Volvo 0% finance - I am accepted but car is not

chrisp_blabla

I have been looking at Volvo cars for a couple of weeks.
This week I received an e-mail from a Volvo main dealer who I had visited a couple of times:

"Hi Chris
just dropping you a line to see how it is going on the sale front with your Audi. Also if it is any help we are having a event this weekend on used cars where they are offering 0% finance.
David"

I wasn't going to be around so went mid-week to find/negotiate on a car. Found a pre-reg car (albeit Sep 2017, 75 miles). I heavily negotiated the car and they refused firstly but then sent me a mail next day (2/11) saying they accepted my offer and took a £500 deposit.

On 3/11 I received an offer and credit form. The offer did say:
Offer Details:
Subject to 0% finance acceptance on 3/11/2017

This morning 4/11, I receive this mail:
Good Morning Chris,
I have good news and bad news for you.
The good news is you have been accepted on our finance.
The bad news is unfortunately the Car you are purchasing is not eligible for the 0% finance.
I have requested our lowest rate possible to try and compensate (which is what you have been accepted for).
£xxx.22 Per Month over 36 months
With deposit of £xxxxx still
7.9% APR
4.06% Flat rate
Let me know if you would still like to proceed.

I phoned and asked why they took a deposit and carried out a credit check as they should have known and was told that because the car is less than 3 months old it is not eligable and also the cost of covering the 0% finance would be too much based on the price they had agreed for the car.
I asked why they didn't know this before taking my deposit and doing a credit check on me and he said they were only informed last night. Really? Volvo have been running adverts on this campaign for days/weeks now.

I recorded the call.

Volvo's website under used cars today says "Offer applies to vehicles up to 24 months old."

If it is the case that the car has to be 3 months old, which I can't find anywhere, surely they should have known this before last night and running a credit check on me and taking £500 deposit.

So my options:
Get my £500 deposit back and don't buy car
Accept their finance
Find another way to finance the car

I feel this is because they accepted my offer without doing their own calculations and now realize they don't have enough profit in their amazing "not so 0%" finance offer.

Is this something worth arguing and taking further? I want the car but feel slightly cheated and annoyed.

Thanks for any advice.

pinkshoes

I would get your deposit back and go and buy elsewhere!

Does your deposit receipt have it written anyway that the purchase is financed by their 0% loan?

chrisp_blabla

But that is what they would prefer as they realize they might make more money selling to someone else.

Offer says
Subject to 0% finance acceptance on 3/11/2017

I have been accepted.
I want that car.
Bad style from them.

So I just have to accept the situation and most likely lose out to what I thought I was agreeing to.

Fosterdog

chrisp_blabla wrote: »

But that is what they would prefer as they realize they might make more money selling to someone else.

Offer says
Subject to 0% finance acceptance on 3/11/2017

I have been accepted.
I want that car.
Bad style from them.

So I just have to accept the situation and most likely lose out to what I thought I was agreeing to.

Pretty much, the offer was subject to acceptance, for whatever reason the exact deal you wanted wasn’t accepted, they have offered an alternative which is up to you where you want to take them up on that offer or not.

chrisp_blabla

So annoying !!!

Let's make him an offer we can't commit to.
Let's get his financial details and approval to do a credit check on him.
Once we know he is approved try to sell him a worse package.

Bad practice.

DoaM

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/cars/used-cars says:

Terms and Conditions

Offer available on used vehicles bought from 3rd to 6th November 2017 at participating dealers. Finance subject to status. 50% minimum deposit. Maximum term 36 months. Minimum £6,000 to finance. Offer on selected vehicles. 18s or over. Ts & Cs apply. Guarantees may be required. Volvo Car Credit, RH1 1SR. We are a credit broker not a lender for this financial promotion. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers and may receive a commission from them for the introduction. Service Offer Ts and Cs apply. Offer applies to vehicles up to 24 months old.

Nothing there about a minimum age. Their escape clause might be the bold bit - I can't easiy find what those T&Cs are.

bris

chrisp_blabla wrote: »

Offer says
Subject to 0% finance acceptance on 3/11/2017

I have been accepted.

But you haven't been accepted, you were declined, there is no where to go with this except to another dealer.


By finding another way to buy the car now you are playing right into their hands, get your deposit back and walk away. Don't encourage their sharp ruthless practice.

neilmcl

Try speaking to Volvo Finance or customer services to find out why this car is not included in the offer. From the link posted by DoaM does the car appear in the online used car search?

Fosterdog

DoaM wrote: »

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/cars/used-cars says:


Nothing there about a minimum age. Their escape clause might be the bold bit - I can't easiy find what those T&Cs are.

Maybe it comes under the “offer on selected vehicles” clause? Maybe this isn’t a selected vehicle because of its age