PCP Loans during Coronavirus small print

angyk_1

I took out a PCP Loan in July last year, part of the Ts & Cs were that I have to have my car serviced every 6 months (interim Service) every 12 months or so many miles a full service.  Due to Covid I haven't had the opportunity to drive my car very far as I have been working from home, I have done approximately 2000 miles in all.  My warning light came on advising of a interim service in October I had the service in the first week of December so a little late, within a couple of weeks another light came on advising my next service is due end of this month, I have been trying to contact my loan company (Alphera) to find out if this service is required given that I have barely done any miles since purchase and then only 200 miles since the last service they have confirmed sort of that I need to have the service but it just seems like I am throwing money down the grid and this is not a sensible approach and it's only lining the garage's pockets has anyone else had this issue or thoughts on this?

daveyjp

Goodbye warranty (but the late first service may have already triggered that) and if you don't intend keeping the car there could be a charge for not having the service done as it devalues the vehicle.

Car_54

It seems (so far as your contract is concerned) you have had one interim service, and are not due for a full service until June. It sounds like an excessive schedule for a modern car, but that's what you've signed up for.

As for the warning light, you need to speak to a main dealer. It's probably a fault.

Herzlos

Some VW group cars run different service intervals for the full/interim with their own time/mileage clocks which can mean you end off with 2 of them due within a short time of each other. What I've done in the past is to just get them both done together on the schedule of the shorter one to save having it brought in twice.

Ideally you should get that service done to satisfy any conditions/warranty and hope that mitigates the other one being 2 months late.

Contrary to popular belief, it's far more important to service a car that's doing a low mileage because the engines never getting warm and lubricating properly.

If it was me I'd get the service done as the car suggests, because the loss in value / penalties from the PCP may be higher than the cost to do the service.
That said, if you're planning on keeping the car after the PCP expires then the value won't be impacted and you're free to skip it.

AdrianC

Variable servicing and time-based servicing often don't coincide. Given that it's Alphera, I presume it's a BMW group car?

Way back in the 90s, I had a ~2yo company 3-series. The light came on, and it went in for a service. A couple of weeks later, the light came on again. The first time was oil-condition based. The second time was time-based. Quite why the dealer didn't check and do both at the same time, I have no idea...

Your financier insist that you get THEIR car serviced according to the requirements. You are already late with no good reason on the first (due October, done December - Covid restrictions were lower in October). Don't miss the next...

neilmcl

If you have a loan the you don't have a PCP, so which is it?

Also, what make of car is it? BMW's for example will have what's called Condition Based Servicing (CBS) so wont be a fixed time period and you should get it serviced as indicated.

jimjames

Which car is it? It seems very odd to have a 6 month service specified, I'm only aware of 12 months & specified mileage like 10,000.

angyk_1

it's a BMW service i haven't been well hence the late service I am afraid but I take all the points on board and will have the next service done.  When I say warning light to clarify it's the service reminder light when starting the car that comes on!

With regards to service the agreement states that services should be carried out in line with the Manufacturers recommendation given the lights comes on and reminds I have assumed its as I previously stated

Car_54

angyk_1 said:

With regards to service the agreement states that services should be carried out in line with the Manufacturers recommendation given the lights comes on and reminds I have assumed its as I previously stated

OK, but that’s not what you said in the OP!

born_again

jimjames said:

Which car is it? It seems very odd to have a 6 month service specified, I'm only aware of 12 months & specified mileage like 10,000.

Kia Stinger has one.