Pay monthly issue?

wmat983

My partners car was booked in for service and MOT today, about a week about alert came up on dash brake pads are low and need changing. 

I checked them and they appear to be over 4mm, from what I gather 3mm is the minimum so thought they would at least pass MOT then could get them changed at uncles garage.

Anyway, I took her car in for her as she has just come off night shift. The girl said pads are low and would need changing, I said it's OK will take them to her uncles garage so just do the service and MOT if possible. She said would you like me to at least check price while you are here? I said ok go on then, she gave me a price and said you "can pay monthly" I said ok go on then. An hour later she calls me back saying technician has disks are lipped also and wouldn't put pads on them, she said it can all be paid over 6 months a X/month, would you like to carry on? I said ok yes go on then.

Anyway, I received a video from technician and had "spread the cost" link below it and filled out for my partner but said unfortunately we can't offer you this at this time.

She's not said yet that I have to pay in full so maybe still is available over 6 months I am waiting for email back.

Just wondering where I would stand, I agreed on the basis it was to be paid monthly, there was no mention of "subject to credit check" or anything like that?

I know it is not their fault if she failed credit check but at the same time they should have done a credit check prior if there was one needed, hopefully they maintain the interest free monthly payments but just wondering where I would stand if they said had to pay in full? 

Mark_d

If "spread the cost" is currently unavailable to you then you need to pay in full.  I doubt they did a credit check on your partner.  The reason the "spread the cost"  option is not available to you could be down to any number of reasons

DE_612183

the "spread the cost" is just a courtesy credit service, which can be withdrawn at any time - it's probably provided by a 3rd party financial company rather than the garage themselves.

Unless she's signed the credit agreement not sure you can do anything - and even if she had signed you'd have to check the T&Cs which would likely give the Finance Company a get out clause.

paul_c123

If the instruction to proceed was conditional on the finance arrangement - maybe because you physically can't afford to pay the entire cost upfront - then in theory, they could unwind the deal and refit the old discs and pads. They wouldn't be able to charge labour either.

But then, did you make it clear this was the case? If not then I think they're entitled to the money (and could put a lien on your car if unpaid).

Discs and pads are maintenance items, I'd just find the money somehow and pay up.

wmat983

She basically sold it to me saying these need doing and can be paid monthly at £X/month, no mention of subject to credit. Took the option of getting the work done elsewhere if I wanted. I could just about make the payment but it is going to be a struggle for the rest of the month. I just feel like I was mis informed, any reputable garage like BMW should advise subject to credit and at least do a soft credit check "before" any work carried out. 

I accepted to add disks on the basis that I was going to have a small monthly payment otherwise I would have left them for month or two until had more money put aside, thoughts?

paul_c123

A lot of garages wouldn't change discs without also doing the pads, even if they've just been done a few months ago. Its quite simple, you can measure the disc thickness and if its below the recommended minimum, they need changing. Do you have those measurements?

In any case, these are brakes and they're wearing items, its just part of car ownership that they're changed once worn out.

wmat983

paul_c123 said:

A lot of garages wouldn't change discs without also doing the pads, even if they've just been done a few months ago. Its quite simple, you can measure the disc thickness and if its below the recommended minimum, they need changing. Do you have those measurements?

In any case, these are brakes and they're wearing items, its just part of car ownership that they're changed once worn out.

No I didn't measure disk thickness only pads, its not the point of changing them I know this would have needed to be done, its more of the fact they sold it to me as pay monthly, with no mention of subject to credit, I could have got them done cheaper elsewhere but chose to accept on the basis that they could be paid monthly interest free, thoughts?

DE_612183

paying monthly rather than at the point they are carried out is a credit service.

is it a back street garage or a bit bigger?

you can name them if you like.

QrizB

DE_612183 said:

is it a back street garage or a bit bigger?
you can name them if you like.

OP has implied that it's a BMW main dealer:

wmat983 said:

I just feel like I was mis informed, any reputable garage like BMW should advise subject to credit ..