Evans Halshaw £98 HPI Checks

leenumber10

I am looking to buy a car from an Evans Halshaw dealer and when presented with the final price they want to charge £98 for a 'vechile status check' whoch I understand to be basically a HPI check to check for any outstanding finance on the car. Now I assume as a national garage there will be no problems with this, but I was wondering if I could refuse to pay this fee, or say I will carry out my own check (for around £20).

So basically what I want to know - is this charge compulsary or not?

forgotmyname

If your not happy tell them your not paying £98 for a £25..ish check and walk away.

adamc260

Surely it would be in the garages best interests to carry it out when they buy cars anyway... not just when it comes to selling, as if it turns out the car has outstanding finance, they've been duped and don't own the car? Tell them to bog off I would!

I don't believe its a compulsory though, its just there as a 'peace of mind' thing but... even if you went direct to the HPI Check website the cost of a check is only £20.50 so ask them why they're ripping you off?

leenumber10

forgotmyname wrote: »

If your not happy tell them your not paying £98 for a £25..ish check and walk away.

I'm pleased with the overall deal, and I'm more than likely go go for it - just didn't want to pay extra for something I know is cheaper.

leenumber10

adamc260 wrote: »

Surely it would be in the garages best interests to carry it out when they buy cars anyway... not just when it comes to selling, as if it turns out the car has outstanding finance, they've been duped and don't own the car? Tell them to bog off I would!

I don't believe its a compulsory though, its just there as a 'peace of mind' thing but... even if you went direct to the HPI Check website the cost of a check is only £20.50 so ask them why they're ripping you off?

Yeah I don't beleive that the garage hasn't already completed these checks - its just another way of increasing their profit. But I will ask tomorrow if it is complusory and question them as to why it is so high etc.

adamc260

leenumber10 wrote: »

Yeah I don't beleive that the garage hasn't already completed these checks - its just another way of increasing their profit. But I will ask tomorrow if it is complusory and question them as to why it is so high etc.

Aye defo, ask them why they're charging 4x the cost of going direct to the HPI company themselves who no doubt make a large profit from it too... See the salesman squirm a bit

When I used to value cars as a claims handler it used to cost us a few pounds to get the all the info

backfoot

I bought a vehicle from Evans Halshaw and refused to pay this fee. I also refused to pay another fee for paying by credit card. If push comes to shove tell them you'll shop elsewhere.It's only a car.

They backed down and sold at a price negotiated below the advertised price.

adamc260

backfoot wrote: »

I bought a vehicle from Evans Halshaw and refused to pay this fee. I also refused to pay another fee for paying by credit card. If push comes to shove tell them you'll shop elsewhere.It's only a car.

They backed down and sold at a price negotiated below the advertised price.

Evans Halshaw aren't known for their 'fantastic' customer services sadly... Glad you got a good result though

j2o_2

I paid a deposit on a car with Evans Halshaw last week, and was told the fee was compulsory. At the time I had no idea what they cost, but I've since looked online and seen that they're only about £10-20.

The original advert for the car on their website lists 'Experian Providence Check' along with the car's features, implying this is included in the asking price (although two of the other features it mentioned were not on the car)...

I'll speak to them about it, but does anyone know if I would have any legal grounds for refusing to pay this fee now I've paid a deposit?

Thanks.

Hammyman

Refuse to pay it. If the car ends up being stolen/on finance its their problem and you get your money back. Ask them a specific "Is this a Category A to D write off?" If they answer no, say you want it in writing then if it ends up being found to be down the road, you can get your money back because they missold it to you.

backfoot

With my purchase, I negotiated a price I was happy with including a trade in. It was then that took me through some computer software setting out the deal. That software introduced this HPI fee and various options like a Servicing Package.

I said that I expected them to only deal in vehicles that they had checked out. They were taken aback and insisted it was a cost they had to pass on. I told them they weren't going to pass it on to me and it was additional to their advertised price.

Deal or no deal? They backed down but insisted on showing half the fee on the invoice with a corresponding reduction off the price of the vehicle.

I guess they are under head office pressure to use this fiddle to enhance earnings.Bit like extended warranties which are big earners.