Yesterday I took delivery of a new car and soon realised that it was not quite what I thought I had ordered.
I already had a Ford on the Options scheme and decided to trade it in at the end of the three years for a new model. I visited my local Ford dealer who gave me a price on a new Fiesta stating that it came with free Bluetooth with voice control and USB connection (worth £200). I decided also to go to SMC at Sittingbourne and told them what my local dealer had offered me, they stated that they could match the deal within a couple of pounds and showed me a car in the showroom that I would have had except that it was the wrong colour. So I decided to think about it. A few days later I made a call to SMC and ordered the car in my preferred colour.
When I picked the car up yesterday I pointed out to the salesman that my car didn't appear to have a USB connection like the one in the showroom that I had been offered and he stated that to have that I would have had to pay extra as it was an option.
When I got home I realised that not only did it not have the USB connection, it didn't have the Bluetooth with voice control either.
I immediately contacted the sales manager and voiced my concerns. He launched an internal investigation and phoned me back that afternoon stating that I had been told by the salesman that my car would not have the option as some are built with it and some without. He also pointed out that the free option was not requested on the order form (which obviously I had not signed, as I ordered over the telephone).
I argued that I was never made aware that the option would not be available and requested either for the option to be installed into my car or for a replacement vehicle. He stated that the option could not be installed after manufacture and that they do not provide exchanges. He added that I may be able to get an aftermarket accessory that would be similar and undertook to give me a call back tomorrow after he had spoken to a diagnostic engineer.
Do I have a case under SOGA?
What are my options?
If I reject the car, will I get the old car back?
I have already sent an email to SMC's head office, should I also contact Ford or even Ford Finance?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I already had a Ford on the Options scheme and decided to trade it in at the end of the three years for a new model. I visited my local Ford dealer who gave me a price on a new Fiesta stating that it came with free Bluetooth with voice control and USB connection (worth £200). I decided also to go to SMC at Sittingbourne and told them what my local dealer had offered me, they stated that they could match the deal within a couple of pounds and showed me a car in the showroom that I would have had except that it was the wrong colour. So I decided to think about it. A few days later I made a call to SMC and ordered the car in my preferred colour.
When I picked the car up yesterday I pointed out to the salesman that my car didn't appear to have a USB connection like the one in the showroom that I had been offered and he stated that to have that I would have had to pay extra as it was an option.
When I got home I realised that not only did it not have the USB connection, it didn't have the Bluetooth with voice control either.
I immediately contacted the sales manager and voiced my concerns. He launched an internal investigation and phoned me back that afternoon stating that I had been told by the salesman that my car would not have the option as some are built with it and some without. He also pointed out that the free option was not requested on the order form (which obviously I had not signed, as I ordered over the telephone).
I argued that I was never made aware that the option would not be available and requested either for the option to be installed into my car or for a replacement vehicle. He stated that the option could not be installed after manufacture and that they do not provide exchanges. He added that I may be able to get an aftermarket accessory that would be similar and undertook to give me a call back tomorrow after he had spoken to a diagnostic engineer.
Do I have a case under SOGA?
What are my options?
If I reject the car, will I get the old car back?
I have already sent an email to SMC's head office, should I also contact Ford or even Ford Finance?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.