Junction 17 cars!!

zedwheels

zedwheels

Zorg Guru (IV)
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British Zeds
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Dec 5, 2011
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Location
South Wales.
Just wondered if anyone here has ever had any dealings with Junction 17 cars? You may know that I have put my car up for sale for age and health issues, being a bit too low to the ground to access actually.
Anyway I was browsing the ebay adds and Autotrader and spotted a car I liked with them. Rang them up to say I was interested only to be told that it had been sold! I then liked a different car and contacted them again. Cutting a long story short, they asked me for a holding fee to give me time to arrange a drive to Nottingham, which is a long way from me! Then I had other problems so couldn't now make the journey so cancelled my visit.
OK that done I now wanted my holding fee refunded, but this seems to be a long winded refund as after nearly two weeks now and a number of telephone calls I'm not getting anywhere. The fee by the way is on their web page as being fully refundable should the car not be the one I want.
Since then I have now found a website that has customer reviews on them and it seems this is a problem a lot of previous potential customers have had. I have today now tried ringing their customer services manager but she don't pick up! So today sent them an email to ask for a reply??
devil.gif

Has anyone here had, or know anyone who has had dealings with this "Organisation" who also has a depot in Peterborough.
Another unusual thing is that the first car that I rang about is still advertised on ebay and their web as being for sale!!
Any advice welcomed.
 
I have heard nothing but bad about them from local gossip. They are just on the A610 going into Nottingham. Hope things get sorted
 
Just looked at there web site, of the 48 reviews 14 are rated as 1 star (pants). A few 2 stars and likewise for 3 stars. Not good it would appear.
 
Usual practice is to take a deposit over the phone if someone wants to buy a car they haven't been to see.

They then visit the showroom to see the car. If it's not as described, or not to their liking they can cancel and get a full refund of their deposit as it's a distance sale up to the point they've made the visit.

If you don't make the journey to see the car and cancel without viewing then the deposit is non refundable.

As for the term "holding fee" you'll have to read their terms and conditions, but if you cancelled without viewing you may not be entitled to a refund. I would imagine the "holding fee" is for them to hold the car, not sell it to anyone else, until you've made the journey to see the car.

Basicly, any monies you pay to a dealer prior to seeing the car is a distance sale and refundable, but you MUST see the car, or prove a miss description, to qualify for a refund under the distance selling rules.

Sorry for the waffle

If they are going to take a so called "holding fee" they should really explain to you that's it's non refundable over the phone before taking it if you decide not to make the journey to view. If they haven't explained that then you may well be able to persuade your Visa card to allow a chargeback.
 
zedwheels said:
Another unusual thing is that the first car that I rang about is still advertised on ebay and their web as being for sale!!
Any advice welcomed.
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Lots of dealers do this and yes, it's really annoying.

Years ago many supermarket dealers got told off for advertising phantom cheap cars to to get you to make the journey. To be told on arrival "sorry sir, we sold that one this morning, but have a look at all these others"
 
Tfp said:
Usual practice is to take a deposit over the phone if someone wants to buy a car they haven't been to see.

They then visit the showroom to see the car. If it's not as described, or not to their liking they can cancel and get a full refund of their deposit as it's a distance sale up to the point they've made the visit.

If you don't make the journey to see the car and cancel without viewing then the deposit is non refundable.

As for the term "holding fee" you'll have to read their terms and conditions, but if you cancelled without viewing you may not be entitled to a refund. I would imagine the "holding fee" is for them to hold the car, not sell it to anyone else, until you've made the journey to see the car.

Basicly, any monies you pay to a dealer prior to seeing the car is a distance sale and refundable, but you MUST see the car, or prove a miss description, to qualify for a refund under the distance selling rules.

Sorry for the waffle

If they are going to take a so called "holding fee" they should really explain to you that's it's non refundable over the phone before taking it if you decide not to make the journey to view. If they haven't explained that then you may well be able to persuade your Visa card to allow a chargeback.
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@zedwheels.... If they won't refund the money without it being viewed, I'll go and "view" it on your behalf as it's 20 mins from me. Then I tell them it doesn't meet your needs and they can give your money back whilst I'm there. I imagine they're not nearly as obstructive face to face.
 
Tfp said:
Lots of dealers do this and yes, it's really annoying.

Years ago many supermarket dealers got told off for advertising phantom cheap cars to to get you to make the journey. To be told on arrival "sorry sir, we sold that one this morning, but have a look at all these others"
Click to expand...

That's what I believe too, its like they advertise what I would call a "Honeypot Trap" It is a 135iM Sport grey with red leather. When I questioned them about it he stuttered a bit and came out with, Ah yes we have to keep advertising it for insurance purposes!o_O
Trading standards?
 
zedwheels said:
That's what I believe too, its like they advertise what I would call a "Honeypot Trap" It is a 135iM Sport grey with red leather. When I questioned them about it he stuttered a bit and came out with, Ah yes we have to keep advertising it for insurance purposes!o_O
Trading standards?
Click to expand...

Yes, trading standards will take this on.

They are enticing you to visit with an advert for a product that doesn't exist.

They'll get fined.

I remember travel agents getting pulled up for this a few years ago, putting offers in the window for holidays that cannot be booked at the price stated. Just to get you through the door. Same principal
 
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Mac Romans said:
@zedwheels.... If they won't refund the money without it being viewed, I'll go and "view" it on your behalf as it's 20 mins from me. Then I tell them it doesn't meet your needs and they can give your money back whilst I'm there. I imagine they're not nearly as obstructive face to face.
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Thanks Mac your a jewel. If only I lived nearer I would be over there myself. Because I have contacted my bank about the problem I am waiting for them to contact me and let me know what their position is, and how helpful they can be. All being well they will turn the screws
for me, but can I ask you to keep that option open?:thumbsup:
 
Mac Romans said:
@zedwheels.... If they won't refund the money without it being viewed, I'll go and "view" it on your behalf as it's 20 mins from me. Then I tell them it doesn't meet your needs and they can give your money back whilst I'm there. I imagine they're not nearly as obstructive face to face.
Click to expand...
Good man.
 
Brian I'm afraid that all that @Tfp has said is correct. I know Tim works in the industry and I was a car supermarket site manager for a while. Your deposit is non refundable. If the figure you left is excessive then you may get some back but a couple of hundred wouldn't be out of the way. I'll see if I can find out who owns it. I already have an idea who it may be. :meh:
 
Grumps said:
Brian I'm afraid that all that @Tfp has said is correct. I know Tim works in the industry and I was a car supermarket site manager for a while. Your deposit is non refundable. If the figure you left is excessive then you may get some back but a couple of hundred wouldn't be out of the way. I'll see if I can find out who owns it. I already have an idea who it may be. :meh:
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Hi Grumps, I didn't pay a deposit on anything, What they advertise is, if you like the look of something and want them to hold it for you until you can visit and test drive it you pay a Holding Fee, and then after you try it if the car is not for you the "Holding fee" is fully refundable under any circumstances!
Trouble is I didn't find the web page for the company's customer reviews until later and there are people on there that have also had the same problem, one had paid £500 holding fee! Mine is only a £100. They must lose a load of business if people check their reviews record.
They also advertise some of their cars as AA approved, but when that purchaser checked up with the AA they didn't know anything about it!
They advertise that all their cars have been HPI checked, but another customer found out later that the car had been in a head on collision!
Crazy init, you couldn't make it up.
Would be interesting to know who owns it though?
 
zedwheels said:
That's what I believe too, its like they advertise what I would call a "Honeypot Trap" It is a 135iM Sport grey with red leather. When I questioned them about it he stuttered a bit and came out with, Ah yes we have to keep advertising it for insurance purposes!o_O
Trading standards?
Click to expand...
You may well find the car you were looking at is the owners car, he will be using it for a period and the car will be classed as stock as it is advertised albeit he has no intention to sell just yet!

Edit: just read the post above, may not be relevant.
 
Maybe if 20 or 30 of us turn up Saturday to view and test drive this car and provide a full report they might be tempted to refund the money when asked. Best to call them about a minute before getting there that the car is there to be viewed but not tell them when. There will be a very short conversation if it isn't and if they've sold it while still holding your holding fee.
 
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