MOBILITY SCHEME question

ANDY1964

Good Evening,

Last September i started paying out of my PIP monthly payments for a new car via the Mobility Scheme.

Just before Christmas someone tried to break into the car but thankfully they did not succeed.

As a direct result of the attempted theft part of the door handle went missing which covers the lock and has been exposed to any further attempting break in and also to the elements.

When i reported this to the car dealership they charged me for the replacement part, this despite being the car under warrenty and under the Mobility Scheme process.

Three months on and despite and on three seperate occasions the dealership stating they have ordered the part, they are now saying that they will not provide the part, and this despite me paying for the part out of my own money.

i have contacted the Mobility Scheme people who have not only questioned the dealerships handling of the whole matter but have also stated that the dealership should not have charged me.

I have not used the car for near on two months now as i am worried that the car could be again targeted for a break in without the missing part being in place which would be visible to any potential car thief.

The Mobility Scheme are aware of my concerns about using the car which i am still paying for but to scared to use.

As a goodwill gesture they have told me that as they will pay me £50 as a result of the actions of the dealership which whilst appreciated does not i feel compensate me for the inconvenience, loss of using the car and the stress all of this is having.

Could someone kindly advise me any such rights i have and in particular giving the dealerships actions or lack of action, as is still the case would this be deemed a breach of contract by the other parties including the dealership and the Mobility Scheme who have not dealt with this matter in such a way that i would have expected.

its like they are saying here is £50 get on with it, its not our concern.

Any advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated as i do not feel that i am being treated right as a customer by the dealership nor the Mobility Scheme who seem to be turning a blind eye,

Thanks Andy

TadleyBaggie

Suspect this post needs moving, can't see any connection with "Energy".

The dealership were right to not treat this as a warranty issue, damage to the car, regardless how caused, would never be covered. If anything it is an insurance matter, however depending on the insurance excess, this might not be the best route to take.

Not using the car is your own choice, you can't expect the dealership to give you another car to use.

rjmachin

You will need to report the damage to the insurance provider, who will assess if it needs to be repaired:
https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/should-i-claim-for-minor-damage/

ANDY1964

TadleyBaggie said:

Suspect this post needs moving, can't see any connection with "Energy".

The dealership were right to not treat this as a warranty issue, damage to the car, regardless how caused, would never be covered. If anything it is an insurance matter, however depending on the insurance excess, this might not be the best route to take.

Not using the car is your own choice, you can't expect the dealership to give you another car to use.

So why did the dealership advise me to pay for the part and not contact the insurers.
I've paid the dealership over two months ago but they still have not giving me the part.
I have not mentioned the dealership giving me a new car FWIW.

TadleyBaggie

ANDY1964 said:

I have not mentioned the dealership giving me a new car FWIW.

True but you seem to want compensation for not using it, when in reality that is your own choice.

Scot_39

Not really in the best location - youv'e posted this in energy - there are sections on insurance and even on reclaiming costs / consumer rights (regarding the money paid to dealer - and you do seem keen to get money back from dealers etc) Have sent a report to forum admins suggesting they move to say consumer rights section.

Criminal damage is not a dealer issue per se - but an insurance one.

I am not sure how big this damage was - but many cars with remote locking these days - have a small piece of plastic covering the lock tumbler - it's actually designed to be fairly easily levered off - e.g. in case of a key fob or main battery / fuse failure - to mechanically access lock to unlock the door.

To be honest - the dealer probably thought they were doing you a favour - they are likely to be more than used to people wanting small to even medium costs fixes into several £100s+ - without insurance company involvement.  Even if that means siding with those drivers failing to report to the insurance companies when they perhaps need to  / should (even if not making a claim).

As far as I can tell from your description - the dealer perhaps should arguably provide a refund - if the part has not been delivered as promised - but then - think - did they actually promise a delivery.

They often wont offer hard dates - and for good reason (it's not unheard of for cars to sit in dealers in an undrivable condition for weeks - sometimes months - waiting on parts - that the dealer themselves have no control over. 

As long as car usable safely without - it's unlikely a high priority - and the part may be coming form China or Asia etc by boat - the journey itself taking several weeks - more so of late given Red Sea in fact - even on a UK / European branded car - let alone a Chinese or Asian brand) ?

Re your immediate security concerns in the interim - might be best to avoid leaving anything of value to a thief - in the car - and fit a highly visible secondary deterrent device - like the mechanical devices of old - when car locks were weak - that prevents drive away - like a steering wheel lock or disklok type device - see e.g.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-security/

for some examples - note other suppliers and models will be available - and not all will fit all models - so always ask / check.

For decades when younger living in a large city - my dad and then my siblings and I - never left our cars parked anywhere - including own driveways - without things like the old Krooklok model fitted. A 30-60 (on entry / exit) second hassle - worth it to keep the car safer.

CouldntResist

I don't know much about the Motability scheme but it must be fantastic if it covers your vehicle being broken into and repaired under warranty ie your claim  that Motability said the dealership shouldn't have charged you for this.

If this isn't the case why on earth would you 'report the damage to the dealership' - everyone else would have reported it to their insurer to get repaired, or taken it to a garage to get repaired. If the latter, if you paid for the parts you expect to get the parts at some point, there is no 'the garage is refusing to supply them'; if they can't actually get the parts you get your money back and try again elsewhere.

As to your not using the car because the lock cover is missing, well anyone who could steal the car is hardly likely to choose it just because the lock cover is missing; they are dead easy to remove, as already proven so if they wanted to steal it this is only saving them seconds

(Door locks have been exposed to the elements for years, they tend to work, just drive the car)

Scot_39

Manufacturers warranty per se has nothing to do with it.  

The dealer shouldn't have charged - because it was an insurance job - as far as the scheme is concerned - but only once notified and authorised to proceed I suspect.

And the price you pay includes that iirc essentially what you might term group insurance cover (priced based on average scheme risks - not individual drivers - like a normal personal insurance).

It's a fairly comprehensive inclusive lease package - inc servicing, new tyres, insurance  etc

https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/whats-included-in-your-car-or-wav-package/

CouldntResist

So as I would have suspected you either:
- report to insurer, let them sort it, pay any excess
- don't report it to insurer, sort and pay for it yourself

If we've gone down the second route, the Mobility scheme offering a goodwill payment for the dealer not following through with sourcing a part sounds generous.

OP really needs to clarify who send them to the dealer and at what point the Scheme got involved

Oscarmax

ANDY1964 said:

Good Evening,

Last September i started paying out of my PIP monthly payments for a new car via the Mobility Scheme.

Just before Christmas someone tried to break into the car but thankfully they did not succeed.

As a direct result of the attempted theft part of the door handle went missing which covers the lock and has been exposed to any further attempting break in and also to the elements.

When i reported this to the car dealership they charged me for the replacement part, this despite being the car under warrenty and under the Mobility Scheme process.

Three months on and despite and on three seperate occasions the dealership stating they have ordered the part, they are now saying that they will not provide the part, and this despite me paying for the part out of my own money.

i have contacted the Mobility Scheme people who have not only questioned the dealerships handling of the whole matter but have also stated that the dealership should not have charged me.

I have not used the car for near on two months now as i am worried that the car could be again targeted for a break in without the missing part being in place which would be visible to any potential car thief.

The Mobility Scheme are aware of my concerns about using the car which i am still paying for but to scared to use.

As a goodwill gesture they have told me that as they will pay me £50 as a result of the actions of the dealership which whilst appreciated does not i feel compensate me for the inconvenience, loss of using the car and the stress all of this is having.

Could someone kindly advise me any such rights i have and in particular giving the dealerships actions or lack of action, as is still the case would this be deemed a breach of contract by the other parties including the dealership and the Mobility Scheme who have not dealt with this matter in such a way that i would have expected.

its like they are saying here is £50 get on with it, its not our concern.

Any advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated as i do not feel that i am being treated right as a customer by the dealership nor the Mobility Scheme who seem to be turning a blind eye,

Thanks Andy

Hi Andy, I am a bit confused with Mobility response and goodwill gesture, Mobility has stick guidelines.

We have been Mobility customers since my accident in 2005, under their term and conditions you should have claimed through Mobility Insurance company (it is part of your package) however you will have to pay the first £100 for each claim, you can make up to 3 claims in the lease period, after that it is down to Mobility if you stay on their scheme.

If you go directly to the dealership and request a repair they are entitled to charge you

poppy12345

Why did you go to the dealer and not to direct line insurance, who have now replaced RSA? If you go to the dealer then yes I would expect them to charge you.