VT with mercedes

[blackste]

Hi all.

Firstly i would like to thank the contributors on this forum for the excellent information and advice regarding voluntary termination.

I started my voluntary termination with mercedes in a letter copied from legal beagles dated 1st november, and received by Mercedes on 3rd november. I received my VT pack from them on 7th of november, but was away, so could respond until today, the 9th november. I was just short of the 50%, so made the payment over the phone via debit card. Mercedes put me through to their collections department, which turned out to be BCA, which i assume to be british car auctions. BCA told me that the earliest they can collect the car is the 17th of november. This is a bit of a pain as my payment is due on that day, and i was hoping for the car to be picked up before then.
I had assumed that the contract with Mercedes had ended on the 14th, ending my obligation at that date? Could anyone confirm if i am right or wrong please?

If the contract does end on the 14th, am i required to tax or insure the vehicle after that point?

Lastly, in the original PCP, i agreed to 10000 miles per year, but have covered 34700 miles in the 3 years i have owned the car. The car is 4 years old, and had 9600 miles on the clock when i got it, so in my opinion, overall has fairly low mileage for its age. Any thoughts on my chances of fighting the excess mileage?

Thanks in advance,

SB

[R0b]

Re: VT with mercedes

When you say you received your VT pack did that confirm in writing that the agreement has been terminated? or did it say the agreement will be terminated upon payment of the remainder of the balance which equals half the total amount? or something else?

If confirmation that they have accepted your VT and is now terminated then I would go ahead and cancel your direct debit as you no longer have to continue paying for the agreement. As for collecting the car you should allow a reasonable time for collection, such reasonable times would be 14 days or thereabouts. So if Mercedes confirmed your VT on the 7th then I would still continue to tax and insure the car (unless you have private land you can store it?) until they collect on the 17th. If they cancel and then re-arrange which makes the collection date much longer than anticipated, it is at that point I would highlight to them and say that you will store it and invoice for storage charges as collection has unreasonably been delayed.

Excess mileages - I wouldn't worry about that, they cannot charge for it.

[ostell]

Re: VT with mercedes

If you follow the other entries for VT I think you will find that most people refuse to pay any excess because the regulations just state 50% and nothing more.

I believe that your car has been VT'ed so the delay in pick up is not your problem. But wait for others to respond.

[blackste]

Re: VT with mercedes

Thanks for the responses.

Rob,
The letter states...
"If you wish to terminate your afreement early, you will need to:
1. Complete the fields on the following page, confirming that you would like to terminate your agreement, and where you would like your vehicle to be collected from.
Return the signed sheet to us either in the pre-paid envelope or by email to customerservices-mbfs@daimler.com. with the subject as voluntary termination.
please note that you vehicle must be ready for collection within 5 working days following the termination of your agreement. If you are not ready to return the vehicle immediately, you may wish to delay returning this document until you are in a position to terminate the contract and release the vehicle. Please note you are responsible for insuring the vehicle up to the point of collection.
2. Pay the shortfall outlined earlier to bring your total payment to half of the total amount payable. Please note we can only accept payment for the shortfall upon termination of your agreement."

The document they have asked me to sign to terminate includes this wording "I also understand that i will be liable for any damage or excess mileage charges after inspection of the vehicle"

This feels like they are asking me to sign away my rights, which i am not willing to do.

Thanks

[R0b]

Re: VT with mercedes

Have you signed and sent it back? if you haven't I would put a line through the bit where it says about liability for excess damages and mileage and mark up on the document saying you do not agree - take a photocopy or picture on your phone so you have some kind of evidence that you did not agree to it. Best bet is to also email it to them and state in the email that you do not accept any liability for excess mileages. The damage excess is for them to prove that it is beyond a reasonable condition, minor small scratches are unlikely to count.

If you have already sent and signed it off then you will have to argue just as we all do that they're not entitled to recover it.

[blackste]

Re: VT with mercedes

Rob,

I have not sent it back as yet, due to concerns over that wording. I will do as you suggest though, and mark the document, and email it.

Thanks.

[R0b]

Re: VT with mercedes

On a point of evidence, make sure to take plenty of photographs of the car in daylight prior to handing it over. If they come and collect the car and ask you to sign any paperwork regarding damage, don't sign it as you are not obliged to. If they refuse to take the car away then tell them that is fine you will store it and invoice Mercedes until it is collected and then cancel tax and insurance.

[blackste]

Re: VT with mercedes

Yeah im off the day they are coming, so have plenty of time to go and get a paper to use with photos. I didnt realise i didnt have to sign the inspection report at all though. The car is in really good condition, barring 1 nasty scuff on 1 alloy wheel. There are a few stone chips, but nothing major, so im hoping for a fairly easy time in that regard.

[blackste]

Re: VT with mercedes

Just wanted to update this, and close it off.

Mercedes appointed BCA to take the car away. Very nice chap turns up, shows some ID, and explains that he is here to inspect the car and that it will take 15 to 20 mins. Around 20 minutes later, he has the inspection form, showing some scuffs to the front offside alloy, and thats it. Also noted was the @45400 miles (about 5k over the average). The form already had approximate repair cost for the wheel (£85) and another section, already filled out, which said "nothing to pay". He asked if i was happy to sign, and explained that there would be no charge as, in his words "its within the budget im allowed", so i signed.

I asked him about the lack of any charges, and he explained to me that Mercedes have relaxed a lot recently. BCA have taken over the contract from another company, whos name i forget (rightcar maybe), and are not having the issues that people were previously. He told me that in the past, merc were trying to charge people for literally anything, but had had a rethink on the policy.

Food for thought. Just to close this out, i wanted to thank you guys for the help and advice through the process.

[cjm128]

Re: VT with mercedes

Hi Blackste,

Thanks for finishing off the thread, I'm about to do the same with Mercedes. could I just check, how did you respond tot he "VT Pack" in the end, did you modify the document and sign it?

Many thanks,

[blackste]

Re: VT with mercedes

I just ignored the pack mate. You dont have to sign anything else, other than your initial letter.

To be fair, they were pretty decent about things.

[Arnie365]

Re: VT with mercedes

I have just VT'd with mercedes as well and the car went back last Wednesday. I emailed them a letter template off this site to do the VT. They sent me the pack and I rang them up and said Im not signing this as I have already exercised my right to VT with the email which you acknowledged receipt of. The operator said I had to sign the letter which included the wording on excess mileage. I refused as it contravened the CCA by including things like excess mileage charges. She said 'but these are included within your contract' to which I replied 'which is covered by the CCA and section 99 makes it clear I will have nothing further to pay (as I had payed over 50%). She spoke to a manager and confirmed the email was acceptable and she would arrange collection and that i would receive a bill for mileage and I could challenge it at that point.

Collection was very smooth again with a guy from BCA. No damage identified. A week on, the bill from Merc has arrived for £1,000 excess mileage charges. I shall be writing back today to tell them where to go!

[Monamie]

Re: VT with mercedes

Hi I'm looking into doing vt with M-B too. In order for me to pay 50% it takes me to the end of the agreement. Is that how it works because I paid a low deposit initially? Therefore I'd be better off keeping the car? Any advice appreciated. Thanks

[cjm128]

Re: VT with mercedes

[MENTION=51145]Arnie[/MENTION],

Is there any update on the excess mileage dispute? In the same position myself.

Many thanks.

[dean0will]

Re: VT with mercedes

[MENTION=76545]cjm128[/MENTION] and [MENTION=75013]blackste[/MENTION] - can you give me any updates on how this went for you both, as I am about to do the same with Mercedes?