Payment before collection

[Radek]

Hello everyone!

Have been reading the forum for a while now (during work obviously!) and finally decided to join.

I've got a GTI on order, carbon grey, 18", 5dr, DSG, plus eveything except leather seats and sunroof, ordered 11th July, build week 34 (yes, this week), delivery middle of Sept.

I'd like to ask those who have already picked up their cars and those who are getting there about the payment method.

Now, I want to pay the balance (£19000) with a debit card and my dealer says they need to have the "funds cleared" before collection (2-3 days) which seems a little strange to me as everyone I asked around has paid with their debit cards on the day of collection and there was never any problem with that. I paid for my previous car (£11200) with a Solo card and I just had a quick chat with the bank and that's it.

Is that normal for VW? Others dealers seem to be just fine with debit card payment on collection. There is no way I'm going to hand over the money without having inspected the car first!

Any thoughts?

Radek

[gossa]

Debit card payment will be cleared funds mate, you should be fine, just tell the bank about the transaction beforehand to avoid the potentially embarressing phonecall!

Bet you can't wait?

[topher]

Sounds ridiculous to me - Inspect the car first, then pay.

[adw555]

paid for mine by cheque myself...

[gossa]

paid for mine by cheque myself...

Doubt that'll work in most places, a cheque aint cleared funds, or worth the paper it's written on if it exceeds the guarantee card amount

[AlanH]

Interesting. When I paid my deposit for the GTD, the dealer mentioned something about paying the balance when the car was ready, and then collecting it the next day. Seemed strange at the time as on the last two occasions I've paid the balance with my debit card and driven away the same day.

[adw555]

I'd never pay before inspecting the car first....for my mk 5 I spent at least an hour going over it before paying by switch...same with the mk 6..only this time they said a cheque would be fine...but in both cases I took time to check it out first as much as I could..

[keelaw]

I'd never pay before inspecting the car first....for my mk 5 I spent at least an hour going over it before paying by switch...same with the mk 6..only this time they said a cheque would be fine...but in both cases I took time to check it out first as much as I could..

though isn't that why you have a warranty?  anything wrong with it just take it back.

[AlanH]

For the simple reason that something like bodywork damage - a dent or scratch - can be picked up during a detailed customer inspection. Otherwise the dealer could claim that the damage was inflicted by the customer after collection.

[Radek]

Cheers guys. I thought that debit cards are as safe as... well money transfers.

They probably want me to inspect the car, pay and then to come a couple of days later when the funds are safe in their accounts to pick it up. Which asks a question - what is the status of the car in these 2-3 days? is it mine or not? Is it insured or not? What if the dealer goes bust? It doesn't happen everyday but who knows... If they need the money so much!

AlanH is right - if there is a damage you could have spotted and should have spotted during inspection and you didn't you can't claim it later.
Consumer rights:
If it was the case that you were invited to carry out a thorough inspection of the car before purchase, and then you go back to complain about something which that inspection should have revealed, you will have no legal rights in that regard.