Pay as you go auto ltd

carfinder · 04-07-2025 04:39PM #1

A sponsored post from a Clonmel based outfit appeared on my Facebook feed today. They are called "Pay as you go Auto Ltd".

It appears they sell cars to customers based on a 20% upfront deposit then 25 monthly payments and a 30% final payment. They claim that they dont charge interest.

It appears to be geared towards people that have difficulty accessing car finance. Presumably they charge higher than market prices for their cars.

Anybody here ever deal with them or know how they operate?

User1998 · 04-07-2025 04:59PM

You can find a car in another garage and they buy the car on your behalf, sell it to you at a higher price, and you pay for it on a monthly basis.

Or you can buy a car directly from them, they sell it to you above market value and you pay it off monthly.

goochy · 04-07-2025 05:50PM

Sounds like good laundry business

dam099 · 04-07-2025 05:55PM

Had a quick look and don't get how they are not classified as a finance company and required to register with the Central Bank, disclose APR etc.

They seem to charge an annual "membership fee" so maybe they found some loophole.

L1011 · 04-07-2025 06:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123604934#Comment_123604934

Any loopholes like that either get closed, or far more commonly, weren't actually loopholes in the first place. Central Bank would be very interested in this.

User1998 · 04-07-2025 07:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123604970#Comment_123604970

They’ve been operating this way for close to 20 years I think. I imagine what they are doing is above board

carfinder · 04-07-2025 07:56PM

Anybody here actually buy a car from them?

deandean · 05-07-2025 12:01AM

I've only ever bought a car after I had saved the money to buy it for cash.

Del2005 · 05-07-2025 11:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123605072#Comment_123605072

Just because someone has been doing something for years doesn't mean they are doing it legally, it just means that they haven't come to the attention of the authorities yet.

They are charging interest on the purchase because they are increasing the amount you pay for the car, interest does the same thing, so they should be registered as a money lender. They just haven't got big enough to attract attention or p1ssed off a customer to lodge a complaint.

User1998 · 05-07-2025 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123606417#Comment_123606417

They aren’t charging interest. They are selling the car at a set price and it gets paid off in monthly instalments. They don’t offer outright purchases for a lower rate.

L1011 · 05-07-2025 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123606584#Comment_123606584

That is still considered hire purchase, which is regulated. There isn't a way around claiming you're not doing hire purchase when you clearly are.

Vizzy · 05-07-2025 02:03PM

This is run/owned by George Maurdaunt ( google "Shepherds Pie").

A complete chancer and with a fairly chequered past.

Formerly the driving force in Maurdant Motors, and was driving an English registered Jag, while he was selling Nissans to the masses in Tipperary and Kilkenny.