General Help

[Kip]

I need help...regarding rejecting my stilo. I know that I can do this under the 'sales and provision of goods act 1974' but feel I don't know enough about the legal implications from the finance side of things, i.e., at what point will I get my money back and what happens to the car in the meantime, and more importantly will I be black listed for credit i I stop making my payment in this situation.
Have any of you guys ever had experience of this type of thing either with fiat or otherwise. Please let me have the benefit of your wisdom.

Cheers.

 

[twincamms]

Hi

Why are you rejecting your Stilo? I don't know the answer to your question, but I'd like to know of your experiences with this car.

Cheers
Savi.

You Need Someone To Stir Up This Joint.........I'm The Man!

 

[polecat]

Don't know how long you had the car or why you are rejecting it.

If it is new and 'not fit for purpose' you can opt to 'not accept' the finance within 10 or 14 days. The seller must agree to the return of the car.

If you are already bound by the finance you should not stop making payments. The finance company in most cases is not connected to the seller and you have a contract with them. In this case the seller should refund. I'm not sure what happens about the interest paid in this case.

Pop into your local legal advice centre for a free half hour chat.

85% of Marea HLX drivers have speeding tickets.... lol they'll have to catch me first.

 

[Kip]

The car (1.6 dynamic 3dr)has been dogged with problems from the word go. It was bought back in Sept 2002 and has spent more time in the dealers than my garage, with the latest visit resulting in a 9 week stay only for the car to be returned in a worse state than when it went in. I think it's just been sitting in the compound for the duriation.

Problems experienced include,

Dealer inflicted paintwork damge on the day of handover which took two weeks to rectify.

Faulty wiring to the dash resulting in alternator failure warning on the dash, which took a nnumber of months to get to the bottom of.

Faulty stereo that kept changing station and volume at random

LHF/R speakers 'packed up'

LHR cloth around window peeling away

Faulty window rails in LHF door (window rattled when down in the door)

OCS pad in passenger seat required replacing, only to be replaced with a lumpy version (it's now like a knackered matress).

Issues with the Front wheel alignment. Car seems to be running on inside shoulders of tyres, eating the tread on both L & R tyres.

Generally the ownership of this car has been a nightmare and caused me too much grief for a new car, if it's history is like this what's it's future going to be like

Also,the dealer, Reg Vardy of Sunderland have in my opinion been crap! If there was a prize for the most patronising service, these guys would get the world cup.

 

[twincamms]

Mmmm?

Many of your complaints are familiar to these forums, the Stilo is generally a good car and the problems you have outlined do relate to earlier models, they reckon that most vehicles purchased after May 2003 have had most of the glitches sorted.

As for the dealerships, yes you are quite correct and I wouldn't say it's just Reg Vardy, it's every FIAT dealership, they are all crap!

Hope you get the result you want any way.

Cheers
savi.

You Need Someone To Stir Up This Joint.........I'm The Man!

 

[Ham]

Your contract for finance is as pointed out with the Finance Company.
Failure to continue to pay could result in a court summonse or sezure of assets.
The car remains your property till as such time a settelement is agreed in the event of a succesful action.

Visit you local Trading standards office for advice.
Also contact the Society of Motor Manufacturers.

As a last resort you could take action in Court.





Fiat Stillo MW. 1.9JTD
Met. Blue. all Electric. Skywindow..SatNav+
17" 7 spoke alloys.
Rear Parking sensor and Puddle Lights.


......Ham............

 

[Kip]

Cheers guys!!

This is becoming a bit of a minefield...it's not this hard taking pants back to Marks & Spencer!!

Anyway I wil take on board you much appreciated advice and comments and see where I end up

Kip.

 

[Stilo7]

I would contact the finance company on this one before you stop payments. They are actually also liable under the consumer credit act, and may be willing to help you.

I successfully rejected a Punto last year. The Supply of Goods Act 1994 requires that a vehicle 'be of satisfactory quality, having regard to its age and price paid' and also must be 'fit for it's purpose'.

Unfortunately, because you have had the car for over a year you have no chance whatsoever in regards to actually rejecting the car - this has to be done within a few weeks of buying a new car.

Another problem is that Fiat are very unlikely to agree to a rejection due to the fact that none of the problems are classed as "major" components by them - however annoying this may be to you (I know how you feel!) They class these as "expected niggles that will always be experienced from mass produced cars". As long as these are corrected under warranty they fulfill their obligation.

Your best course of action would be to write a letter addressed to the "Managing Director" at Fiat Auto UK, stating all the problems you've had and also the fact that the dealer hasn't been able to deal with the problems. I would also mention the dealer's attitude towards you as well - I managed to get my local Fiat dealer in a lot of trouble because of their "it's a Fiat, not a BMW, you should expect problems" comment!!!

I would think from previous experience that they'll offer you a free service or two and also possibly extend your warranty by a year.

Hope this is some help......I know how much of a nightmare this all is and it is all hassle that you shouldn't have to go through with a new car.

 

[Kip]

Thanks Stilo7,

I am due to receive a full written report either today or tomorrow as to what the dealer actually did for the nine weeks they had the car...should be interesting reading!!

I've spoken to someone in the motor finance game and he reckons that i still have a chance of complete rejection...(one chicken, two chickens....)

I'll keep you posted as to the developments,

kip

 

[rriggs]

Whether you can reject at this stage depends on whether the finance company can be bothered. Until you have made you last payment the car is theirs and an asset not to mention that they have obligations to you under the consumer credit act. If you can get the finance company on side they may be able to make some headway with the dealer. This still may not lead to rejection of the car but without them on side you won't get even close.

Most important things to remember are:
1. Put everything in writing
2. Record every letter you send/receive and every phone call
3. Find out the top men at the dealer, Fiat and the finance company and write to them all

At the end of the day, however, you need to be prepared to accept the fact that it might be too late to reject the car.

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth with graphite wheels and all the toys
NOW FOR SALE - £9995ono

 

[twincamms]

Roja

Try rejecting yours back to FIAT cause you aint ever gonna sell it!

Unless you price it realisticly!

TC.

You Need Someone To Stir Up This Joint.........I'm The Man!

 

[rriggs]

HaHaHa! [!]

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth with graphite wheels and all the toys
NOW FOR SALE - £9995ono

 

[twincamms]

Where you been?

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

 

[spacecowboy]

Kip

Who was your salesman? Jon? Anth? Neil? I know the GM, John McCormick, to speak to. This is my local garage, I know quite a few people there, best mate is in new cars.
To be honest, my Stilo has been taken to GMD in Durham for it's last two faults, they seem to have a lot better service dept.

now: 1.2 Stilo Active in Black
v soon: new shape 1.4 Punto Sporting in Broom (with Imola door handles and wing mirrors. Doh!!!)

 

[StiloBoy]

I see you've had the car over a year, so i doubt a rejections would be truely on the cards, maybe a favourable trade in, or maybe get the faults you've identified fixed and maybe a good will gesture!

Best advice i can give is, check out AutoExpress' web site, they enjoy chasing dealers for folk with ropey cars!

2003 3 Door Stilo 1.2 Active, Sassy Grey, 5 disc CD Changer, plastic wheel trims - and 41.7mpg average so far. Love it, Oh yes!

 

[Steven]

Try contacting citizens advice.

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