Skoda PCP ending - can't get in touch with them!

Goldust

I appreciate the pandemic had made a lot of these things more challenging but I've had a nightmare with a Skoda PCP agreement that is due to end in a week.

Due to illness and employment issues, the car has sat on the drive since January.  I enquired about an "early termination" in March but they said via email I would have to continue to insure the vehicle anyway and did not know when they could collect.  I figured I may as well keep hold of it for the coming months as the agreement was due to end and to see how things were then.

So here we are, a week to go.  I've sent countless messages via their Finance portal and emails over the last month.  Have also tried to call most days but it just says they are too busy and cannot take calls.  As it stands, I don't know what is going to happen.  Will they attempt to take the final payment as per their terms if I do nothing?  I don't want any additional charges or any impact to my credit record.

And all of the above is before I've even thought about the additional insurance costs and inconvenience of having to keep the car on my drive.  I may have to move in a months time so what do I do then?  I'd be quite happy to go drop it off somewhere but I presumer they make further excuses not to do that.

neilmcl

Speak to your local Skoda dealer, maybe they'll have better look speaking to someone from their finance division.

DrEskimo

neilmcl said:

Speak to your local Skoda dealer, maybe they'll have better look speaking to someone from their finance division.

This ^

It may not be in your best interest to hand it back to the finance company. Get some quotes from various garages and dealerships and see how much it's worth relative to the settlement (if you're at the end of the agreement, then this is just the final payment amount). If it's the same, or greater than the settlement then just trade it in and let them settle the outstanding finance.

Goldust

It is worth more than the settlement amount... but obviously they want me to buy another car!  I reckon I could sell it for around that figure or slightly more based on the much lower than expected mileage but it's not really hassle I can be bothered with at the moment.

They said they couldn't reach the finance people and use the same contacts which seems a bit bizarre but I'm no expert.  Suggested I come in and they sort it out which means a sales pitch but at this stage I don't have any other options!

DrEskimo

Goldust said:

It is worth more than the settlement amount... but obviously they want me to buy another car!  I reckon I could sell it for around that figure or slightly more based on the much lower than expected mileage but it's not really hassle I can be bothered with at the moment.

They said they couldn't reach the finance people and use the same contacts which seems a bit bizarre but I'm no expert.  Suggested I come in and they sort it out which means a sales pitch but at this stage I don't have any other options!

This isn't true. Plenty of dealers or garages will happily buy the car from you at trade value without selling you another car. In fact it was exactly what I did to get rid of the one and only car I had on PCP. I contacted a garage in Essex, negotiated a price and they drove to my house in Hertfordshire and bought it from me. I simply settled the finance in full the next morning and kept the surplus.

Ring around any and all garage and dealers and ask if they would want to buy the car from you. You do not have to rely on the one main dealer you bought the car from, or who is local to you! You can sell it to whoever you like! It's no different than going around lots of dealers to find a good price to buy a car, or hunting around different insurance companies for a better premium.

Ectophile

If all else fails, look at your documentation to find their contact address and write to them.  Post the letter from a Post Office and get proof of postage.  That way, they can't say you didn't notify them.

LidLicker

I find this quite strange tbh as I moved house during Lockdown, and I have PCP with Skoda and I managed to get hold of them via email. It took a couple of days to get a response but I didnt mind.
But as already said, maybe go into your local dealer and just see what they give you for it. Just state from the start you are not after another and you simply want this car gone to end the finance. I doubt they will offer you more than its worth as they will have all the figures in front of them through Volkswagen Finance, however It has happened to me once when they give me an extra £800 on top

marlot

Lots of dealers are short of stock at the moment.  The dealer could well be keen to buy.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Go to BCA website and see if it regonises your car and you are able to book collection.
http://bookingportal.bca.com/BCA_Portal/HomePage.aspx

There's alos helpful thread on Pistonheads about cancelled collections. You might be able to find contact details to VWFS or BCA. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=1862202