lsgraham_uk
New member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2006
- Messages
- 150
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- 30
Let me warn you straight away this is a bit of a rant, but it needs to be said.
Having been an avid browser (and previous poster - lost password) of this forum for the last year I would like to just post my story of WILSON'S of epsom (bold on purpose I am quite angry).
I have owned from new a Fiat punto sporting on a 51 plate (picked it up september 1st 2001 at 7.00 a.m. ) and thought it was time to trade her in (she being Polly - g/f named her).
Whilst browsing this forum I noticed in this posting https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-grande-punto/71954-sporting-chemical-grey-anyone.html that Autotrader had a cheap sporting and so I went a searching. I tracked it down to WILSON'S of Epsom - a main Fiat Dealer and duly trundled the 30 odd miles from dartford to epsom round the lovely M25.
I had a great start - lovely testdrive, found the clutch slightly light and the bitting point difficult to master but overall liked the car. Now comes the bad part.
Part ex - Well they only offered me 2K despite the fact that lil' old polly has only done 41,000 and has a FSH but I really wanted a new car so I ask about Finance.
So we get taken into a very accomodating finance office were we are told that they offer lots of good deals at 7.9% Now I wasnt sure that that really counts as a good deal but I thought perhaps this is sales patter and I might be able to lower it.
"Ok what does that work out a month" my rather youthful face kept straight so as not to look over eager.
He replied" ok so it would be £290 a month over 3years"
"Gulp" - Brain starts to whirl
"over 4 years it would be £240" he continued
" And £198 over 5 years" he finished.
Now I am not silly, I worked for the MOD for 9 years been through university and I am now a teacher and something doesnt seem right.
"But that is (thinks in head 24 x 5) over 3000 in interest alone" I respond thinking he must have made a mistake
"Yes about that" he replied nonchalently
"And thats 7.9%apr" I responded
"yes"
Well to cut a long story short he then proceeds to offer to drop it to £180 a month over 5 years.
Now if you have managed to read this far and are still awake, well done her comes the punchline.
According to the government Loan calculator http://www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/04_CREDIT_DEBT/loan_calculator.html that works out at between 17% and 18% not to mention of course the massive drop to 13% that he offered us to seal the deal.
18% are you Joking How can they get away with this, if I hadnt had a reasonable head for figures I would have thought well 7.9% thats not bad and would have taken it. Its just not funny. I am tempted now to not ever buy a Fiat again, despite the memory of Welling Ancaster who made the first time so good.
OK rant over, here at least. Think I will contact someone if I am still annoyed tommorrow.
Having been an avid browser (and previous poster - lost password) of this forum for the last year I would like to just post my story of WILSON'S of epsom (bold on purpose I am quite angry).
I have owned from new a Fiat punto sporting on a 51 plate (picked it up september 1st 2001 at 7.00 a.m. ) and thought it was time to trade her in (she being Polly - g/f named her).
Whilst browsing this forum I noticed in this posting https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-grande-punto/71954-sporting-chemical-grey-anyone.html that Autotrader had a cheap sporting and so I went a searching. I tracked it down to WILSON'S of Epsom - a main Fiat Dealer and duly trundled the 30 odd miles from dartford to epsom round the lovely M25.
I had a great start - lovely testdrive, found the clutch slightly light and the bitting point difficult to master but overall liked the car. Now comes the bad part.
Part ex - Well they only offered me 2K despite the fact that lil' old polly has only done 41,000 and has a FSH but I really wanted a new car so I ask about Finance.
So we get taken into a very accomodating finance office were we are told that they offer lots of good deals at 7.9% Now I wasnt sure that that really counts as a good deal but I thought perhaps this is sales patter and I might be able to lower it.
"Ok what does that work out a month" my rather youthful face kept straight so as not to look over eager.
He replied" ok so it would be £290 a month over 3years"
"Gulp" - Brain starts to whirl
"over 4 years it would be £240" he continued
" And £198 over 5 years" he finished.
Now I am not silly, I worked for the MOD for 9 years been through university and I am now a teacher and something doesnt seem right.
"But that is (thinks in head 24 x 5) over 3000 in interest alone" I respond thinking he must have made a mistake
"Yes about that" he replied nonchalently
"And thats 7.9%apr" I responded
"yes"
Well to cut a long story short he then proceeds to offer to drop it to £180 a month over 5 years.
Now if you have managed to read this far and are still awake, well done her comes the punchline.
According to the government Loan calculator http://www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/04_CREDIT_DEBT/loan_calculator.html that works out at between 17% and 18% not to mention of course the massive drop to 13% that he offered us to seal the deal.
18% are you Joking How can they get away with this, if I hadnt had a reasonable head for figures I would have thought well 7.9% thats not bad and would have taken it. Its just not funny. I am tempted now to not ever buy a Fiat again, despite the memory of Welling Ancaster who made the first time so good.
OK rant over, here at least. Think I will contact someone if I am still annoyed tommorrow.