I have got a problem with my Dealership and I need some advice on what to do.

In July last year I ordered my VRS from Parkview Skoda in Reading, At the time of Order I also had my Octavia VRS valued as a part-ex. Whilst at the dealership my wife and I spoke to the finance manager who went over some figures. At the time I was told that I could do, As I was going to have nearly £4000 left over from the Octavia I decided to use it all as a deposit on the new car, meaning I would get all the £500 initial deposit back when I collected the car. I was also told that if I wanted to I could have some of the Octavia money back as well if I wanted. I placed the order also wanting the protection pack and this was added to the order sheet, with that going on the finance as well.

I added a couple of extra options a couple of weeks after and I then waited 6ish months and only had a couple of emails from the dealer, nothing from the finance manager. When I collected the car, I only received back £100 of my £500 deposit with the dealer saying that the other £400 was used to pay for the other 2 options I had added after the initial order. I would have thought that they would have readjusted the finance to add the 2 options??

I took the car and during the next month I also discovered that they had done a crap PDI and the front suspension blocks had been left in place. I called Parkview to complain and they said to take the vehicle to my nearest dealer which is Palmers in Hemel Hempstead, they took the blocks out and Parkview have said that they will put £30 of fuel in the tank next time I am in, something I don’t think they will remember.

I have now had an email from the Dealer who has said they forgot to take payment of £650 for the protection pack when I collected the car. Something I thought was going to be included in the finance.

I have had another email from the finance manager who has said that they removed the protection pack from the finance to keep the payments down, not something I agreed to or requested. They went on to say that they would have used the £500 deposit to go towards the payment leaving me £150 to pay on the day, (Again not something I agreed to or requested. )

But unfortunately the settlement on my P/x was higher than I anticipated so the £500 went off towards paying that instead, (Something totally different to what the sale’s person said when I collected the car.)

They are now threatening to cancel the protection pack unless I pay the £650, a large lump sum payment now I can’t afford and they were told that as well.

I need some advice on what to do, as it feels that the service I have had from the dealer has been pretty poor and they have not done as I have asked and put everything on the finance as requested. The figures which they had when I collected the car I assumed had everything on it, even the sales person did not mention any payments for the protection pack, as I guess he was not aware of it as I did not agree to it.

Where do I go from here?

Edited 17 February, 201214 yr by Jamesr021

What's the protection pack?

Dealer sounds like they either don't know what they are doing, don't care or are trying to rip you off. Don't deal with them ever again

What's the protection pack?

Dealer sounds like they either don't know what they are doing, don't care or are trying to rip you off. Don't deal with them ever again

Its the Metal Mate and the paint protection, and also the gap insurance.

Tell them to stuff it.

Have a look around and buy some Gap insurance elsewhere

I have just emailed Skoda Customer Services to see what they say, Seems to be one problem after another at the moment, not something i expected from buying a new car. The thing that annoys me is the lack of contact from the dealer and when they do contact you its full of lies and them just trying to cover themselves because they messed up. The last email from the finance manager was a complete lie, not one bit of truth in it!! just makes me really angry :swear:

Although in this case, you have the car and the finance payments are already set up. The dealer will get commission for selling GAP and the paint protection, if they have screwed up and not added that lot into the finance then I don't see why they should still be rewarded for it.

You can get GAP insurance very cheaply from other sources, the paint protection is IMO not worth it anyway. Simply give the car a polish and apply a couple of coats of a decent wax. Re-wax after 3-4 months, polish once a year.

Put everything in writing in a complaint to Skoda UK, tell the dealer they can shove the protection pack up their ar$e. Then go enjoy your new car

One more thought though... If you specified the paint protection, is it not already applied to the car??

Edited 17 February, 201214 yr by Mike Wrightson

Don't pay a penny.

The dealer has messed up. Get in touch with the FSA. Get some wax and find your own gap insurance.

Isn't there a paper trail which highlights the dealers error? There is always about 5 documents to sign when you finance a car with or without a partex? They should detail everything.

Good luck

If they have not completed the work then just say no thanks to the protection pack.

The dealer will sell you Superguard or similar for £299 and on EB you can find it for between £10 for just the interior spray and exterior coat to £100 for the premium pack.

I have just added Gap insurance to my elegance for under £200 for three years.

For just a bit of time you could get the protection pack for just over £200.

If the work has been completed you will have to pay for the paint protection and the insurance can be cancelled within 14 days.

Put everything in writing and send a copy to SUK they might be able to help, but your contract is not with them but the dealer.

Write to the FSA ombudsmen, the SUK breakdown is run by the RAC and if you call the breakdown team and talk to them they will pass you to the financial advice team - this is what I did.

You should have got a copy of the order form when you collected the car. It should have on it all what you ordered. Inc px figures all finance costings and any monies owing to you or them. Plus any add ons Mine did