said:

Scary things these PCP deals.

Hm. Wouldn't say scary, just got the worst luck ever.

[br d]

P4D said:

br d said:

Scary things these PCP deals.

Hm. Wouldn't say scary, just got the worst luck ever.

I didn't mean your bad luck with the car, I was referring to the fact that it takes 3 years to cover half the payment of the debt.

I'm not knocking them, I know they allow many people the opportunity too get into a decent car they otherwise couldn't reach but it just seems like a long road to me.

However, you're a young man, plenty of time. Ignore me, I'm just getting more risk averse as I age!

[P4D]

br d said:

I didn't mean your bad luck with the car, I was referring to the fact that it takes 3 years to cover half the payment of the debt.

I'm not knocking them, I know they allow many people the opportunity too get into a decent car they otherwise couldn't reach but it just seems like a long road to me.

However, you're a young man, plenty of time. Ignore me, I'm just getting more risk averse as I age!

I think its also due to the fact I put one months deposit down. I kinda wish I looked around, maybe its a lesson learnt to never buy the first car I set my eyes on. Wish I looked into leases too.

[Rovinghawk]

P4D said:

should of been

Should HAVE been, FFS.

[P4D]

Rovinghawk said:

Should HAVE been, FFS.

Clearly uni hasn't paid off.

[Sheepshanks]

P4D said:

I've hard the worst luck in the world with this car.

I'd certainly be pissed off by the hassle, but, seriously "worst luck in the world"? It's needed new lights (is that a known issue with this model?) and it's got a squeak.


Are you thinking you'll keep the car at the end of the PCP, or would you likely hand it back?

[P4D]

Sheepshanks said:

I'd certainly be pissed off by the hassle, but, seriously "worst luck in the world"?


Are you thinking you'll keep the car at the end of the PCP, or would you likely hand it back?

If it continues like this, I'll be trying to get rid at the earliest opportunity. If things get fixed i'll keep it till the contract is over. I will not be paying the balloon payment at the end of the PCP to keep it.

[P4D]

Sheepshanks said:

It's needed new lights (is that a known issue with this model?) and it's got a squeak.

That's not my issue. It's the fact it goes in every other week. Its taken four visits for them to realise what the squeak is. They've changed the lights three times? A brand new car should not have to go in this much surely? My 52 plate Corsa was more reliable. It the distance I travel, money I waste on petrol and having to be cheeky and getting my parents to take time off work to pick me up from the dealer that bothers me.

[oceanview]

Never mind PCP- I think the problem is F.i.a.t .

Stay away from rubbish in future!!

[valiant]

oceanview said:

Never mind PCP- I think the problem is F.i.a.t .

Stay away from rubbish in future!!

Nothing wrong with Fiat apart from a few blinkered views from the seventies. Had a number of them and they were no problem.

There's seemingly millions of the things on the road - are they all ticking time bombs? I don't think so.

Op has a Friday afternoon car coupled with a hopeless dealer - never a good combination and one that can affect any manufacturer.