Cancel an Informal Car Least Extension?

JazzH

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all coping with the current situation and making the best out of it.

My 27 month car lease with VWFS ended in January but I opted for an informal extension of 3 months. Thing is, I don't need the car now. As it was an informal extension is it within my rights to cancel my direct debit and leave the car on public land? Payment is due to come out in 2 days for the final month of the informal extension. Nothing was signed, not even a confirmation email. It was all just done verbally as VWFS insisted.

I sent them an email earlier in the week. I tried ringing today but I've been stuck on hold for ages. Also tried contacting BCA directly but they are shut down.

Just wanting to know if cancelling my DD and leaving the car in a safe place is legally acceptable.

Aylesbury_Duck

JazzH said:

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all coping with the current situation and making the best out of it.

My 27 month car lease with VWFS ended in January but I opted for an informal extension of 3 months. Thing is, I don't need the car now. As it was an informal extension is it within my rights to cancel my direct debit and leave the car on public land? Payment is due to come out in 2 days for the final month of the informal extension. Nothing was signed, not even a confirmation email. It was all just done verbally as VWFS insisted.

I sent them an email earlier in the week. I tried ringing today but I've been stuck on hold for ages. Also tried contacting BCA directly but they are shut down.

Just wanting to know if cancelling my DD and leaving the car in a safe place is legally acceptable.

It's not.  Cancelling a DD is not the same as cancelling an agreement properly.  "Informal extension" is a bit of a misnomer, it's still a legal contract.  At the moment I expect they don't have the staff to deal with your query, so you'll just have to see out your three months.

If you cancel the DD and abandon the car somewhere, they may pursue you for outstanding payments and surely will pursue you from any costs arising from the car not being looked after.

JazzH

Hi Aylesbury Duck,
Thank you for responding so quickly.  I held off cancelling the DD just in case.  I seem to recall something in the phone call about being able to cancel the informal extension, but the shady area for me is if they don't have the staff to acknowledge my notice of cancellation then I guess I am forced to keep up the payments on a car I'm not using.  

Cheers

Aylesbury_Duck

Wise move.  It's frustrating but I'm afraid you've just been unlucky that you extended just before this strange period.

JazzH

Cheers AD.  I'm more about the easy life than arguing with big corps over a few hundred quid.  Thank you