Can I cancel my order for a new car? Help!

[dynastydallas]

I've made a very bad decision and signed a 'vehicle order form' in a main car dealership, agreeing to a PCP agreement (hire/lease agreement) for a new car. I negotiated the monthly cost down to more than 50% off the first price they offered me, and signed and paid a £3k deposit. I then arrived home to an email from another dealer I had contacted during the week, offering a much more competitive deal which equates to £2k off the total costs.

I think I'm now stuck with the deal I signed and am £2k worse off as a result. I haven't bought a car before and I have been so naive. I thought I had done my research and actually, the price I agreed to in the dealership was the most competitive I have been offered so far.

Do I have any recourse? I emailed the dealer to say I wanted the cancel but no reply yet.

[AlternativeTentacle]

what does the smallprint say?

[Wibblywobblyfoo]

Check your contact. Is there 14 day cooling off period?

[RemainOptimistic]

Send a copy of the new quote and ask them to match it. Likely to be more effective and you get what you want.

[dynastydallas]

Hi, the cancellation clause says 'except as provided by law any order that has been accepted may be cancelled by the customer except with the agreement in writing from the dealership and on terms that the customers deposit will be forfeited and further that the customer will indemnify in full against all loss/costs as a result of cancellation'.

The car is a new order to be delivered in March 2018. I signed order form in person at the dealership on Friday lunchtime and went home, and paid the £3k deposit from home. I don't think long distance selling regs will come into play. I'm stuffed aren't I? Annoyed with myself for not walking away and doing more research before committing.

[dynastydallas]

I do still want the car but obviously for the lower cost. I will ask them to match the lower quote but they have no reason to do so - I think I'm tied into the order form I have already signed.

If I haven't signed a finance agreement yet I wonder if they can complete the deal and if this could be helpful to me.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

If you haven’t signed the agreement then there is no contract yet (says my dh who works in motor finance)

And even if you have some have cancellable terms giving you 14 days. But most pcps don’t.

[dynastydallas]

Thank you gravy train. When Googling I keep reading that signing a 'vehicle order form' and paying a deposit mean I can't back out. It's only a finance agreement I haven't signed yet - I couldn't have signed that because they had not yet had my application approved at the time I signed the vehicle order form.

I don't seem to have any cancellable terms on the t&c's

[dynastydallas]

Anyone else able to offer advice on this? Thanks

[Yahdayah]

I am almost certain you get a 14 day cooling off period.

[FlouncyDoves]

I don’t know, as buying a new car is really a mug’s game. But looks like you’ve agreed a price, paid a deposit and then seen the thing you want cheaper elsewhere. That’s tough I’d say.

[MehMehAndMeh]

You can explore all avenues and contact them, tell them about the other offer and see if they will price match.

[JaneEyre70]

Can you check with the dealer you had the email from that the costs would be exactly the same? It's a minefield with car pricing, and that email quote may not have been like for like - for example including VAT, registration costs etc. Then if it is like for like, I'd get in touch with your local trading standards to see if there is anything you can do.

[Ninjamilo]

I would think that not signing the finance agreement is irrelevant, as it could be funded another way.

Best to call them tomorrow if they're open and be honest straight away.

Is the email from car Wow? I'd be 100% sure the other dealers quote is definitely the same before rushing in to anything.

[dynastydallas]

I did ask whether there are any hidden costs with the new dealer, but it's the on the road price and I'm sure the two deals are like for like.

It is a minefield and I've been putting off buying a car for almost a year because I couldn't face it. It's as though I knew I would find myself in this situation.

[dynastydallas]

Yes it's car wow. I emailed a really detailed breakdown from my order form so I do think they are the same. The lower price comes from a dealer about 300 miles from London so that could explain the difference

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Contact the new dealer they will know all the ins and outs of when a customer can get out of a contract etc and it will be in there interests to help you as they then get your business instead of the other company.

[dynastydallas]

I tried that! They were not much help unfortunately ... I suppose I'll have to hope for the best on Monday

[Pancetta76]

Why Monday? Any main dealership will be open 7 days a week

[dynastydallas]

The salesperson I dealt with is not back in until Monday.

I am hoping I am not tied into a contract until the finance agreement is signed, which I haven't done yet.

[Ninjamilo]

Are you in London then? You'd need to be willing to travel that 300 miles to collect the car if so.

Car dealers are competitive, and the larger ones can afford to lose more money on a sale, unfortunately the service is often lacking. Sometimes worth it for the savings though!

Ignore the person who said go to trading standards, you'd be wasting their time.

[JaneEyre70]

Is there anything in the small print on their website regarding terms and conditions, or on the paperwork you've signed? We've just ordered a new car and paid the £5k deposit but haven't dealt with any of the PCP paperwork yet, so I'd say that's fairly standard.

[Pancetta76]

You can ask to speak to the Business Manager or the New Car Sales Manager while the Salesman isn't in, the BM deals with the finance side of things so they would be your best point of contact. Do it first thing in the morning; if it's a main dealership one of the two people I mentioned will be around

[MuncheysMummy]

I can guarantee you the salesperson isn't off all weekend! I know of 3 sales people at main dealers and they NEVER get full weekends off. Mega Coincidence it's their weekend off just after you ask to cancel the deal!

[Giraffe888]

My brother is a car sales manager. I recently bought a new car and he said to be 100% certain as once i’d Signed the new vehicle order form there was no changing my mind

[ChameNangerRanger]

If as is being suggested you're committed after signing the order form but before the finance agreement is in place, what would happen if the finance was turned down, out of interest? Would you be committed to paying upfront the whole amount?