Dealer registered New Car "Early" what can I do?

Sgt_Pepper_2

CKhalvashi wrote: »

LG62 ***, although it's had a private plate on it since September 3rd. (I've got the LG62 plates in the boot)

CK

You shouldn't have driven or had it on a road until 1st Sept.

paddedjohn

carricklady wrote: »

Hi everyone

After saving hard I traded in my old car & bought a new Citroen. I paid for the new registration of 1st September 2012. When I got the logbook, it had been registered on August 31. The salesperson said a genuine mistake had been made & promised to sort it out. He's been dishonest (said he had called DVLA and new reg was in post etc. but when I called the DVLA they said there had been no contact). Then he denied he ever agreed 1st September!

A month later I am still phoning, chasing and just getting excuses. It has taken all the pleasure out of the experience of getting my new car.

The tax disc they arranged expires at the end of August as per a 1st September registration (a 13 month tax disc is impossible.) I think the salesperson was trying to pull a fast one and meet his August targets/quotas.

The latest feedback is an offer of £300 as a 'goodwill gesture.'

• Do I have grounds to return the car?
• If not, what do you think a reasonable settlement figure would be?
• Is there an effective car industry complaints body I can go to?
• How long have I got before the statutory rights period expires?

All advice very gratefully received!

13 month tax is possible on the very first disc.

carricklady

Hi everyone. Thanks so much for the advice.

We didn't collect the car until September 1st or drive it until then. The log book said 31st August when we got it home and we called them straight away. They said it was a genuine mistake that had happened to several customers due to an 'admin error' and I would get a new log book. The V5C form arrived on Sept 6th with 31st August (V12) registration.

Hintza

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

It's not fraud, the op has been provided with a new car which is what he paid for.

No the OP bought a new car to be registered on or just after 1st September. As we all know a car registered on 31st August will be be worth less when coming to sell.

Take an Audi A6 S6 (Parkers Dealer Prices)

An 11 plate is worth £37,855
A 61 plate £39,665

Although you could argue these figures are generalisations there is £1,800 of a difference.

Take a slightly more reasonable car Ford Focus Edge and there is £420 difference.

Tilt

CKhalvashi wrote: »

LG62 ***, although it's had a private plate on it since September 3rd. (I've got the LG62 plates in the boot)

CK

It couldn't of been 'fully taxed' as the tax wouldn't kick in until 1st September.

Tilt

carricklady wrote: »

Hi everyone. Thanks so much for the advice.

We didn't collect the car until September 1st or drive it until then. The log book said 31st August when we got it home and we called them straight away. They said it was a genuine mistake that had happened to several customers due to an 'admin error' and I would get a new log book. The V5C form arrived on Sept 6th with 31st August (V12) registration.

I would not of accepted it.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Hintza wrote: »

No the OP bought a new car to be registered on or just after 1st September. As we all know a car registered on 31st August will be be worth less when coming to sell.

Take an Audi A6 S6 (Parkers Dealer Prices)

An 11 plate is worth £37,855
A 61 plate £39,665

Although you could argue these figures are generalisations there is £1,800 of a difference.

Take a slightly more reasonable car Ford Focus Edge and there is £420 difference.

If the chassis number is on the order form and it op is the first keeper. He has the new car he ordered and paid for.

Hintza

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

If the chassis number is on the order form and it op is the first keeper. He has the new car he ordered and paid for.

What has that got to do with it, the OP has bought a car that is potentially worth thousands less, the garage have either been dishonest or at best negligent and as such the buyer needs so form of recompense.

I have already pointed out the disparity in prices of second hand vehicles with different plate prefixes. So the buyer will suffer a financial loss at some point. Whereas the dealership will probably have enjoyed a financial gain (which could be substantial) in the form of bonus payments from the manufacturer for increasing/meeting sales targets in the dead month of August.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Hintza wrote: »

What has that got to do with it, the OP has bought a car that is potentially worth thousands less, the garage have either been dishonest or at best negligent and as such the buyer needs so form of recompense.

I have already pointed out the disparity in prices of second hand vehicles with different plate prefixes. So the buyer will suffer a financial loss at some point. Whereas the dealership will probably have enjoyed a financial gain (which could be substantial) in the form of bonus payments from the manufacturer for increasing/meeting sales targets in the dead month of August.

Everything.

The list price for a new car is via same on the first of August and the the first of September. So the dealer makes the same profit. Where is the fraud you suggested?

A new model in two years time would affect second hand values, so would high mileage or collison damage.

What is the ops actual loss?
Not potential loss.

Hintza

The dealer makes much of their profits on meeting sales targets not in individual units.

The loss of value will be most acute now and will decline over the OP's period of ownership.

Of course the car is the same price on the two days but the value is not the same. In effect it is a pre-reg car and that price differential could be easily calculated from dealer records.

I am just surprised that you can not see how there is a difference in value. So not much point in arguing my case further with you, I'll let my point stand as is and others can judge both arguments.