Advice needed for new car dispute

[G Spag]

Hi guys, I apologise now for the length of this!

My dad is having a few issues with a Fiat garage with his order of a new Bravo and I was just curious where we stand really. Everything was arranged in June, we dropped off his car for part exchange, and agreed to pick up the new car in September so the car has new reg plates (60). The salesman said he couldn't promise the car would be ready by the start of September but will definitely be available by the end of September at the latest, which was fine by us.

We got back from holiday to find out the car is now fully registered and ready for collection. When my dad called them to query this the manager got involved and things have gone downhill since.

The salesman has admitted it was his fault the car was registered early, however the manager proceeded to call my dad a liar, saying none of his staff would ever do such a thing. As the conversation continued he then said there isn't anything he can do to sort it out, and that my dad's deposit is non refundable (Which I've been told is false, although unsure how true that is) so he doesn't have a choice but to accept the car. During the discussions my dad has been offered money off the list price, after some very strong opposition from the manager (again, after saying he can do absolutely nothing).

Since then he has called every day to find out when the car is being picked up. My dad said to him he is going to review this with his legal advisor, as this whole thing has left a bitter taste and he's being forced to accept a car that isn't exactly what he agreed on. We just got a call today saying that Fiat legal team have gotten involved as the garage has paid for the car and it's sitting on its forecourt.

I've never heard of something like this happening before and just wanted some advice really. We've never ordered a brand new car before and we thought it'd be a good idea to wait until the new reg plates. I'm just unsure if we're being unreasonable here. Ideally my dad doesn't want to cancel the contract but I was curious what, if any, courses of action we can take.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Wait, am I right in thinking the dispute is purely because the plate will read 10 instead of 60? Or is there something actually wrong with the vehicle?

 

[sh4dow]

I can understand it's not what you asked for/agreed on, but for the sake of a number... is it really worth it?
If you'd asked for a leather interior and it had come with a cloth one, then fair enough - kick up a fuss. If you'd asked for air-con and it had come without, fair enough, kick up a fuss.

But for '10' instead of '60'...? And you've had an offer of money off the list price?! And you have a brand new car, 4 weeks early?

Unless I'm missing something, I really don't see a problem...

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

:yeahthat:

How much did they offer off

The only real arguement I can see is if you've pre-ordered a '60' reg private plate which obviously can't now go onto this car.

 

[G Spag]

Hi guys,

Yeah the dispute did occur because of the mistake with the plate, which admittedly, wasn't such a big deal. We weren't expecting them to bend over and make discounts, but the reason I was asking is because the way the manager handled the situation. Never in my life have I heard a manager call a customer a liar and get so aggressive towards them; but that is why this was blown well out of proportion.

But anyway, we picked up the car this morning and the service from the rest of the employees there were faultless. They managed to get the gap insurance at no extra cost, which was unexpected considering we already were given a discount.

A bit of a pointless thread now but oh well! But thanks for the replies anyway

 

[s130]

> A bit of a pointless thread now but oh well! But thanks for the replies anyway


No not at all.

Buying any car, let alone a new one is a "big experience" and every purchase brings new experiences, things to look out for, etc, etc.

When I bought my Croma 2005, I specifcally chose a version/chssis number in the docks with Fiat at Bristol. When I came to pick up th car I found that the dealer had changed the car for another. Exactly same colour, spec. etc but the car came from another delaer and not from the docks.

I was quite mad to be honest, but then, bearing in mind the deal I got, I checked with the dealer who supplied the car to the dealer I was buying the car from and got actual proof that a) the car was in their showroom, unregistered and new and b) was delivered by transported to the dealer I was bying from.

At the time of pick-up my chosen registraton was already on the car, etc. etc. so backing out would have proved difficult.

I took my car and never returned to the dealer...."Perrys, Farlington, Portsmouth"

There is an unwritten trust between customer and supplier and that trust must be maintained. Most modern sales transactions are based x,y & z and verbal agreements and confirmations (like the car will be transported delivered and have less than 10 miles on the clock). Legally you get a Pink Croma to Spec. but that is not what you agreed with the dealer. Trust broken. Sadly there is no legal recourse for broken trust.

The sales manager who switched/changed your expectations will have been rewarded (through bonus campaigns etc.) and will have sinced moved on to pastures new. This won't help you at all and untill company directors sign legal agreements with senior managers to retrospectively sue their arses off when they deceive customers.

Sadly I'm not sure you will find this happening unless you can find a small private family business to deal with.

 

[s130]

Maybe we need to "Name and Shame" more aggressively BUT ONLY after normal channels of complaint have first been exhausted. Sometimes this exhaustion can occur within several minutes if the other end are a bunch off **** heads.