Anyone in the same boat?

[SimmondsR]

We bought a 68 plate Karoq at the end of May. Within 2 months the car keys batteries were both dead. Weird but paid to have the batteries replaced. A week later keys dead again. 
Since then the car does a pattern of an error message coming up saying Keyless access system faulty, then a few days later the keys completely die, then you can’t start the car, then the car doesn’t lock, even manually turning the key?! 
the car has now been in 10 times to Skoda, I put forward to reject the vehicle almost 5 weeks ago and have still not been assigned a case handler for this. 
The dealer have given me a courtesy car to use whilst my car is currently in for the 10th time being stripped completely to the wiring system as it’s had new antennas, keys, locking system, module and the dealer have now said they’re stumped and have never seen this before. Chances are it’ll still be in there past the 8 week rejection point…

 

does anyone have any advise? I’ve sent an email to Skoda UK today but im not happy and have lost all my faith with it. The courtesy car isn’t the same spec as my car im paying for and I feel like im being taken for a mug now 😩

[kodiaqsportline]

Never heard of a central locking issue as serious as that.

 

But speakin from a legal point of view, forget Skoda, it has nothing to do with them, your contract is with the garage you purchased the car from. ( the seller ).

 

UK law is this:

 

1: within the first month from purchase you can reject a car under most circumstances where there's a fault.

 

You're way, way above what could be considered a minor fault. It's good practise to give the seller an opportunity to fix that fault but if they are unable to do so then rejection should be a very simple straight forward affair.  You've given them 10 attempts !!!  OMG.

 

2: Within the first six months from purchase, it's a little more difficult in that it's up to the seller to prove the car wasn't faulty at time of purchase. If you bought the car in May and 1st reported the problem in July then this is where you fall. The time for rejection is taken from when the fault was 1st reported so 'the 8 weeks to go' is nothing to worry about.

 

3: from 6mth to a year you can still reject a car but  the onus falls on the owner to prove there was a fault when the car  was purchased. That doesn't apply to you.

 

I'm not sure what you mean buy awaiting a case handler?   Your rejection should be straight forward.  Write a brief letter to the dealer principal stating that your exercising your legal right under UK law to reject the faulty vehicle you were sold as it's not fit for purpose and that you want a full refund.

 

Some people talk about rejection as if it's an easy process - in many cases it's not, but if what you say is accurate, you have a stone wall case. You could approach citizens advice but they'll tell you much the same.

 

Good luck.

 

Edit - just thinking - you're perfectly entitled to a full refund but you could ask the dealer principal if he's able to swap a similar car. Personally I would have no faith whatsoever in the car they've sold you - I'd never want to see it again.

Edited 14 December, 2023 by kodiaqsportline

[Paws4Thot]

50 minutes ago, kodiaqsportline said:

You could approach citizens advice but they'll tell you much the same.

@SimmondsR That's true, but you'd also get the backup of a free to you solicitor specialising in Consumer Affairs' Law writing the rejection letter.

[SimmondsR]

Sorry guys - forgot to mention it’s on PCP so the dealer (Skoda where I live) said I need to go through the finance people to reject the vehicle. For anyone to be determined by them I need to wait for my case handler to be assigned to me and they conduct an investigation is what I’ve been told. 
I wrote an email to Skoda UK yesterday saying how disappointed I was in my local dealer and in the finance company and still nothing 🙃

[OldKaroq]

Sorry to hear of your problems. What you are experiencing is far from normal, but that does not help you much! I think you have been very patient, but it's time to reject. Im sure all your faith in the Karoq has gone. I had many problems with a Kia Sportage and couldn't wait to get shut of it.

[Sanqhar]

A good source regarding rejection is the Daily Telegraph motoring correspondent:

 

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/

 

tom

Edited 14 December, 2023 by Sanqhar

[kodiaqsportline]

 

Ah!   Rejection isn't an option because the car is not yours to reject. Your quarrel lies with your finance agreement.

 

It's up to the owner what they want to do with it. You've little option but to wait.  You'll probably find somewhere in the PCP contract that they are entitled to supply alternative transport in such a case. The alternative transport can't go on indefinitely but yes, you'll have to liase with the finance company and await their decision.

 

My only advice is whatever you do, dismiss any thought of  stopping your monthly PCP payments in a way of protest or whatever as then you'll find yourself in breach of the agreement - that's the last thing you want.

 

4 hours ago, SimmondsR said:

I wrote an email to Skoda UK yesterday saying how disappointed I was in my local dealer and in the finance company and still nothing 🙃

 

I'd be surprised if you hear anything from them. If you've been to the dealer 10 times then it's not as if they're ignoring you, it's just they're having trouble fixing the problem so I'm not sure Skoda UK can do anything about it other than check that the dealer has followed the correct fault diagnoses procedure.

 

Skoda UK have nothing to do with finance, that's handled by VWFS. ( VW Financial Services ). You'd be better off writing to them but if they say your case is being dealt with there's nothing more you can do but wait.  It's one of the downsides about PCP that people rarely talk about .

Edited 14 December, 2023 by kodiaqsportline

[SimmondsR]

Thanks everyone. I know I’ll have to wait for the finance company, but it’s just getting beyond a joke now to be honest. I hadn’t even realised I could ask to reject the vehicle on this time frame until I had a google search which is why it’s been in so many times prior.

I had an email from ŠKODA Uk this evening asking for more info so fingers crossed they can aid in speaking to the finance company. 🤞

[kodiaqsportline]

1 hour ago, SimmondsR said:

 I hadn’t even realised I could ask to reject the vehicle on this time frame until I had a google search which is why it’s been in so many times prior.

 

Be careful what you read because there so much misinformation out there.

 

This is an excerpt from CARBUYER magazine - you'd think they'd know what they're talking about ?

 

"Rejecting a car purchased on finance:   If you’ve used a finance package such as a PCP agreement or Personal Contract Hire to purchase your car then..."

 

Straight away that's complete tosh.  You haven't purchased the car until the PCP agreement has been settled. Many of these 'experts' haven't a clue how PCP works. Forget about rejecting the car - It's not your car to reject. You haven't bought a car, what you've bought is a loan.

 

You signed a contract where by in return for a monthy payment, the finance company are loaning you their car.  If that car isn't fit for purpose then it's that finance agreement you need to terminate.

 

2 hours ago, SimmondsR said:

 I know I’ll have to wait for the finance company, but it’s just getting beyond a joke now to be honest. .

 

If you're not happy then you need to contact the regulator, the FCA - the Financial Conduct Authority.

 

Check the T&C on the PCP agreement you signed.   

 

 

 

 

[Rory]

9 hours ago, kodiaqsportline said:

 

Be careful what you read because there so much misinformation out there.

 

This is an excerpt from CARBUYER magazine - you'd think they'd know what they're talking about ?

 

"Rejecting a car purchased on finance:   If you’ve used a finance package such as a PCP agreement or Personal Contract Hire to purchase your car then..."

 

Straight away that's complete tosh.  You haven't purchased the car until the PCP agreement has been settled. Many of these 'experts' haven't a clue how PCP works. Forget about rejecting the car - It's not your car to reject. You haven't bought a car, what you've bought is a loan.

 

You signed a contract where by in return for a monthy payment, the finance company are loaning you their car.  If that car isn't fit for purpose then it's that finance agreement you need to terminate.

 

 

Hmmmm...legally you're right but you don't go into rejection expecting to have to go legal.   

 

In every day use people are purchasing the car - especially with PCP.  A very experienced VW (and previously Mercedes) salesman told us we were the owners of the car - he looked genuinely gobsmacked  when I pointed to the bit in the PCP contract that said VWFS owned it.   Arguably with PCH it's much clearer that you're renting it.

 

There's plenty of stories on car forums of people rejecting cars and they usually only get the finance company involved once the dealer agrees rejection or if the dealer refuses to play ball.   Even if you could just "terminate the finance agreement" you could be left considerably out of pocket as a broken car has little value to the finance company and any deposit / p/x would have been with the dealer.

[J.R.]

32 minutes ago, Rory said:

A very experienced VW (and previously Mercedes) salesman  bullsh1tter told us we were the owners of the car

 

Fixed that for you!

Edited 15 December, 2023 by J.R.