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Fowlers Finance Pickle!
I know I'm an absolute fool for doing this, but need some advice please.
I contacted Fowlers Finance as I was having trouble getting finance for a car (even with a fair credit rating).
I spoke to someone in their Stoke office (I'm based in Manchester) and they said that they would find me the car I wanted (A VW Polo 1.4). I was asked to pay £100 'commitment deposit', which was supposedly their fee for sourcing a vehicle.
After a few days, I received a call to say they'd found a Polo which was conveniently based at their Manchester office. I was informed that I needed to arrange finance there and then and a further deposit of £400 was required, to lower my monthly premium. This was paid before I saw the car (Yes I know!?). i also set up a payment plan and provided my bank details. They advised that I would need to travel to Stoke to sign the paperwork, which didn't seem right.
I arranged to view the vehicle the following Saturday. I arrived early in the morning, and the car wasn't there. I expressed my dissatisfaction, and was told I could view the car on Monday. This I did. I took it for a test drive and it seemed ok. After a further inspection, I realised that the car hadn't really been looked after too well. The engine appeared corroded and there were a number of things which needed repairing or replacing (new VW badge on wheel hubs, broken indicator, needed a good valet and clean).
Something just didn't feel right, and after thinking it over that evening, I contacted Fowlers and advised that I didn't want to proceed any further. At this point I haven't signed any paperwork. i have also contacted my bank to ensure no further payments are collected and checked no standing order / direct debit instructions have been presented.
They are now being difficult and claim that the amount of deposit have paid so far i.e. £500 equates to how much time and effort they have put into 'preparing' the car for me...namely things like:
1) MOT (Which I assume would have been done as standard anyway).
2) The cost of getting the vehicle to the garage from their Stoke office (although I was originally told it was in Manchester).
3) Cleaning/Valeting/Repairing the car to meet my needs (again, surely this is done as a matter of course).
4) General administration / setting up paperwork / time / resource.
i have asked for my deposit to be returned, but fear I have a bit of a fight on my hands.
I would be most grateful for some advice / tips etc. I have contacted Trading Standards, and they asked me to check the T&Cs, but as I don't have anything in writing, it's a little difficult. Could anyone recommend a course of action, my rights etc?
PS - Whilst speaking to my bank, I thought I'd ask if they would run me through a loan application (it had been declined 3 months prior, so I was taking a bit of a risk), and to my surprise I was accepted and now have finance to purchase a better vehicle. i just wish I'd approached them sooner.
I contacted Fowlers Finance as I was having trouble getting finance for a car (even with a fair credit rating).
I spoke to someone in their Stoke office (I'm based in Manchester) and they said that they would find me the car I wanted (A VW Polo 1.4). I was asked to pay £100 'commitment deposit', which was supposedly their fee for sourcing a vehicle.
After a few days, I received a call to say they'd found a Polo which was conveniently based at their Manchester office. I was informed that I needed to arrange finance there and then and a further deposit of £400 was required, to lower my monthly premium. This was paid before I saw the car (Yes I know!?). i also set up a payment plan and provided my bank details. They advised that I would need to travel to Stoke to sign the paperwork, which didn't seem right.
I arranged to view the vehicle the following Saturday. I arrived early in the morning, and the car wasn't there. I expressed my dissatisfaction, and was told I could view the car on Monday. This I did. I took it for a test drive and it seemed ok. After a further inspection, I realised that the car hadn't really been looked after too well. The engine appeared corroded and there were a number of things which needed repairing or replacing (new VW badge on wheel hubs, broken indicator, needed a good valet and clean).
Something just didn't feel right, and after thinking it over that evening, I contacted Fowlers and advised that I didn't want to proceed any further. At this point I haven't signed any paperwork. i have also contacted my bank to ensure no further payments are collected and checked no standing order / direct debit instructions have been presented.
They are now being difficult and claim that the amount of deposit have paid so far i.e. £500 equates to how much time and effort they have put into 'preparing' the car for me...namely things like:
1) MOT (Which I assume would have been done as standard anyway).
2) The cost of getting the vehicle to the garage from their Stoke office (although I was originally told it was in Manchester).
3) Cleaning/Valeting/Repairing the car to meet my needs (again, surely this is done as a matter of course).
4) General administration / setting up paperwork / time / resource.
i have asked for my deposit to be returned, but fear I have a bit of a fight on my hands.
I would be most grateful for some advice / tips etc. I have contacted Trading Standards, and they asked me to check the T&Cs, but as I don't have anything in writing, it's a little difficult. Could anyone recommend a course of action, my rights etc?
PS - Whilst speaking to my bank, I thought I'd ask if they would run me through a loan application (it had been declined 3 months prior, so I was taking a bit of a risk), and to my surprise I was accepted and now have finance to purchase a better vehicle. i just wish I'd approached them sooner.
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Comments
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They don't seem to have any T&Cs on their website or rights of cancellation. I would call Trading Standards back and point this out and mention that you have not been sent any by post either.I would be most grateful for some advice / tips etc. I have contacted Trading Standards, and they asked me to check the T&Cs, but as I don't have anything in writing, it's a little difficult. Could anyone recommend a course of action, my rights etc?
You may lose the £100 'commitment deposit' but the £400 for lowering finance should be refundable I would have thought.
I am no expert on distance selling regulations but as this was conducted over the phone I would thought they apply and that you should have the right to inspect the car before committing to buy it."We act as though comfort and luxury are the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about” – Albert Einstein0 -
I contacted Fowlers in writing (recorded) asking that my deposits were refunded, and followed the letter up with emails and phone calls.
Eventually, a week ago I spoke to the agent who handled my initial enqury. I advised them I had contacted Trading Standards, and was considering forwarding my case to the Financial Ombudsman. The agent then advised that they were never NOT going to refund my deposit, and were waiting for sign off from the Director. He intimated they were happy for me to contact Trading Standards and the Ombudsman in the meantime (which I've done). I asked for timescales for the refund, which they said they were unable to provide.
It's now 30 days since cancellation and I still haven't received anything.
Has anybody been in a similar situation, and could advise further?0 -
kimmykat26 wrote: »I want to know if anyone has the contact details for Fowlers ie: head office phone number or address,
Have you tried both the head office address and the registered office address from their website?
http://www.fowlersfinance.com/contact.htmlA smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who giveor "It costs nowt to be nice"0 -
kimmykat26 wrote: »I too have had dealings with Fowlers, they owe me a £50 deposit. Lucky for me I smelt a rat and run a mile. They are one dodgy company I spoke to guy called Wayne portor if that's his name from Stoke on Trent, he was a slime trying to chat me up rather than sell me a car, which I am glad never happened now. I could go on forever about these rob dogs, but for now I want to know if anyone has the contact details for Fowlers ie: head office phone number or address, I think its high time I sent a letter to these crooks. It might only be £50 but you think of all the people they are doing this to, they are earning money of people's deposits alone. Fowlers need to be stopped. From one angry consumer 😡
You obviously googled "Fowlers Finance" to get here, so did you not think to click on the entry above this one that goes to their website, where you can find their Head Office's phone number?0 -
They are as dodgy as their old ccj and iva businessDon't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.0
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I had a car of them, they now owe me £1524 and have 3 ccjs against them from others and soon to be one from me! I've been in talks with stroke on Trent trading standards but no luck.
FOWLERS are a waste of space who buy guys that are accident damage and sell on.
I'm now in process of taking them to court for my money0 -
Be warned seriously this company is full of crooks, they sold me a car last year engine fault within 2 hrs of taking it from Manchester branch. Took £400 pound deposit I tried endlessly to get the car fixed they didn't want to know. Week 3 gearbox and clutch went! I'd already asked for a change of vehicle and was told 'NOT GOING TO HAPPEN' this was by a [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] at Stoke branch. I don't care naming him as he's an unprofessional cowboy in the trade. The car was then attempted to be repossessed when I thought it was going in for repairs not the case they'd already taken another sum of money off me. Eventually they did pick the car up saying that it was now repossessed and wanted more money off me before they would fix it. This was 2 months ago and three days ago they tried to take the car again when they'd already got it back.... Obviously no communication between them. Please if you're reading this I very seriously and strongly advise you to stay clear of this cowboy firm their cars are auction waste and their aftercare once the car is off the forecourt is non existant they don't care just after your money. I have seeked legal advice and will be going to court anyone had a similar experience with this firm reply to this post the more evidence the better !!!0
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I bought car off fowlers 2 and half months ago was going down motorway turbo went I was 120 mile from home they didn't want to know your problem they said this was 7 days ago I got car towed back im still waiting for them to repair and guess what im being passed the book with all the different phone numbers stay clear of them!!!!!!0
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I bought car off fowlers 2 and half months ago was going down motorway turbo went I was 120 mile from home they didn't want to know your problem they said this was 7 days ago I got car towed back im still waiting for them to repair and guess what im being passed the book with all the different phone numbers stay clear of them!!!!!!
No punctuation buttons on your iPhone?
Ah, sorry. Yes. Clearly there's a "!" key.Optimists see a glass half full
Pessimists see a glass half empty
Engineers just see a glass twice the size it needed to be
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