Anonymous

Dreadful car buying experience

I bought a brand new car from this dealer last year and only found out when there was a problem with the paintwork that they had applied GardX protection and included £500 for this in the purchase price. I asked for a copy of my invoice (which disappeared as soon as I signed it online) and then found out that I had also paid a further £948 on warranties on the wheels and tyres. The Compliance Manager was unable to understand ‘where the confusion has arisen’. Well, it is very clear on the paperwork that I was sent retrospectively that the dealer is required to discuss these items in detail with the customer, making sure they understand exactly what they are buying, what the cost is and what the responsibilities of the customer are, and the fact that there is a 14 day cooling off period. You are not supposed to include it as a short one-liner on the invoice with no explanation. By the time I realised I had these warranties, they were already invalid as I hadn’t taken the vehicle for the requisite periodic inspections. I did eventually get the £948 refunded but I never had the £500 returned as this was always used to deflect responsibility for the paintwork issues. I really wouldn’t bother with the GardX; it costs £300 to have it applied by people who are trained but not experts (their own words) plus £200 for a bag of lotions and potions, only to achieve paintwork that is very high maintenance to keep clean. Don’t be naïve like me; make sure you understand every penny on your invoice, then get a quote from another dealer. Better still, go to Carwow and get the best deal (yes, I am very wise after the event!) This has been my worst ever car buying experience – and as I have been a car owner since 1979, that is no mean feat!