Claiming back expenses for late collection of a car

mrjamin

I recently came to the end of the term on a car financed with PCP. I'd elected to return the car. In the final month of my agreement, I called up to arrange collection, and they said they couldn't do it until the final payment had been taken, then to call back and it would be collected within 5 working days.

My insurance was due to end on November 8th. Final payment was taken at the end of October, I called back on the same day, and they then told me that they couldn't collect for a further 6 weeks, collection scheduled for 12th December, a full 5 weeks after my agreement had ended. This made me feel quite uneasy as I'd be left with a car who's warranty would have ended 5 weeks before they were due to collect it, leaving me liable for any issues that may crop up in that time, not to mention the fact that I'd have to cover tax and insurance, and the risk of any damage that may happen to it in this period.

The car was collected on 12th December (amazingly, no end of term charges for damage or mileage!).

I've since submitted a claim to them for reimbursement of 5 weeks of motor insurance, and the £40 early cancellation charge that the tesco insurance imposed, all of which I've paid out already. It actually worked out cheaper to do that than to take out some kind of temporary, short term cover, which I've made clear to them.

What are my chances of getting reimbursed? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

rudekid48

Did you use the car during the 5 weeks?

mrjamin

rudekid48 wrote: »

Did you use the car during the 5 weeks?

Nope. Last time I used it was getting the MOT done shortly before it should have been collected.

rudekid48

OK, could you not have taken it off road and SORN it to save the cost? I would imagine that their argument will be that you had use of the vehicle etc

pappa_golf

transferred the V5 to there name , and parked it on the road and forgot about it ,

marcarm

Did you have anywhere offroad to store the vehicle if it had been SORN'd?

mrjamin

rudekid48 wrote: »

OK, could you not have taken it off road and SORN it to save the cost?

That'd have saved the tax, yes, but the car in question was less than 99g/km emissions so tax was £nil anyway. Under the terms of the PCP agreement it had to be insured fully-comp while I'm the registered keeper.

pappa_golf

but I thought you said the PCP had finished

"Final payment was taken at the end of October, " , therefor as of November it was nothing to do with you , infarct you insured a car that was not yours or your responsibility.

you should have taken the "registered keeper" aspect out of the system as from november you were not the legal keeper , and parked it on the roadside without insurance

Nobbie1967

mrjamin wrote: »

That'd have saved the tax, yes, but the car in question was less than 99g/km emissions so tax was £nil anyway. Under the terms of the PCP agreement it had to be insured fully-comp while I'm the registered keeper.

Surely after the agreement has ended, your obligation to insure it ceases. I think you should have discussed this when they quoted 6weeks to collect the car, rather than incur possibly needless costs.

_gav_

I would say the day your PCP ended so did you responsibility to insure it! That is certainly what happens with my lease car. If they don't collect it on the end day, that's their look out if it gets stolen. I had that confirmed by the lease company as well.

neilmcl

Sounds like the finance co. were taking the proverbial and you let them.