Don’t Be Conned By 0% Finance
Friday, 28. October 2011
Oh dear, can you hear that bubbling? If you can it’s my blood boiling. Today it’s a manufacturer that’s managed to get my back up and the fact that Auto Express seems to be a bit short on advice again. A reader negotiated a good discount on a Vauxhall Corsa but then saw an ad for zero percent finance so naturally asked for the deal. The dealer explained that he wasn’t eligible as he had already negotiated a good discount on the car. Please note this reason very carefully.
The customer was told that he could either have a discount or zero percent finance but not both. What a load of cobblers, as one of my readers you will know that time and again I have pointed out that if anything is advertised as ‘zero % finance’ then as far as the law stand if you take the zero % deal you should be no worse off than a cash buyer.
So, if as a cash buyer, you negotiate a fantastic deal with discount and extras you should still be able to have zero % finance. It’s simple, it’s the law!
Vauxhall HQ emailed the customer and agreed with the dealer that he could either have one or the other, not both. This is so wrong. As a ‘gesture’ the dealer offered three services free of charge at an expected cost of £600 but like me the customer was still unimpressed.
I would ask the question, why offer free services if they were in the right. Doesn’t make sense. As he said, it’s misleading. But then came the twist.
Vauxhall then pointed out that whilst the Corsa was ‘new’ it was in fact owned by the dealership, so was exempt from the deal applied to new cars (unregistered).
Strange how the reason changed from not being able to have a discount and zero rate finance to the car was already registered and therefore not included in the scheme.
Had this been pointed out at the start I would have been happier but the fact that Vauxhall tried to con the customer makes me mad! By Graham Hill
