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Original poster

Consumer Issues regards car bought yesterday from garage

50 replies

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 10:32

I believe they've sold us a car claiming it was a higher spec than it is.

We bought it second hand yesterday and when we got home noticed there was no parcel shelf in it (all 7 seats were up when we collected it)

I had a quick look online to see if it was a 'standard' piece of equipment (there is a moulding for it and it seems daft for there not to be one in a family car)

When online we've noticed there are SEVERAL 'standard' features missing from the spec of the car that we've bought - the main ones being a panoramic roof and leather upholstery. These alone would cost £2600 to add as an optional extra to the spec that we now believe we have.

We bought it using a PCP agreement and it has a guarenteed future value. It is also insured at the higher spec as this is he spec that comes up when you put the registration mark in.

I've phoned the garage and made them aware of this - they're going to get back to me but the salesman did say that it would've been grossly underpriced if it WAS the higher spec.

It was advertised on their website as being the higher spec and the leather seats/panoramic roof was in the spec list too. The advert is no longer there though.

I love the car. We desperately need it due our old car having too many expensive issues/being unroadworthy to keep running. We've used my redundancy money to put down a deposit as well as a part exchange on the heap old car. Monthly payments for 3yrs and the choice to either hand it back/pay it off OR exchange it with this guaranteed. I'm not sure how we're going to achieve the guaranteed amount when we're £2600 worth of equipment down to start with!

OP posts:

Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 16:42

We don't have the registration doc yet but I'll ring the DVLA and pop over to Honest John

We're not desperate for compensation etc, we're more worried about the value of the car at the end of the agreement

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nickelhasababy · 23/03/2012 16:53

you did say that when you put in the reg number on insurance that it came up as titanium x - that means it was registered like it, which means that you have proof that it's not as described.

Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 16:54

I'm fairly sure although now I'm getting all full of self doubt - will look out the reg docs and check

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Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 16:55

Yes, the insurance documents state that it is a Titanium X as well

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DowagersHump · 23/03/2012 16:58

I hate to be very very suspicious but you might want to check the chassis number because it's sounding very like they've switched the plates on the car

DowagersHump · 23/03/2012 16:59

Although you won't be able to do that without the V5.

bemybebe · 23/03/2012 17:01

Do you have ANY docs at all with the list of features that you are missing? If not, can you request a copy of the ad that you were relying on OR (better) maybe somebody INTERNET literate can advise how to get a cached copy of the ad? I am sure that one way or another you can retrieve the info published on the internet, just do not know how.

Best of luck OP.

Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 17:05

is the add webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Qyl_sHJdXBkJ:www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/ford/galaxy/used-ford-galaxy-2-0-tdci-140-titanium-x-5dr-powershift-grangemouth-fpa-201211456970367+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk but I notice the front page has been changed and the X has been dropped. It STILL has the upholstery and roof as listed features though.

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Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 17:05

sorry for crap link

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HappyCamel · 23/03/2012 17:07

If you're struggling for money then send it back, as it isn't what was described and buy an old BMW with reasonable mileage. My x5 is a 53 plate, 60k miles (they're good for about 120k) was £7,500. Itll cost a bit more in fuel but you'll save a fortune in insurance and depreciation. New and nearly new cars are never good value for money, much better to getter an older premium brand.

bemybebe · 23/03/2012 17:08

I honest do not see how they can refuse to either accept the car back or give you some sort of compensation because your car is clearly "not as described".

The question is whether you paid over the odds for your car or not.

Imnotaslimjim · 23/03/2012 17:10

The link doesn't work, but it does sound like you have a very good case to return the car if you want to

Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 17:10

We're not struggling to pay for it. That's not the issue. We put down a deposit and part exchange and have monthly payments that we can make.

The issue is that they've sold it to us as a higher spec than it is and I am worried how that will be reflected at the end of the finance agreement.

The insurance on it is fine and it is a diesel so we'll get good milage.

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MrsJasonBourne · 23/03/2012 17:22

You really need to go back to the garage armed with all your information. Print out stuff, go in with dh for back up and ask to speak to the dealer principal. Tell him you think you may have been missold, you don't have much faith in their company and you'd like your money back. DP's don't like being bothered with that sort of thing so hopefully it'll get sorted out pretty quickly. Don't ask for the person that sold you the car, ask for the DP.

prh47bridge · 23/03/2012 17:56

Having a 60 plate doesn't necessarily mean it was the new model. It means it was registered later in the year but that doesn't tell us when it was built.

If the registration document says it is a Titanium X and the VIN matches the vehicle then I would be very surprised if it is not a Titanium X.

OctopusSting · 23/03/2012 19:19

I agree with the first step of matching the VIN from the car and then to the documents.

Even if these do match i would be persuing the issue because, as you rightly say, otherwise you will be worried for your whole ownership of the vehicle that the final financing will not pay out and no-one needs that stress.

Good luck, and sorry to hear it is such a disappointment as a new car should be exciting and fun, not a load of hassle

OctopusSting · 23/03/2012 19:20

Oh, and when mine was missing a part they had advertised (through linking it to a standard spec) I managed to get them to install the part free of charge

uggmum · 23/03/2012 19:24

Even if the spec is diff it should at least have a parcel shelf. They are really expensive to purchase separately.

Original poster

BibiBelle · 23/03/2012 23:11

god really uggmum, how bizarre that they would be expensive The salesman has said he was looking for it in the valet bay and if they couldn't find it he would have one delivered locally to our nearest dealer. That's a start I suppose.

Honest John says that he would walk away from this deal

The chap from Trading Standards says I have to contact the finance company as they are the ones who have been misold the car - they technically own it and they have been misled.

It's all such a PITA and yes OctupusSting we were really excited even though it was an absolute necessity, we were thrilled.

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Collaborate · 24/03/2012 06:46

Do what Honest John says. He's very good.

Original poster

BibiBelle · 25/03/2012 21:59

I know I've been working all weekend and am again tomorrow. Will try to speak to the chap from the garage/finance company before we make up our minds.

thanks for all your help guys.

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nickelhasababy · 26/03/2012 11:36

that's a fair point about the finance company - they should add some clout.

Original poster

BibiBelle · 27/03/2012 21:21

Well according to Trading Standards it is THEIR car, we're paying the finance company who bought it from Arnold Clark (makes sense) It is up to them to chase Arnold Clark regards it.

The garage have come back and said that it was never advertised as a Titanium X and as such it has just been a mistake due to it being registered wrongly from the very beginning.

The bloke is now playing telephone tennis with us leaving messages at the house without any content, just asking us to phone him back. He has both our mobile numbers too

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uggmum · 28/03/2012 07:35

I bought a new car from a garage, it was an import but had the parcel shelf missing. I checked out the price to buy one and it was £150. I was shocked.

I went back to e garage and I insisted that they found it. They did.

It is very stressful when you are not happy with a car purchase. It is a big financial commitment. I hope you resolve it soon.

Chopstheduck · 28/03/2012 07:46

I think I would walk away tbh. it all sounds very dodgy. I'd try to get a screenshot of that cached page too, before it disappears altogether from the google servers.

Also, would it be worth calling the DVLA with the numberplate and finding out exactly what model it is registered to while you are waiting for the log book.

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