Faulty car on PCP loan help

Madmel

Posting on behalf of a friend.

Brand new Nissan Micra purchased last autumn on a PCP loan. Can has had faults including an engine warning light coming on several times (dealer repaired whatever was causing it) and a leak at the rear of the car. The dealer drilled some holes in the bodywork but this neither cured the leak (obviously!) nor allowed the water to drain away. The car needs to go back again to have a whole new rear section fitted.

My friend is a peripatetic teacher and musician in a rural area which lacks public transport. She needs a reliable vehicle and having had 3 Micras previously plus a small legacy decided to treat herself to a brand new one in the expectation that it would be trouble-free. Obviously this is not the case and she would now like to reject the car as she has no confidence in it, but is unsure of the process and how it works with PCP. I have explained that she has rights under the SOGA but I'm no expert. I know that the dealer has to be given the chance to repair it, but the number of issues on a brand new car seems unreasonable to me (and yes, I have bought several cars from new).

We would both be very grateful if someone could advise us on her next steps as the whole issue is getting her down. Thanks in advance

wealdroam

Madmel wrote: »

Posting on behalf of a friend.

Brand new Nissan Micra purchased last autumn on a PCP loan. Can has had faults including an engine warning light coming on several times (dealer repaired whatever was causing it) and a leak at the rear of the car. The dealer drilled some holes in the bodywork but this neither cured the leak (obviously!) nor allowed the water to drain away. The car needs to go back again to have a whole new rear section fitted.

My friend is a peripatetic teacher and musician in a rural area which lacks public transport. She needs a reliable vehicle and having had 3 Micras previously plus a small legacy decided to treat herself to a brand new one in the expectation that it would be trouble-free. Obviously this is not the case and she would now like to reject the car as she has no confidence in it, but is unsure of the process and how it works with PCP. I have explained that she has rights under the SOGA but I'm no expert. I know that the dealer has to be given the chance to repair it, but the number of issues on a brand new car seems unreasonable to me (and yes, I have bought several cars from new).

We would both be very grateful if someone could advise us on her next steps as the whole issue is getting her down. Thanks in advance

Exactly when last autumn was the purchase made?
Before or after 1st October 2015?

If it was before 1st Oct then the consumer cannot insist on a refund simply because a number of repairs have taken place... unless those can be shown to have caused significant inconvenience.

Things changed with the introduction of The Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Have you, or your friend, read MSE's Consumer Rights guide yet?
The differences are mentioned there, as well as your options.

Madmel

Thank you. I will point her in the direction of this tomorrow morning.

dobba

Contact the finance company. They own title to the car and have to help you put it right.

They will have processes in place to deal with poor quality goods.

Be sure to explain what exactly is the issue with it as of now. Having had to have repairs is not something they can assist with.