Scratch on PCP car

almost_done

Hello, please be kind, I am having a bad day!We have recently bought a car on a PCP finance deal (the first one we have ever done)
The car is 2 years old, and brilliant, apart from when we looked at it, it had a scratch on both doors (looked like it was scratched with a key/bag). We agreed to the sale on the condition the scratch was removed.
Went to pick up the car (typically in the pouring rain) and couldn't really see the scratch, so signed up for finance.
Cue a rare dry day, and the scratch is still there, on both doors.
I rang the garage, and have taken it back this morning for them to buff it out. Just been to pick it up, and the scratch is still there, and weirdly, seems more visible!
The garage are now saying that there is nothing more that they can do, as the only way to remove it would be to paint it, and they are not painting a 2 year old car, as it will need all the side painting.
Asked how we can get out of the deal with the cooling off period, only to be told that we can't, and the deal is with the finance company.
I have rang the finance company to be told that the only way out of the deal is to pay for the cost of the car upfront.
Meaning we have a 2 year old car that we will be driving round with that is scratched for the next few years, despite being told that it would be removed.
Have we exhausted every avenue?
Thank you in advance. As I said, please be kind. I know some posters can be quite blunt with opinions.

Cornucopia

The starting point is to get an independent estimate for repairing the scratches. Depending on the size & location, it's possible that one of the dent repair companies may take it on. Autoglass also has a mobile bodyshop service.

Once you've established the cost you can then decide what to do.

Either way, it's worth photographing the scratches now and formally notifying the finance company of the issue so that it doesn't become a problem later if you want to return the car to them (under VT or at the end of the term).

m0bov

If that repair was part of the deal then its void and you should get the money back. I'd return the car ASAP and reject it, also, buying a used car on PCP is normally a bad idea. Better to get a loan if needed.

AdrianC

Blimey, I thought this was going to be about making sure you didn't get penalised for the scratch at the end of the finance...

You want to reject a used car because of a scratch that you knew was there before agreeing to buy it...?

Your cheapest way forward is to get the scratch repainted. I'd be surprised if a smart repair outfit can't deal with it.

almost_done

I never thought of photographing it, that's a good idea.
They have told me that they will try to buff it out again, but they will have to wait for a dry day, and that will take us to past the finance cooling off period.
the finance company say that doesn't matter, and we can't hand the car back anyway, we can just open a dispute.
And the garage say we can't hand it back over what they call a faint scratch (which is at least half a metre long over 2 doors.)
I will try to get an independent estimate of repair.
I am also doin a bit more digging. When we agreed to the sale, we specifically asked if there were 2 keys, and were assured that there were.
After all the forms had been signed, and we came to drive away, we were told that there was only one key, and as a new car it only came with one key, so they wouldn't pay for another.
I have just rang another car dealership who said that all of that model car are made with 2 keys, so they have clearly lied about that too.

almost_done

AdrianC wrote: »

Blimey, I thought this was going to be about making sure you didn't get penalised for the scratch at the end of the finance...

You want to reject a used car because of a scratch that you knew was there before agreeing to buy it...?

Your cheapest way forward is to get the scratch repainted. I'd be surprised if a smart repair outfit can't deal with it.

No I don't want to reject it, I want to get it sorted as they promised they would.
The rejecting the car was an option that we were looking at should they not repair it as promised.
As you said, a scratch at the end of the deal will significantly reduce the value.

neilmcl

almost_done wrote: »

No I don't want to reject it, I want to get it sorted as they promised they would.
The rejecting the car was an option that we were looking at should they not repair it as promised.
As you said, a scratch at the end of the deal will significantly reduce the value.

Well, as they've already explained they probably wont get rid of the scratch without a respray and they're refusing to go down that route, so you're only choice is to accept it as is or reject the car.

almost_done

Do you know how we go about refusing the car?
When we asked him he said they wouldn't refuse it for a scratch.

AdrianC

almost_done wrote: »

Asked how we can get out of the deal with the cooling off period...
I have rang the finance company to be told that the only way out of the deal is..

almost_done wrote: »

No I don't want to reject it,

almost_done wrote: »

Do you know how we go about refusing the car?

I'm starting to be very confused here...

Do you want the car, or do you not want the car?

You viewed it, with scratch.
You agreed to buy it, so long as the scratch was removed.
You collected it and were satisfied with the condition.
You later found that the scratch was still visible.

Now, do you want to reject it, or not?

I'm getting the feeling this scratch cannot be that major. Have you spoken to a smart repairer? What if the supplier does agree to repaint the entire side - and you aren't happy with the match?

almost_done

It isn't major other than the length of it, but it will be major enough to reduce the price when we come to swap the car.
I just want the scratch fixing, so we can enjoy the car.
We bought it thinking the scratch would be resolved and it isn't.
We typically bought it on a day when it was torrential rain.
I suspect they put some colour fill in, as the scratch looks worse even now they have buffed it.
I absolutely want to keep the car, but I also don't want to be out of pocket by hundreds for something that is not our fault, that they promised to fix, that will cost us financially at the end.

sheslookinhot

Can you not hand it back to the dealer you bought it from at end of term ?