Car Collector saying they will sign on behalf due to covid-19

[toby192]

R0b

We have just received an email for a VT saying that the collection agent will sign on our behalf due to covid-19.

The advice in the VT pack is not to sign, how do we refuse to sign if they can sign on our behalf, or is there signature not enforceable? Any advice would be great

Thanks!

[R0b]

Just simply reply back and say that you do not consent to the agent signing on your behalf. Therefore anything marked in the condition report is not agreed and you reserve the right to dispute its contents at a later date.

Unless you are happy for the agent to sign on your behalf, then you don't need to do anything.

[toby192]

Thanks for your help!

[Kotya]

Had similar issue, just I wasn’t advised of it until after the collection of the vehicle. So I’ve used it as a leverage to dispute any damage. When they’ve tried to slam me with refurbishment costs, part of my reply was “I appreciate that there are extra safety measures in place due to pandemic in order to protect your customers and collection agents. However, bearing in mind that collections/repossessions of the vehicles are jot deemed as essential (this was end of April), if the measures affect quality of the services provided - you shouldn’t be providing those services at all. I did not demand for the vehicle to be collected during the pandemic and was prepared to wait until after the lockdown in order to do the handover properly”

It was not the only thing that I’ve used to dispute the refurbishment costs, but I believe it has had a reasonable impact as they’ve not even tried to pursue the fees any further.