Pending order status when a dealership ends a franchise

[DavesBentley]

Hi everyone.

I ordered a Fiat 500e from a local dealership last July. The anticipated delivery date was December 2022. The dealership then informed me that it was ending its Fiat franchise (but retaining 6 others) at the end of December. The car didn’t arrive by the end of December. They said that the order would be transferred to another dealer and that it would now cost an extra £10000….that’s right, ten thousand pounds! Does anyone know whether the contract I signed with the dealership (there’s no mention of the franchise on the paperwork) is still legally binding on the dealership? I have asked them for all documents relating to the sale as the only paperwork I have is a two page contract.

[Andy86GT]

Sounds a very unfortunate situation in the current market. It sounds like the order isn't being ''transferred' rather cancelled and re-ordered by the other dealer at the now current, vastly inflated price. Seams very unfair, might be worth a call to Fiat UK to hear their stance? Good luck.

[Jamescrs]

A similar issue has come up for many users on here where a vehicle is ordered and then price increases happen before delivery which the buyer has to pay for or cancel the order.

Although the circumstances are different here I can see the end result being the same.