Rejecting a new car

shadowstalker

Not the normal "i have a problem that cant be fixed' issue.

Well 2nd september i purchased a brand new car from a local main dealer. All was fine and i was very happy..... until!

Water ingress into the rear of the vehicle ment that the alarm kept going off when ever i tryed to get into it. Got vehicle recovered to the dealer where they found fault but due to water getting into the electrics, nessesitated the rear loom of the car needing to be replaced. and there the car has sat since 15th october.
we wrote a letter to the dealer stating that we are happy for repairs to go ahead but they only have 21 days to get the car back to me. On the 21st day we sent them a letter by recorded delivery (as you should for rejecting a car) and within hours received a phonecall (from the head of the UK's customer service) saying that we cannot reject the car as they can repair it but they cannot get the part they need until the 15th November and i will not receive the car back until the end of november. I am now fed up and just want my deposit back to go else where ( as by the time i get my car back i will have paid for 2 months when i have not had it). Can i still reject it under the sale of goods act (unfit for purpose) or is there another law (making repairs in a timely mannor?) that i can use. I have had a lengthy conversation with the head mechanic working on my vehicle and he has been though exactly what he needs to do to repair the loom, how he will do it and exactly how long it will take. so once he has the new loom he can get the car back on the road in 3 days!

so any suggestions please

Takoda

Have you got a courtesy car?

vikingaero

If you're going to reject a car don't faff around. Turn up with the spare keys, logbook and documentation (after taking copies) and a letter formally rejecting the car. Most dealers have a "budget" for rejected cars - it depends on the size of the dealership and how many cars they sell each year. They won't let you know their budget and will attempt to fob you off.

Hotspur

Can you reject the car? - Yes, as a car is a complex item you have longer to 'test' the car before acceptance. How long would be down to a court to decide as there is no set period. Having accepted a repair may influence this however you did time limit this which is in your favour.

Will they make it easy? - No

As vikingaero states, act quickly with a formal letter and return all keys etc. Of course this will inconvenience you as you'll have no car and no money back until sorted.

Speak to consumer direct first on 0845 4 04 05 06 for further advice

neilmcl

You've complicated matters by agreeing to allow them to repair in the first instance, in oither words you've accepted the vehicle as long as it is repaired. As a previous poster mentioned have they put you in a courtesy vehicle, if so then you probably wont be able to use the "significant inconvenience" route to choose another remedy.

shadowstalker

yes they gave me a car whilst mine is with them. when i first got the car recovered in i gave them a letter stipulating they had 21 days to fix it otherwise i would reject it. i have given them a second letter when the 21 days were up saying that because it still wasnt repaired i was going to reject it. at this point i was told i cant reject it because they can repair it but they dont know when they can get the loom to repair it :mad:

my issue isnt with being able to repair the car but with them not knowing when they can do it. at the moment they are estimating the end of november but cant guarantee that. although i have a hire car its not the one i am paying for and the hire car is not the same spec or model. from what i have been told not even the head of the manufacture in the uk knows when the parts will be made.

spiro

1) I would insist that the loan car they provide is at least the same model/spec or better than your own car.
2) I would ask for written confirmation of when the car will be repaired and returned and make it clear that if this date is not met you will be cancelling the contract.
3) In terms of monthly payments, if you got the finance from the garage I would suggest you either (a) ask that payments are suspended until the car is returned or (b) carry on as is and accept you will have less mileage on the car because of the delay.