Some Amazing Advice If You’re Sold A Bad Car

Sunday, 27. February 2011

Knowing what you are doing when it comes to car finance is so important. I know I bang on about it all the time but let me be quite clear if you guess and get it wrong it could end up costing you a fortune. In a recent edition of Auto Express a lady bought a 5 year old Mini Cooper S Convertible for £10,500 from a main dealer under the Cherished Car scheme. On her way home a warning light came on and the ABS cut in when it didn’t need to. Already a clear case of faulty goods. She returned to the dealer where staff admitted that the ABS problem had almost had an accident through it – WHAT??? Moving on, when they re-attached a wheel hub badge with glue some of the glue splashed on the paint and the rear bumper was flaking. In addition there were problems with the passenger door handle and drivers seat locking mechanism. Finally the catalytic converter failed which was not covered by the warranty with a likely replacement cost of £800. Under the Sale of Goods Act the lady, Amanda Ockmore – the dealer refused. Let me show you what the Mini ‘Cherished’ Scheme is all about – as reprinted from the Mini website:

	Tough standards
You won’t be taking a chance with a Cherished MINI. In fact, we guarantee you’ll take home a car that’s been seriously looked after. Every Cherished MINI is closely examined by MINI Technicians. They’re put through detailed checks – including a full road test – and if any problems are found, they’re fixed using genuine MINI parts. So all factory-fitted equipment will be in full working order and your tyres will have a minimum tread of 3mm. Your MINI’s paintwork and trim are restored to suit its age and mileage, and it has a full valet before you get it.

	Minimum 12 months MINI Cherished Warranty
This covers all Cherished MINIs, and it’s really worthwhile because it isn’t backed by a third party company – it’s backed by MINI. Our Cherished Warranty even guarantees the battery and exhaust system for 12 months, and includes 12 months MOT Insurance. We’ve developed these features because car buyers have been asking for them, and because we want you to know your MINI will be just fine. In fact, the MINI Cherished Warranty is so good, and so close to the Warranty we give people who buy our new cars, that the only things that aren’t covered are routine service items like brake pads and discs. Your MINI Dealer can answer any other questions you might have.

	12 months MOT Insurance
Because of all these checks and tests, a MINI Cherished car won’t need an MOT for at least 12 months (excluding Northern Ireland), and your 12 months MOT Insurance will protect you against any unexpected costs. That includes repairing and replacing specific components. In addition, if your MINI comes with a MINI Dealer Warranty with more than 12 months cover left, that’s how long the MOT Insurance will last, too. Best of all, it’s free

What a crock of brown stuff! Now whilst I think Auto Express is a great mag. they sometimes miss the mark when providing advice. They patted themselves on the back when they stepped in and got the money back for Amanda but wait for it, the dealer retained £750 for the use of the bloody piece of tat! Can you believe it?? It isn’t surprising that when I can give you the sort of advice I’m giving you – for free I’m regarded as the UK’s number one car finance expert as well as being the world’s number one car finance blogger out of 70 million (Google – car finance blog). Amanda could have had this resolved at no cost at all and probably with some compensation. This is what you do!

If you are going to pay cash for a car make sure you pay at least £10 on a credit card. You are now covered not only by the Sale Of Goods Act but also the Consumer Credit Act, the latter covering you for cars up to £30,000 (provided you are a consumer or small business). You now send a letter to the dealer and the credit card company stating your case and the reason you are rejecting the goods. You won’t need to do any more it will be sorted I promise you. But in the event that no action takes place you now lodge a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service who will take up the case at no cost and you could end up with compensation. Without any doubt Amanda would not have been out of pocket to the tune of £750. As for BMW Mini – you are a disgrace. I think you should revise your wording on your website to reflect your total disregard for customers and the law. Have you experienced a similar problem? Let us know? By Graham Hill