General FIAT say I don't exist - Worried they may take my car of me

[JD82]

I've had my Panda a month exactly now and I still haven't made any payments. I signed up for the FIAT I-DEAL. I phoned FIAT Finance and they said they have no records of me. I phoned my dealer who just said its sorted. I still have no direct debit setup so I have basically been driving around in a brand new car for free.

What would you do?

 

[doctorchris]

Celebrate and enjoy your free motoring.
I'm sure nothing awful will happen to you or the car, Fiat finance will catch up soon and take the direct debits.

 

[greyridertoo]

.....I phoned my dealer who just said its sorted.....

Believe what they told you and relax? Talk to them again and ask for more information? Didn't you pay a deposit and sign some paperwork? That'd be a legal contract, can't see Fiat finance letting you off that.

 

[Geddes]

Just hope they're not like the arseholes at BT. They cocked up a direct debit and then set a debt collection agency on me for the princely sum of £17

Guess who doesn't provide our telephone service any more.

 

[JD82]

If no money comes out by Monday I shall phone FIAT customer services, they may be more helpful.

 

[Scrogg]

As long as you signed an Agreement and a Direct Debit Mandate before driving your car away you have nothing to worry about, as the fault lies with either the dealership for not sending the documents to FGAC, or FGAC themselves for not processing your agreement quickly enough.

Either way, just make sure there is enough money in your bank account to cover the Direct Debit (even if they don't take it) as once they do sort it out they may try and take all the missed payments at the same time.

If the situation isn't sorted in 3 months and you get no joy from your dealership or FGAC (no point ringing FIAT as they are two separate companies) get on the the Financial Services Authority.

Whatever happens, do not listen to anyone that tells you you may get a free car, or anything else similarly ridiculous, as that just isn't going to happen.

 

[JD82]

I realise that . I am just worried about baleifts turning up to collect the car or something. Until I start paying it doesn't feel mine. But it has 300 miles on the clock now so its truly second hand.

 

[JD82]

Its only £128 a month so hopefully making sure I have enough in won't be a problem. Just found all the agreements I signed so at least I have proof if it comes to it.

I am really dreading my first trip to a FIAT dealer to get the car fixed if this is an example of how bad they are.

 

[Scrogg]

You won't be getting Bailiffs at the door I can assure you.

It will say somewhere on your Agreement that the first payment is due one month from the Date of Agreement, which is the date it is received, checked and signed by FGAC, so you may find if they have a bit of a backlog that they haven't even done this yet and your first payment may not be due yet.

 

[harry monk]

Its only £128 a month so hopefully making sure I have enough in won't be a problem. Just found all the agreements I signed so at least I have proof if it comes to it.

I am really dreading my first trip to a FIAT dealer to get the car fixed if this is an example of how bad they are.

You have all the legal paperwork, so in the unlikely event of someone knocking on your door, show them that.

As already said, just chill & enjoy the car, they will realiose their mistake sooner rather than later

 

[gareth111278]

I picked up my car on Jan. 18th. & the first payment was due Feb. 18th. This seems normal practice.
As said above just keep the money for when they catch up.
As for dreading taking it in for service etc. The quality of service you get will come down to the indivduals you deal with at the dealers.
So far Slaters Abergele are ok [One visit] , the only thing I don't like is the 'cloak & daggers' way the pre paid servicing is priced, I'm not pre paying!

 

[JD82]

Spoke to FIAT again and it seems they now know who I am and got a number for a guy I need to speak to on Wednesday regarding payments. It seems the FIAT dealer has not passed on all the correct information to the finance company.

The person from FIAT just said he was not surprised I was having difficulty in getting answers from the dealer.

The finance for this car has been a nightmare from the start as they had all the wrong documents for me to sign until I noticed the mistake.