HELP! Duped by a car salesman - scrappage scheme

CaroMaxx

Hi all,
I've made a grave grave mistake. I'm guilty of not doing my homework and reading the MoneySavingExpert website before going to my local dealership to buy a new car. I did lots research on the car scrappage schemes and not enough on the finances. Hyundai are offering £4000 for my old car on their scrappage scheme on the i30 which appeared perfect for me having had a baby 3 1/2 months ago and a 14 year old Toyota Yaris which I've owned from new.
I test drove the car on Friday 9th March and instead of walking away to think things over and haggle for the best deal I went ahead and put down £1000 deposit for a new car. I paid this on a credit card.
I've been reading other forum threads and see it's illegal for the salesman to have sold me GAP insurance on the same day as buying the car. Is this true? If it is, this explains why the paperwork I've been emailed refers to a deferred start date or something. I've not read everything fully. I need to print off the paperwork and go through it carefully.
My issue isn't so much the extras I've been sold but more the financial breakdown doesn't tally with the conversation I had with the salesman. Hyundai advertise £4000 off their i30. The figure on the financial breakdown for scrappage allowance is £3665.83. When the salesman called to say he could get the colour of car I had asked for I questioned the vehicle order form figures, specifically the £4000 scrappage allowance and he told me the figure I was seeing didn't include VAT. I did the maths and that's total rubbish! Also listed within the costs breakdown is £50 for mats which was never mentioned to me as well as an item for G3 Paint Protection of £332.50. I questioned this item too and was told this was the description used for Scotchguarding!! Whether that is a blatant lie or not, I was told that if I took GAP insurance and Smart-dent then I would get the Scotchguarding for free so I'm being charged for something I'm told I would get free!
My plea for help comes from where do I go from here? I (ignorantly) signed the vehicle order form so does that mean I'm bound by the figures quoted and to go ahead with this purchase? Am I right in thinking I can decline the GAP and Smart-dent insurances because it's illegal for them to have sold this to me on the same day as purchasing the new car? I agreed to PCP too but have since realised their 4.9% APR representative is another con. Am I bound to finance the car in this way or can I change my mind because I haven't taken delivery of the car as yet.
I've been so upset, wound up and stressed I've not been sleeping! I hate hate hate being taken advantage of!
When on the phone to the salesman, he suggested the figures were complicated and it would be best if I go in to have the figures explained to me. I haven't been back to see him. Both my baby and I have been unwell. I want to be clear what my rights are before I go back or speak to the salesman again. If I'm honest, I hate confrontation, I could really do with avoiding any confrontation if possible. Please help with whatever information you can provide. Thanks!

AdrianC

CaroMaxx wrote: »

I've been reading other forum threads and see it's illegal for the salesman to have sold me GAP insurance on the same day as buying the car. Is this true?

No, it's complete cobblers.

If it is, this explains why the paperwork I've been emailed refers to a deferred start date or something.

I'm going to guess that there's a week's insurance from the date of delivery included, and the gap kicks in after that time, when your own insurance would take over.

I (ignorantly) signed the vehicle order form so does that mean I'm bound by the figures quoted and to go ahead with this purchase?

So you signed the order... then looked at the numbers on what you'd just agreed to buy?
That's probably not the ideal way to do it, y'know.

What does the order say about cancellation or amendment?

I agreed to PCP too but have since realised their 4.9% APR representative is another con.

Finance is tightly regulated, and a "representative" APR cannot be "a con" - it has to apply to a certain proportion of customers. You may not be within that proportion, of course.

When on the phone to the salesman, he suggested the figures were complicated and it would be best if I go in to have the figures explained to me. I haven't been back to see him.

That's your first step. If you don't feel confident, take a friend with you who you think is unlikely to be bamboozled.

waamo

I can't see they have done anything wrong at all.

Mercdriver

What rate did he quote you as being your rate and what rate have you got on the paperwork. If he told you YOUR rate was 4.9% and you got something higher, then you've been misled. If he told you that representative APR is 4.9% then he is quoting what the figures are and perhaps should have told you what your APR was, though you should always check it before you agree to anything.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Firstly, get copies of any adverts for the offers. Then sit down with the form.

You should be able to cancel the gap insurance regardless as it hasn't commenced. You can buy it cheaper online.

Clearly £3600 is not 20% less than 4000 so something iffy there. I would take a friend and calmly go back and ask them to walk through the order while showing the adverts. If they did not highlight the differences in APR e.g. explicitly quoting the rate (Not hidden on p3 in the small print) then they are not being reasonable.

Quentin

You will be able to get your Gap insurance cheaper direct from a provider.

So cancel that whatever the explanation (unless the freebies you were offered do make it cost effective)

See the MSE advice on gap insurance

(The deferred start date may be a year from purchase if your own car insurer provides full replacement cost if you have a write off etc in the first year of a brand new car)

AnotherJoe

There's a MSA code in here somewhere for ALA gap insurance I got it for £100 where the dealer quote was about £350 IIRC.

macman

Cancel the GAP, smart dent and Scotchguarding. All will carry a huge dealer mark up and can be bought from a third party if required.
The scrappage allowance is not important, what matters is the discount you got on the i30, as you should be able to get at least £3k off with ease. The dealer does not pay for the scrappage allowance, Hyundai UK do, so you should still get a discount. Or more if you qualify for the Affinity scheme.
And they will throw in the mats FOC if you ask...
You haven't been duped, you've just failed to study the figures and negotiate a better deal.

beaker141

The MSE guide does state it cant be sold at the same time :-

"As the selling of gap insurance was historically done by pushy car salesmen, to tackle this the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought in new rules on 1 September 2015 for those selling it. Dealers selling gap insurance are now NOT allowed to sell it at the same time as you buy a car.

There needs to be at least two days between the date you are given the cost (with details of the policy cover) and the day you buy the gap insurance."

from https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car-insurance/gap-insurance

DoaM

But is that legally-binding or merely FCA guidance?

motorguy

CaroMaxx wrote: »

I've been so upset, wound up and stressed I've not been sleeping! I hate hate hate being taken advantage of!

When on the phone to the salesman, he suggested the figures were complicated and it would be best if I go in to have the figures explained to me. I haven't been back to see him. Both my baby and I have been unwell. I want to be clear what my rights are before I go back or speak to the salesman again. If I'm honest, I hate confrontation, I could really do with avoiding any confrontation if possible. Please help with whatever information you can provide. Thanks!

There is no need to be upset, wound up or stressed.

Tell them to remove the GAP insurance, paint protection and the cost of the mats as you dont want any of them.

Then query the £4,000 scrappage and where it comes in to play.

You're not obliged to use their finance. You can get a cheap bank loan on line if you like, or any other source. Cancel the finance too if you can get the money cheaper elsewhere.

Simples.

Read this guide on GAP insurance. I'd be surprised if you couldnt get it 50% cheaper than the dealer is charging

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car-insurance/gap-insurance