REJECTING MY CUP

[scooby stu]

Thanks to all who replied to previous threads...........its reassuring to hear of some successful outcomes.

Ive written to the dealer 3 times clearly stating that Im rejecting the car with a list of the reasons and all they do is write back saying they wont accept rescission of contract on the grounds that replacing the car is disproportionate, in financial terms, to the cost of rectifying the problems.

Im not willing to accept a repair because I paid for a brand new car, not one that got knocked around on its way to the dealer.

To keep up the momentum, I want to instruct a solicitor ASAP because it seems that both the dealer and Renault UK arent listening to me. Unfortunately, a local firm I was hoping to use seems reluctant to take on the case and reckons I would be best settling for a repair and some form of compensation.

However, Ive read some of the rejection threads on this forum and Im not giving in. Can anyone recommend a good solicitor who specialises in this sort of litigation. Ideally one who youve used yourself to deal with exactly this type of situation. It would probably be useful if they were relatively local (Im 15 miles east of Northampton), but it seems that this probably isnt too important.

Thanks.

 

[Smokey]

Mate get down to Citizens Advice or Trading standards!! They will put you in touch with specialists in this field!!

Sorry not alot of help but its worth a try! Also you dont mention if you have been down this route!

Keep us informed will ya, please!

 

[scooby stu]

yeah......spoken to trading standards and although they clearly explained my rights, etc, and what to do/not to do, they seem reluctant to get involved.

 

[D-CUP]

Have they offered to put right the faults?

 

[The Guvnor]

If you are a member of the AA they have a number of specialists for motor legal advice. There is a special helpline number not sure what it is, try their website or yellow pages. Its a premium rate number (i think) but might be worth it in the end for you, as it was for me. They really helped me with legal advice when i rejected my first 172.

If you aint a member, ring the number anyway and try and blag it saying that youve lost your card and cant remember your membership number. Thats what my mam did when they asked her for her membership, and they gave her the legal advice without it anyway.

Keep on going mate and dont take no for an answer. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[MAC30L]

I tried to reject my Cup earlier on this year due to many problems. I think it was back about 8 times to the dealer in as many months. I went down the trading standards route and they put me on to a lawyer who basically said that I would only be entitled to a replacement car if the manufacturer could not fix the problem with the car, and the same problem was re-occuring. And granted the dealer did fix the problems as they arose, but more different probs just kept popping up all the time!

In the end, my car went away to a main Renault Dealer in Edinburgh, I had a meeting with the Customer services manager and the head RTE, and the car was left with them for about 3 weeks with a list of outstanding issues that my own dealer either half fixed or seemingly fixed. All was checked out and everything replaced. I got compensation and an extra years waranty free of charge.

I am now mega happy with my Cup, all teething problems are dusted and I know that I have the backing from the main dealer in Edinburgh should I need anything in the future. Best of luck mate, I was in your shoes once and I know how you feel.

Mac

 

[EvoCarl]

try writing to auto express m8 funny how things change when problems like this are made hugely public.

its a weekly magazine also and once u write in they actually get in contact with the dealer them selves



http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/

 

[D-CUP]

Stu hasnt really told us what the dealer has said to him yet. If hes marched in there and demanded a new car because of a bit of iffy paintwork they have every right to say no.

 

[scooby stu]

The car was damaged prior to me taking delivery. The offside area of the front bumper has been repaired (cowboy job), unmatched paint blown-in above the nearside rear passenger window (when seen in sunlight it looks like a different colour and feels rough like its been done with a Halfords aerosol can), overspray on glass, bonnet, wing, alloy wheel and wheel arch liner, roof has been "flat-and-polished" by a bodyshop, probably to deal with overspray, theres a "run" in the paint on the nearside front wing. The car also has a defective engine mount (meaty one on the drivers side) and something amiss with the offside front suspension that appears to be affecting the handling. Added to that, when the alarm was fitted at the import centre, they didnt refit parts of the dashboard correctly so its loose, rattling and squeaking and slowly falling apart.

In a nutshell, it aint what I contracted to buy and isnt in the condition anyone would rightly expect of a new car. So why should I accept it ?

 

[edde]

Ive not read the list of problem you have has stu. But if there are no soliciters willing to help you then maybe they know the case is unlikly to be won by them.

If the damage is repaired to as good as new condition I dont think you have any reason to refuse the car as almost all new cars get damages before they get to the owners.

EDD

 

[scooby stu]

All dealer will say is that itll be rectified under terms of warranty. Why should I have to accept a "new" car thats had paint. No matter how good the repair, Ill always know its there, itll P!ss me off as long as I own the car and when I come to sell itll be spotted. Ive looked over plenty of cars that have had paintwork repairs and hammered down the asking price as a result. Once you know what to look for, it just jumps out at you.

I know that plenty of cars are patched up before delivery, but the bottom line is that the list of stuff outlined above is way beyond "an acceptable tolerance", to quote a mailto:tw@t">tw@t called Barry Williams at Renault UK.

 

[Moose1978]

Looks like a visit to Watchdog to me!

There is probably something under the sales of good act, but if you got an independant car professional to verify the faults that you have spotted it may carry a bit more weight with them.

Only an idea but I had Which get involved for a previous car and the dealer never backed down until they threatened him with court! Seemed a bit drastic to me as it wasnt nearly as serious as yours but you have to do what ever it takes to make the muppets realise that you are not going away!!

Good luck

 

[rich[182]]

scooby stu

did the dealer volunteer the defects to you either before or after you handed over the cash or did all this come out when you started probing questions to them afterwards ?

surely if they didnt inform you of their own doing then they were lying by omission - is this a legal technicality you can get them on ?

id be going ballistic & totally agree with you pursueing this to the end, its the principle, doesnt even sound like theyve been clever enought to even bodge the repairs anyway

W*****S of the highest order

 

[edde]

Im suure they will say you signed for thecar and so accepted it in its condition. By accepting the car you accept its condition although you should still have a case.

Have you tried another Renault garage and see about getting them to do the work under the excuse of it being warently work.

EDD

 

[BikeMan]

Stu,

Have PMd you again. Try a different solicitor, contact Watchdog/Auto Express etc and above all DONT GIVE UP! You CAN win, as I did. I had the acceptable tolerance garbage thrown at me too Renault UK will not want to know, and will do nothing. You need to fight against the dealership who sold you the car, via a solicitor. You can no longer buy a new Cup, so you they cant replace your car. Demand your money back. Your car is not of acceptable quality and you have the right to reject it. You DO NOT have to accept a repair.

Best of luck mate. It cost me a few quid, but Im glad I stuck with it. The sense of satisfaction hasnt worn off 3 months on

BikeMan

 

[D-CUP]

They have the right to correct the faults. You cant turn down a car because its had extra paintwork done before sale. (You should check the car over thorougly before taking delivery) What are they supposed to do, scrap all the cars that get a ding on the way from the factory? I know some guys who do these repairs. They had to go to Germany a few months back to do a compund full of BMWs that had been in a hail storm. Maybe BMW should have written off a million quids worth of motors?

Engine mounts are a common problem with 172s. You have a warranty.

The dashes rattle anyway and according to the guy on here who fits the alarms they dont take off the dash.

I would take it back and tell them youll be back at the end of the week and you want it as new. If they cant do that then start arguing.

 

[The Guvnor]

Quote: Originally posted by D-CUP on 05 January 2004


What are they supposed to do, scrap all the cars that get a ding on the way from the factory?







No, they dont have to scrap them. They can sell em slightly cheaper from the dealership informing customers who buy them why they have been repaired.

People like scooby stu go out nearly every day of their life and work hard to earn the money that they pay for their new car with, and for some muppet at renault to try and fob them off with a damaged and repaired car is an absolute disgrace.

 

[D-CUP]

How do you know YOUR car hasnt had paintwork done before you picked it up? If the work is done to a good enough standard you will never know. That is what they should have done in this case which they havent.

 

[BikeMan]

In which case, hes entitled to reject it and get his money back...

 

[visceral]

When I rejected my Rover, it was only after the replacement engine blew its head gasket that I got anywhere.

You have to give the dealership an opportunity to recify the faults unfortunately - I know I was gutted when mine needed a new engine - just wasnt a new car anymore!

When did you first spot the paint defects, because there is a time after which u are deemed to have accepted the vehicle.

Wonder if Jeremy from Renault has any thoughts on the issue??

 

[visceral]

Quote: Originally posted by D-CUP on 05 January 2004

How do you know YOUR car hasnt had paintwork done before you picked it up? If the work is done to a good enough standard you will never know. That is what they should have done in this case which they havent.

I am sure my definition of NEW does not include the word repaired!!

I believe the dealer should have an obligation to inform you of any damage they have repaired - Seeing as they ask you when u take urs in as part ex!

 

[BikeMan]

You dont have to give the dealer the opportunity to rectify the faults. I was not willing to accept a repair.

Unfortunately they dont have to notify you of any repairs to the car before you collect it. I think it should be a requirement, but there is no legal obligation for them to do so.

To me, a repaired car is a second and should be sold like a second of any other type of goods e.g. jeans or plates. They should be marked as a second with a price reduction to account for the fault.

A new car, should be a perfect car. In every way.

 

[Smokey]

Quote: Originally posted by BikeMan on 05 January 2004


You dont have to give the dealer the opportunity to rectify the faults. I was not willing to accept a repair.

Unfortunately they dont have to notify you of any repairs to the car before you collect it. I think it should be a requirement, but there is no legal obligation for them to do so.

To me, a repaired car is a second and should be sold like a second of any other type of goods e.g. jeans or plates. They should be marked as a second with a price reduction to account for the fault.

A new car, should be a perfect car. In every way.





What he says^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If a pair of jeans are damaged they are reduced as seconds!!

 

[king.stromba]

I think its disgraceful. A new car should be that NEW. Ive had many solicitors turn down work in the past, for the simple reason that their are alot of sh*t lawers out there that will only touch easy stuff, and they dont really understand the law fully (lets face it their are alot of solicitors out there with 2.2s and thirds in their degree). Find one who specialises in comsumer law and knows his stuff. He will f*ck Renault for breakfast and then use them to line his bank account. Dont give up mate, either get a new car or a repair that makes the car AS NEW AGAIN (ie total respray).

And to those who think that its acceptable to have a mended car delivered and sold as new, think about this. Would you buy at full price as new a tv that had been dropped and repaired, a bed that had been repaired after beeing dropped out of a lorry or a broken repaired Rolex watch? No, neither would i, and if i did without being informed i would expect a refund, or a replacement. Any reputable company also wouldnt sell a repaired item. But then Renault isnt reputable and is one reason i would never buy a car from them.

 

[D-CUP]

Like I said, give them the chance to make the car as new and if it is still noticeable take it further.

If the bumper was damaged get a new one put on, not a repair. And have the whole roof repainted.

 

[edde]

I think you should give them a chance to rectify the car. No new car is going to be perferct. I work at a large manurfacturing plant and we produce million pound stuff there every one has damage to them the customer has to accept that some damge will occure noone comes asing for money of just cos we dented parts they accept it but we do our best to repair and repaint the part. Renault cannot go writing all cars off. Your problems are greater than normal but you need to give them a chance.

However saying that Ive found Renault to be usless at fixing stuff, once you start getting rid the the problems you can go and enjoy the car.

EDD