Advice on broken car/dealer. Possible SAR

[titch]

Evening all. Hoping for some advice from someone better informed than me!

 

I have been leasing cars for a few years due to the fact I know nothing about cars and am willing to pay for "peace of mind" and no outlay etc etc.

 

My current lease car has been a Nightmare though. I have been plagued with an ongoing fault that the garage couldn't recreate, that is until the car complete failed and needed to be towed to the dealership.

 

They had the car for 2 weeks scratching their heads working with the central master technicians.

 

I won't put too much more detail as it's irrelevant but the chap from the garage has refused to give me the technicians report. The repair he cited doesn't add up to me and whilst the car is currently working fine I feel like they are hiding something.

 

I am currently going through the process of sending the car back but in the meantime I feel like I am the testbunny for a car I dont trust with no idea of what the the dangerous fault was.

 

So my question is this.......do I have any rights to see the technical reports for the vehicle? What reason would he not give them over and if I triggered a SAR could I get any info about the report with it?

 

Cheers all

Edited August 5, 2020 by elsiegee40

[Meldrew]

Personally I'd try a SAR anyway, but they may try to fob you off by saying that the information is linked to the car and as you are not the owner of the car (the lease company is) you are not entitled to it.

 

As you say, I'd be pushing for a replacement car, especially if it's less than 6 months old.

 

Meldrew

[pete]

This sounds like a generic "swap out the faulty hardware for a known-good device" customer satisfaction problem.

 

What has the leasing company come back with if you sent something like:

 

Hi,

 

The contract between us is for the provision of a car in good working order in exchange for X/month. In light of my experience with this particular car, I'd like evidence that it is in good working order.

 

Could you forward on the technician's report from the recent service (date) at $garagename please? I have asked $person at $garagename for it, but they're unwillingness to discuss how or indeed whether they've fixed the problem.

 

Thanks

 

YourName

[Edu-IT]

Lodge a complaint with the lease company so it has to go through the set motions and if you aren’t happy you can then use the ombudsman.

[HPlum78]

For what it's worth I would recommend you hook it up to to a computer and read out what's the on board computer(s) has to say before sending it to a garage (not much use to you if you have had it dragged back to them mind) that said you can still glean some insights to what has happened to your car if you do ( and you know what to look for) Edited August 5, 2020 by HPlum78

[Zammo]

I dont think a SAR will get you anywhere.

[Achandler]

Lease company (or finance company if it is a PCP), tell them the car isn't fit for purpose and why. Get them to fix it.

 

If they refuse to help, then go through the normal complaints procedure then if a finance company is involved you can use the financial ombudsman as not fit for purpose.

 

Not sure what the ultimate comeback is on a lease, you tell them to collect it, refuse to pay as the contract is frustrated in that they haven't provided a working/ fit for purpose vehicle. Then just gather evidence if they ever try to take you to court (unlikely and they have no losses really since the vehicle is returned).

 

They can hardly claim the car is worth less as it is faulty, when ultimately that is the reason you refused to pay the contract as it is faulty and they didn't resolve it.

[titch]

Cheers all for the advice.

 

I am currently going through the motions with the return which they have been quite good with helping me with but have said it can take up to 8 weeks. I currently have what the garage believe to be a working car on my drive but after the problems Ive had driving it and they have had finding the fault im not willing to be the test driver for what is/was a really dangerous fault with the vehichle. I will keep you updated

[sippo]

What car is it?