Car refund

[NeedSupport]

Hello,
I’m new here and seeking some advice please.
I will try and keep this as short as possible, but please let me know if further information is required.
I bought a new car 10 months ago (July 2024).from dealership.
A few weeks later (August 2024) there was an issue with the infomatic system not working.
repair was made.
On returning from holiday the car had been sat for 2 weeks (end of September 2024).. Flat battery, wouldn’t unlock or start. Collect by recovery as it wouldn’t charge enough. Fault defined by recovery and dealership as ‘battery drain’. Repaired by dealership who caused lots of damage to paintwork, which they then repaired in October 2024.
The car was then used every 1-2 days, so not left idle.
March 2025, while on holiday the car was idle for 4 days and same issue as September 2024, as recorded by recovery and dealership- battery drain. Persuaded by dealership to repair again. I relented and was assured they had done everything and issue was fixed.
low and behold in April 2025 the same issue has happened after 5 days of being idle.
i have now rejected the car.
it now has 4,000 miles on the clock.
paid (new) £18,694 - £150 paid on credit card, the rest was a bank transfer (provided by a loan which I am paying - not related to the dealership).
They are offering me £15,500 refund or pick a used car from there forecourt to the value of £16,000.
I am keen to be mobile again due to shift work.
My questions:

what would be a reasonable refund?

I am awaiting S75 forms from cc company- could I accept the £15,000 refund from dealership, buy another car elsewhere and put in the difference myself and then do a section 75 on the difference?

any help, opinions and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[echat11]

Hi NeedSupport

Welcome to LB

No I don't believe you can, as the Dealership would have resolved the claim, as you excepted the refund.
I would push the credit card company as far as you can, o.k. you've had usage of the car - 4,000 miles.
But then you've already been put to 'inconvenience' on several occasions. You've allowed to repair the
car etc.

No doubt there will be more advice to follow, 'what would be a reasonable refund?'.

[NeedSupport]

Hi,

Thank you for replying.

what would be considered a reasonable refund? I really need to get mobile again due to working shifts. I have done some research but can’t see what would be reasonable!
When looking at what is a reasonable amount to take off the original price for miles driven so far
some sites quote the HMRC 45p p/mile, however this accounts for fuel, tax, MOT etc, so I would think a lower rate.

Kind regards

[Pezza54]

IMO you should continue with your S75 claim to reject the car with your credit card company.
A driver should be able to leave their new car idle for weeks without the battery being drained. It sounds as if the fault was never fixed. Only when you used the car daily you didn't have this problem
In your claim you should state you believe the fault with the car draining the battery existed at the time you purchased the car. You did not anticipate a new car to have this recurring problem which the dealer has unsuccessfully tried to fix.
The car has caused you much inconvenience and additional expense. Provide details of this in your S75 claim. Make sure you state the date you rejected the car and refer to breach of the CRA 2015, the car was unsatisfactory quality. In addition the dealer had to repair paintwork that was damaged while the car was in his possession. This repair work will devalue a new car
If the credit card company refuses your claim you can refer the dispute to the FOS

[des8]

Deduction for usage awarded by courts varies around 15 ppm to 20ppm

[NeedSupport]

Dear all,

I am looking for further support please!

The S75 paperwork should be delivered to the c.card company today (tracked) about 50 pages of evidence.
The car remains, unusable, outside my house.

My issue now is that the first year service is due at the beginning of July.
Do I book it in?
If I do -
pro’s: The service is maintained and the warranty continues.
Con’s: I will need the AA to get it there. If they charge it up to get it started they may say it’s working again (until it’s idle for a few days)! How would I get it back? Can’t leave it there because last time they damaged the paintwork and trims in several places.
If I don’t take it in:
pro’s: The car remains with me.
con’s: The service will be out of date, voiding the warranty.

Also the dealership called me last week to say they had received my letter of rejection, however I’ve not had any written response. I would expect them to evidence their calculations for a refund. I have not received any written documentation from them at all. It’s all been verbal. Luckily I kept contemporaneous records of every call and this is also with the c.card evidence.

Really appreciate any suggestions and thoughts.

many thanks

[Pezza54]

My advice is to not take the car to the garage. As you have formally rejected the car and it is now the dealer's responsibility to collect the car and get it serviced

[des8]

You have rejected the vehicle, which has been acknowledged and accepted by the dealer (evidenced by his inadequate refund offer) so it is no longer your vehicle.
IMO it is for the dealer to arrange the service. Just to be nice, you might wish to inform him about the approaching service.


Crossed with Pezza54

[echat11]

You need to be clear in your actions, so the following:

If I don’t take it in:
pro’s: The car remains with me.
con’s: The service will be out of date, voiding the warranty.

Caveat it with, what Des8 has said, 'Just to be nice, you might wish to inform him about the approaching service'.