Approved used purchase, misleading salesperson.

AKMG

Hello everyone, new here but lurking a lot, and learning a lot!

I’ll try to be brief: I wanted to change cars, found one, went for a test drive and negotiating stalled so the salesperson dipped into their manager’s office then came back and told me ‘You’ll get this insurance for free as I’ll discount the price from the car price’, I thought why not, I get ‘something’ and they get their commission, so agreed, deposit on credit card and left.

On the day picking the vehicle up, I was about to make the final payment and to my surprise was told that I’d be £X short (Not much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s the principle), I asked why and the salesperson said it’s for the insurance in question, I reminded them of our conversation and made sure they understand that I found their behaviour to be misleading and dishonest, also made my intentions of cancelling that insurance policy within the statuary 14 days cooling off period, to which they replied that I could do that if I wish, implying that I should contact the provider, not them. I transferred the full amount due (Should’ve put the additional £X on credit card, but hey ho, I was tired and wanted to get the keys).

I didn’t want that to poison my purchase so I left it for a couple days while I enjoy and get used to the car, and thought I’d let it go as it might have been a misunderstanding, then I saw a document that highlights something else, that the salesperson wasn’t just dishonest, but outright liar (Different matter, not a great impact on my purchase, but character is now clearly established), that pushed me even more towards my initial idea of cancelling that insurance and getting my money back.

I am fully aware and accepting that I made a mistake being too excited about a ‘new’ car and ‘agreed’ to verbal contracts without seeing the deal in writing (Another thing they were sketchy about, all the written agreements were on a tablet and I was literally prompted to sign, I am stupid, I know).

This is my first car purchase, this is why I’m also accepting that even if I can’t get this money back, this will be a valuable lesson for the future.

I went through the dealer’s Terms and Conditions; cancelling a vehicle order is addressed, but nothing regarding cancelling an ‘Optional Product’, there is an Initial Disclosure document however stating the standard ‘We act on behalf of a panel’ and that they hold any insurance money as the agent of the insurer under a risk transfer agreement, absolutely nothing about cancellations, refunds or associated admin fees.

I received 2 invoices, one for the vehicle, and another for the insurance in question (Both have the same number).

My questions are:

1- Am I overthinking it and should just let it go and swallow my pride and accept my mistake? I am very likely to be using the site for service (Nearest approved alternative is a long drive away), should I avoid making an enemy too soon? Or is the service department going to be happy to take my money regardless?

2- If going ahead: Do I contact the insurer and request a cancellation, get a confirmation, then demand the refund money from the dealer? (I’m assuming the refund will be issued to the dealer as the insurer will not have my payment details on their system, wrong?), or do I contact the dealer (In writing, email) as they are the ones who arranged the policy and leave it for them to cancel? (Worried dealer would stall cancelling within the 14 days cooling off period).

3- Would it be best initiate the process after I received my V5C or as soon as possible?

4- When/if a refund is issued, how long are they legally allowed to hold the money before returning it to me? And what’s the maximum admin fee to process a refund (I do not think they’d provide a full refund).
 

Thank you for any help.

Ayr_Rage

What, exactly, is this additional insurance product that you have purchased?

AKMG

Ayr_Rage said:

What, exactly, is this additional insurance product that you have purchased?

Alloy wheel cover, which I will never use

Mildly_Miffed

Was this discount in writing, and the amount you were trying to pay is the one on the paperwork?

Or was it verbal only, and the amount you're being held to is the amount on the paperwork?

LightFlare

From they I read it the deal was for example

£10000.
Or 
£9750 plus “free” insurance @250 = £10000

Could have been stung for £10000+250 from a good salesperson 

If you can cancel the insurance and get refunded 250 you have still save on the purchase price.

AKMG

LightFlare said:

From they I read it the deal was for example

£10000.
Or 
£9750 plus “free” insurance @250 = £10000

The above is what I thought the deal was, correct.

Could have been stung for £10000+250 from a good salesperson 

This is what the actual deal was.

If you can cancel the insurance and get refunded 250 you have still save on the purchase price.

You got this 100% correct.

AKMG

Mildly_Miffed said:

Was this discount in writing, and the amount you were trying to pay is the one on the paperwork?

Or was it verbal only, and the amount you're being held to is the amount on the paperwork?

I received 2 separate invoices with identical numbers:

The first is an invoice for the vehicle with what's listed as promotional discount with a value equal to that of the cost of the insurance.

The second is an invoice for the insurance itself, which is why I believe there's a potential for that to be cancelled separately.

Thank you both for your help.

AKMG

LightFlare said:

If you can cancel the insurance and get refunded 250 you have still save on the purchase price.

This is what I'm considering, although I'm unable to see what the potential admin fees for a cancellation is, surely the business should have highlighted that?

cw8825

AKMG said:

LightFlare said:

If you can cancel the insurance and get refunded 250 you have still save on the purchase price.

This is what I'm considering, although I'm unable to see what the potential admin fees for a cancellation is, surely the business should have highlighted that?

lets guess £50 would it still be worth it?

AKMG

cw8825 said:

lets guess £50 would it still be worth it?

Yes, it would be, although I don't like flying blind (Not knowing what they would class as a reasonable admin fee, because they never set that in any of the documents I received).

What is my best route to initiate a cancellation? Contact the dealer's customer service? Or the insurer's?

born_again

AKMG said:

Ayr_Rage said:

What, exactly, is this additional insurance product that you have purchased?

Alloy wheel cover, which I will never use

TBH, then the best policy is to simply say no I do not want it. 

They always try to sell optional extra's to which if you do not want them, simply say no. Even if they offer for free.