Not proceeding with Car Purchase after PCP Application?

SpicyWingsBeer

Hi

I was having a discussion with a friend at breakfast this morning in work who figures he is in a bit of a pickle. My friend at the tail-end of 2023 went into a dealership and test drove a few cars before deciding on the particular car that he wanted.

After looking at some figures he decided to fill out a PCP application form (approved) for a brand new car (2024 reg) and was told that his car would be ready for collection in early 2024 this year. After filling out the PCP application form in late 2023 my friend paid a deposit of €500 quid for the car.

Anyway since then my friend hasn't been impressed with the dealer's (specific sales person) behavior. Unanswered emails, no call-backs and very vague responses over the phone to queries whenever he does pickup. The car has also been in the garage one day and then was gone the next supposedly i.e. the delivery date kept changing. My friend has now been told that the car is ready to collect whenever he wants this week but my friend now is thinking of backing out completely and going to purchase a different car with a different dealer.

He is prepared to leave the deposit and just walk away to go to a different brand/dealer altogether.

Question is whether he's potentially cornered himself into something here? He's only signed a PCP application form and nothing else (i've never done PCP so I dont know if there are other documents). It's not a specced out car either or something unusual.

Now another thing to add is that my friend feels he's been treated this way i.e. not taken seriously due to his nationality. He has asked the dealer basic questions a few times e.g. about the new car, its specifications and had queries regarding the pcp process i.e. what documents to bring etc, best way to pay the bulk deposit. These questions remain unanswered so my friend is of the opinion that he's being discriminated against.

Long story short can he leave the 500 with the garage and walk away ?

Hooked

Wife is in similar boat - due to pick up new car - sales clown giving her the runaround BUT she wants the car. As far as I can tell, she is due to sign the PCP contract (bank forms, term start date, etc) when she goes in to pick it up... the 1000 deposit was paid over the phone. nothing signed.

In your friends case - there's a PCP application form signed - which sounds like it was just to figure out if your friend qualified (via the bank) for the PCP... and less of a contract, as such. But that will have to be clarified. Assuming nothing is legally binding, then... ball is in their court. It does sound similar to a booking deposit on a house. An expression of interest.

If your friend isn't happy - just walk away from it. And demand the deposit back too! If the clown of a sales rep acts the can - ask to speak to the dealer principal. Go above the dealer to the manufacturer's head office. Cause a fuss. Be a KAREN!

Life's too short. (Tell your friend to) Stop stressing over it.

Casati

It’s not the same as a booking deposit on a house, the dealer is legally entitled to keep the deposit. Your friend is not being discriminated against, they are just receiving standard service by the sounds of it

Birka

Loss of interest in the customer once the sale is completed, unanswered emails, offhandedness and non-returned phonecalls are not uncommon in car sales here in Ireland. Some brands have better training than others but your friend's experience isn't unique and can be the same for all, regardless of nationality. It's far more likely to be poor training/unprofessionalism rather than racism. If your friend is otherwise happy with the deal then the easiest thing is to complete it. If your friend doesn't want to deal with that person any more, they have the option of contacting the dealer principal, explain what's happened and ask to deal with someone else.

In my experience, a fully satisfactory car sales experience is rare in Ireland so it's likely nothing personal.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121761317#Comment_121761317

Unless there's more information, that can be wrong.

In the motor trade a similar "booking deposit" system works in some garages.

If the op's colleague did not sign a contract for purchase, then they could walk away and get the booking deposit back. If the only signature is on a PCP application, then the chances are a binding contract is not in force

And if this is how he is being treated BEFORE he spends circa €30,000, imagine how he'll be treated once the garage has their money and there's an issue with the car

Buffman

All sounds like the pretty standard shoddy customer care once they have the sale, it'll get a bit expensive for him if he's going to bin €500 every time he thinks he's being mistreated as there's nothing to suggest the next dealer won't be as bad or worse. I'm not saying that's in any way acceptable, it's just the way it is.

If he really wants straight answers to his questions he should go down with a list of questions and talk face to face with the 'sales' person until he's satisfied.

If he still want's the car and it's ready, suck it up and save blowing €500 and go and collect it. He can leave them a bad review and give his service business to another dealer if it makes him feel better.

bazz26

With a brand new car warranty work and servicing can be done by any franchised dealer of the same brand so technically he doesn't have to come back to them after he buys it at that dealership. Unless another dealer of the same brand is some distance away I'd suck it up rather than let them have the €500. He has already waited nearly 2 months for it at this point anyway.

User1998

Agreed, tell him to get over it and buy the car. It’s unlikely they are being racist or discriminatory.