So now I have confirmation of “What To Do” with the outgoing car cluttering up my drive.

 

It was booked to go on 3 April. At least it gets a free MOT extension now. That was cancelled last week.

 

I wonder what they’d say if I told them I had to leave it nearby on the public highway. Not that it matters now of course.

 

 

Dear Customer,  At ŠKODA Financial Services our priority is to keep people driving their cars. We know that the Government’s latest advice will be concerning and causing disruption to your usual lives, but we want to assure you that we are doing our utmost to support our customers. We are regularly monitoring updates from the Government and working with the regulator to best understand how the current situation may impact individuals and businesses so that we can support you. You have an appointment booked in for us to collect your vehicle, however due to COVID-19 and the recent enforcements made by the Government we are unable to carry out the original appointment.  Due to these exceptional circumstances, we want to help our customers by providing an additional option for you to extend your current finance agreement for up to 6 months. The contractual terms and monthly payment of your current agreement will remain the same.  To arrange this option please complete this form. If you do not wish to extend your contract please be aware we will not be able to proceed with collection until the Government restrictions have been lifted. Until we are able to rearrange collection please follow the below important steps;    - The vehicle must not under any circumstance be driven* - Keep the vehicle safe, locked, secure and where possible store the vehicle off the road and on private land - Please remove all personal belongings, keys and keyless entry devices - We will ensure the vehicle is taxed as appropriate throughout this period - In the event the vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire, you must immediately notify us and the police and obtain a crime reference number Please note, you will not be charged your monthly rental for the period between your contract end date and collection. Standard end of contract terms will still apply for damage and excess mileage once the vehicle is collected and inspected. We’d ask you do not contact us at this stage unless it is urgent, we are providing a reduced telephony service and dealing with a much higher number of calls than usual. Once we are able to arrange collection of the vehicle our collection agents will contact you. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and patience during this period.  If you have any further queries about your finance agreement please visit customer.vwfs.co.uk.   *The vehicle will be uninsured and must not be driven; Under s143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to use (or permit to be used) a motor vehicle on a road or other public place when there is not in force in relation to the use of the vehicle such a policy of insurance in respect of third party risks as complies with the Road Traffic Act

14 minutes ago, BoxerBoy said:

So now I have confirmation of “What To Do” with the outgoing car cluttering up my drive.

 

It was booked to go on 3 April. At least it gets a free MOT extension now. That was cancelled last week.

 

I wonder what they’d say if I told them I had to leave it nearby on the public highway. Not that it matters now of course.

 

 

Dear Customer,  At ŠKODA Financial Services our priority is to keep people driving their cars. We know that the Government’s latest advice will be concerning and causing disruption to your usual lives, but we want to assure you that we are doing our utmost to support our customers. We are regularly monitoring updates from the Government and working with the regulator to best understand how the current situation may impact individuals and businesses so that we can support you. You have an appointment booked in for us to collect your vehicle, however due to COVID-19 and the recent enforcements made by the Government we are unable to carry out the original appointment.  Due to these exceptional circumstances, we want to help our customers by providing an additional option for you to extend your current finance agreement for up to 6 months. The contractual terms and monthly payment of your current agreement will remain the same.  To arrange this option please complete this form. If you do not wish to extend your contract please be aware we will not be able to proceed with collection until the Government restrictions have been lifted. Until we are able to rearrange collection please follow the below important steps;    - The vehicle must not under any circumstance be driven* - Keep the vehicle safe, locked, secure and where possible store the vehicle off the road and on private land - Please remove all personal belongings, keys and keyless entry devices - We will ensure the vehicle is taxed as appropriate throughout this period - In the event the vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire, you must immediately notify us and the police and obtain a crime reference number Please note, you will not be charged your monthly rental for the period between your contract end date and collection. Standard end of contract terms will still apply for damage and excess mileage once the vehicle is collected and inspected. We’d ask you do not contact us at this stage unless it is urgent, we are providing a reduced telephony service and dealing with a much higher number of calls than usual. Once we are able to arrange collection of the vehicle our collection agents will contact you. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and patience during this period.  If you have any further queries about your finance agreement please visit customer.vwfs.co.uk.   *The vehicle will be uninsured and must not be driven; Under s143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to use (or permit to be used) a motor vehicle on a road or other public place when there is not in force in relation to the use of the vehicle such a policy of insurance in respect of third party risks as complies with the Road Traffic Act

 

Wow, that's a weird one. They've obviously arranged 3rd party fire and theft and it sounds very much like they'll SORN the car, but they have no right whatsoever telling you to keep vehicle off road and on private land.  What a bloody cheek. That's their problem not yours, I'd ignore it.

 

If anybody did say anything - i.e. police, then due to exceptional circumstances, they may make an allowance for a SORN car being kept on the road. But as I say, if there was any fine then it would be the lease company who's responsible, not you. If you can be bothered then I suppose you could leave it at the entrance to a Skoda dealership.

Edited 28 March, 20206 yr by Guest

It only says "where possible" for keeping vehicle off road and on private land

 

 

We all have to be a little bit flexible and forgiving given the current circumstances. It's hardly Skoda's fault that they're unable to collect the car.

 

I would have one question for them however, they make mention of what to do if the car is stolen or damaged by fire, but what if it is damaged not by fire?

 

The letter specifically says you're contractually obliged to pay for any damage when the car is finally inspected and collected. So if you're not able to store the car on private land, have to leave it on the roadside and someone crashes into it or vandalises it, then the costs to repair the car fall to you?

 

Edited 28 March, 20206 yr by silver1011

I reckon VWFS will have TPF&T insurance, so that implies that THEY will be responsible for any damage to the vehicle other than Fire & Theft as it is clearly on their policy. Not mine.
 

An immobile vehicle is unlikely to cause damage to a Third Party so they just don’t mention that.

 

I’m sure there would be a very interesting conversation if the car were to be found seriously damaged.

 

As it is , my car is in A1 condition and the only niggle that was to be sorted during the dealer visit for an MoT is the “Visual Service Due” dash message. It’s due a second Variable Service in almost 8,000 miles.

Edited 29 March, 20206 yr by BoxerBoy

12 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

I’m sure there would be a very interesting conversation if the car were to be found seriously damaged.

 

As it is , my car is in A1 condition.

 

That's a good point. Might be worthwhile taking a video of the car just before the lease ends.

 

Perhaps 'fault' was the wrong word to use, but the car will be the lease companies responsibility not the previous driver's. If the lease company were unable to check the car when the lease was up, that's their problem. If damage is found on car when they eventually collect, that's their problem to resolve.

 

In fact from a legal point of view, I wouldn't be comfortable keeping the car on my private land because if there was any damage after the lease ended, they may be able to claim against me.  Perhaps stick a great big bloody sign in the front garden, " Owners leave their cars at their own risk " 

 

Just a very weird situation.

Edited 29 March, 20206 yr by Guest

10 minutes ago, Scot5 said:

 

 Might be worthwhile taking a video of the car just before the lease ends.

 

To avoid any arguments, I would say just after the lease ends (or just after the agreed collection time), especially if left on the road...................but yes,  good idea.

And make sure it is date / time stamped.

Edited 29 March, 20206 yr by Tilt

The V778 for the retention of my private plate dropped through my door today, but boy-oh-boy, am I having trouble getting someone to tell me the replacement 17 plate so that I can stick some new plates on the car before it can get collected.

 

Not that it will happen very soon.

 

DVLA pulled the plate off 8 days ago and will have immediately informed the Keeper (VWFS), but the current crisis is good excuse for them not telling me. 

On 28/03/2020 at 20:15, silver1011 said:

 

We all have to be a little bit flexible and forgiving given the current circumstances.

 

 

Not having a dig at you Roy but if I'd just had a Warranty claim rejected or another Issue with Skoda I wouldn't be having the same thoughts as you 

 

" My new car is on the drive, your's is parked on the road. "   The End 

 

 

 

Ordinarily I'd agree, but I don't think a rejected warranty claim applies here so no bad blood?

 

Given that no one can leave their house I'd be compassionate enough to take some photos and park the car somewhere safe knowing Skoda are taxing and insuring it.

I just wish someone would tell me the replacement registration.

 

I know we’re in difficult times, but those of us who have swapped plates a few times know that when you do things online with DVLA to retain a plate, a replacement number is issued immediately. 
 

So VWFS did this on 27 March, received a new number, but just didn’t pass it to me.

 

I’ve now submitted my new V778 to VWFS to pop the plate onto new car.

 

Their eMail suggests there is a team dedicated to the plate transfer game.

 

BCA better keep hanging on 

I'm trying to put my plate onto my new car, sent the V788 electronically to the VWFS PP department. I got a reply from  VWFS saying due to Covid19 the PP dept was shut!

 

"At Skoda Financial Services our priority is to keep people driving their cars. We know that the Governments latest advice will be concerning and causing disruption to your usual lives, but we want to assure you that we are doing our utmost to support our customers.

 

VWFS continue to monitor regular updates from the government and are working with the regulator to best understand how the current situation may impact individuals and businesses so that we can support you. 

 

The supplier we use to process transfer requests for cherished plates has temporary closed as part of the government advice for COVID-19, therefore there will be a delay in progressing your cherished plate transfer request. Once we are able to process your request we will contact you."

 

Edited 13 April, 20206 yr by P6bJOHN

This was why I let the dealer register our Kodiaq, so got it home with it's own reg number and plates.

 

I then transfered the private plate over at my convienience a few days later. That way when the private plate is taken off you have the old reg number and the plates ready to go back on.

It’s all so easy when you are the registered keeper holding the V5.

 

Instant results online with DVLA.

 

If VWFS had only told me the V5 refs. then I’d have had the plates swapped over in minutes.

 

But they have to do it their way.  At £50 a pop.

I looked into swapping my plate over to a leased Octavia Scout a few years ago, until someone warned me that I'd forgo my rights to the plate as I wasn't the vehicles registered keeper. Very minimal risk though if leasing through someone reputable like Skoda Finance.

 

I guess having the car registered with your plate saves the £80 transfer fee? You then just pay the £80 to remove it at the end of the lease?

5 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

It’s all so easy when you are the registered keeper holding the V5.

 

Instant results online with DVLA.

 

If VWFS had only told me the V5 refs. then I’d have had the plates swapped over in minutes.

 

But they have to do it their way.  At £50 a pop.

Same here. £50 a go to input into DVLA. Also don’t tell you registration character so have to phone them up for that!

After one more plea for someone at VWFS, from the comfort of their own bedroom no doubt, to simply look up my contract number and please tell me the replacement 17 reg - I got the answer today. Hooray!
 

New plates on order.

 

And the DVLA record does confirm that the MOT has extended out plus 6 months to 5 October.

 

( they still refuse to spend 5 minutes assigning my personal reg as that part of the “shop” is shut - allegedly. No problem)

BCA are getting back to work. A text message offered a link to their collection booking service. A 2 month delay.

 

But the BCA system hasn’t been updated with the replacement registration.

 

After attempting to get VWFS to update BCA I just went ahead with a booking anyway.

 

So now we have a date on 1 June for the car to be removed from my doorstep.

 

At least it’s has an extended MOT and a new road tax.

 

I’ll hose the dust and bird **** off it at the last minute. It’s pretty mint for a 3 year old underneath the stoor.
 

ps - the new car has a whopping 67 miles on it. Not what I expected in the first 2 months.

 

 

So the old banger Kodiaq departed my drive today after gathering dust for 10 weeks. Actually it probably got washed 3 times in that period - last one yesterday of course.

 

A very nice gent called and woke me up this morning to tell me his expected arrival time. His visit lasted nearly an hour with all our chatting. Lots of pictures and a comprehensive iPad video. The “inspection report“ seemed to be an electronic pro-forma that captured pictures and comments for specific points such as screen service statement, satnav screen working, dash mileage, all 4 wheels and a few other things like spare wheel and all its accessories.

 

The bottom line was a Condition A result. Mint. As there was nothing to argue about I just gave him a metaphoric thumbs up and he signed off his report.

 

The Skoda checklist/price list for damage and/or missing equipment is quite scary, so it’s clearly sensible to look after the vehicle. Without being anal about it. Used but not abused.

 

He was taking the car to a storage area near Glasgow, but reckoned that the car will be bought immediately by one of the preferred dealers who get to take their pick of the best vehicles that BCA have rounded up. So should be on a forecourt soon. Maybe I’ll search Autotrader next week.
 

 

 

 

When MOTABILITY cars are handed back the pictures taken by the Dealership Employee accepting the car are used for BCA selling it.

(Then the £600 good condition money can be paid to the person handing back the car.)

 

OT,

But currently 'MOTABILITY' are not taking orders, they extended lease's etc. (Maybe some cars ready for being collected can be in England.)

But those that need help financially can apply to get the 'Good condition'  £600 paid early while they still have the car.

.