A Mini story...

A Mini story...

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Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,665 posts

206 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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Sort of.

The mrs has had a cracking little cooper D on lease for a couple of years and it has been spot on. Alas it’s time to change.

The outgoing car was from The well known supermarket famous for their returning Australian toy deals.

Anyway, when we bought it, it had 17k on it and was assured that as previous owners were notability, or it may have been fleet, I can’t remember that the first service was done by an authorised franchised and all records are now kept online. In fact we were told that as part of the deal we had to maintain this service record either through main dealer or authorised third party or we could affect residuals. So I did just that, the next year came along and it was serviced at Douglas Park Mini, who by the way we’re spot on.

Now as we come to change it, we spotted a lovely Countryman SD with JCW bits and a deal was struck and paperwork was provided.

Here’s where I’m worried I guess, they have contacted the previous retailer and asked for a service record evidence but all they did was send on the original sales invoice which had details of the part exchange and other financial info, but no evidence of first service. So I have questions that I await most the original retailer and Mini Glasgow. The latter again have been brilliant and have maintained a great contact, not pushy etc.

1. By sending Mini the details of the deal we got on the original car without me consenting, have they broken any GDPR rules? I’m pissed off with them and feel like giving them a hard time.
2. I thought that all series were online now but apparently it’s only service centres that can see this. Can’t Mini just phone their colleagues in service and check the service record themselves? Is this held centrally and I can go in and by them using the key reader will bring everything up?
3. They are doing this to make sure they can retail the current car in their AUC programme which dictates full service history needed.
4. If I can’t evidence the initial service are they going to try and kill or change the deal? I have already signed all finance agreements but I’m sure the small print is very much in their favour.

Never again will I set foot in this particular car supermarket. Apart from being mostly rubbish it looks like they used some cats and laser pens to wash the stock.

Bit long, sorry.


MDifficult

2,176 posts

192 months

Thursday 12th September 2019
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Davie_GLA said:
1. By sending Mini the details of the deal we got on the original car without me consenting, have they broken any GDPR rules? I’m pissed off with them and feel like giving them a hard time.
2. I thought that all series were online now but apparently it’s only service centres that can see this. Can’t Mini just phone their colleagues in service and check the service record themselves? Is this held centrally and I can go in and by them using the key reader will bring everything up?
3. They are doing this to make sure they can retail the current car in their AUC programme which dictates full service history needed.
4. If I can’t evidence the initial service are they going to try and kill or change the deal? I have already signed all finance agreements but I’m sure the small print is very much in their favour.
I'm not an expert, but here's how I understand it...

1. Yes, probably. You can either kick-off, or accept they were doing it to try to help - only you know how you feel about that.
2. If it was serviced by a MINI dealership then the record is centrally held. You should be able to get a copy/print-out whatever by contacting a service centre and proving you're the owner.
3. Sounds about right.
4. Depends how they're feeling about the deal. If it's marginal and the service issue means the deal turns sour for them, they might try to negotiate with you. If not, they might just swallow it to avoid the hassle of redoing the whole thing.

Don't forget, you also have rights in Consumer Credit too. Worth looking what they are. If it's early enough you might be able to change your mind and walk away from the whole thing.

twokcc

883 posts

184 months

Thursday 12th September 2019
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1st service is not due until car is 2yrs old or indicadated mileage on computer which could be anything between about 15k-20k miles is car outside these criteria. Service history was also made car based i.e. service record on car and no stamped book.
How old is car/what mileage has it done? Just saying in case you not aware that of changes mini have made to recording of servicing

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,665 posts

206 months

Thursday 12th September 2019
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Thanks both. Seems I jumped the gun and they have come good on the deal.

Car we are chopping in is a 65 plate and has 40k on it. We responded to service indicator and had it done but I assume this is the second service it's had.

Hey ho, new car day tomorrow for the Mrs.