My Reply to Mercedes Finance

Here's my reply to Mercedez-Benz Finance. It looks like I'm honing down on the lack of the booklet detailing the stringent return standards - but even so, I don't intend to part with any more money for a 'good condition' car. And if they put a black mark against my credit - I'll also refuse to pay the extra mileage charges.

Leave a comment to tell me what you think...

Letter 3 - 24th September 2011

New letter - new person. Not Dan Beecher any more, but the supervisor called Mark Telford. Must be a heavy!
They know about this blog now, because they refer to the wavy lines, which I'd only queried in the blog, not in any letters. Their language is very careful - they want to sound reasonable - but they aren't acknowledging my point that extra stringency cannot be added after a contract is signed. The car was returned in what I believe any objective person would agree with - good condition - which is the only thing that their contract refers to. Extra booklets supplied as I drove the car away cannot be taken into consideration. Here's the letter:

My Reply to Letter 3

This reply is short and sweet - I'm just not prepared to provide any more money on the basis of added stringency after the contract has been agreed.

Bringing in the Debt Collectors

Amazingly - 6 months after my last contact with Mercedes Finance (aka Mercedes-Benz Finance), they finally called again, tried to get payment, and have referred the matter to a debt collection agency. Cool - this was what I wanted! Well, I guess I'd prefer the whole thing to die quietly, but I also fancied a bit of a battle. I also wanted to experience a debt collection agency and these harsh persistent calls that we hear about in cases on the radio, etc.
So, this letter came though today (Saturday 7th April 2012), even though the amount is clearly "in dispute". It's from Hilary Brookes from DLC. So, Hilary, this is your 15 minutes, maybe longer, of fame.

I'm just gonna write back to say that the bill is 'in dispute', not that I expect that to make any difference.

If anyone has any suggestions, please email me at baron(dot)turner(at)gmail(dot)com. And thanks for all the support so far, including encouragement to continue the fight.

Case Closed by Debt Collectors and Returned to Mercedes Finance

Well, it looks like my stroppy tone may have been uncalled for (unless it's that tone that resulted in the following). DLC (the debt collectors) left a message, and said that they've closed the case down and returned it to Mercedes Finance. So I guess I'll be hearing from Mercedes-Benz Finance again in due course.

Hilary - maybe you aren't so crusty after all. Let's have some coffee after this is all over.

I'll re-post whatever I get from MF...

Problem Resolution!

Finally a chap from Mercedes-Benz Finance called and they've waived the whole charge for damage and have even reduced the extra mileage charge. Cool.
The called said they have completely revised their program for the return of cars in the PCP or leased plan. They've outsourced it to another company in order to provide an objective service, and they have reduced the stringency of car analysis. Critically - he accepted that extra stringency cannot be added after the signature event. Now customers are required to read the return standards prior to the final sealing signature. They've also stopped this close analysis of special lamps which conveys the idea of 'trying very hard' to find problems.
I'd like to think that this blog has caused this - but he also said that other people have complained too - so I guess that shows the value of complaining.