Emira deposit refunds - anybody got theirs?

Emira deposit refunds - anybody got theirs?

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Discussion

boombang

Original Poster:

551 posts

181 months

Friday 16th December 2022
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Following my disappointment with the car I requested a refund (phoned and was asked to email). 5 days on I've not had confirmation from Lotus so called today. Thankfully they could confirm receipt but they were unable to put any timescales on timing of refund, just that it is with the finance team and they would email again with an update.

Lotus do state "We will endeavour to refund your Reservation Fee within 14 days of receipt of your written request." so I'm not getting worried or angry they haven't processed it, but wondering if people have been able to get a refund when asked, as have seen a couple of post about refunds not being forthcoming on here and elsewhere.

Howard1650

345 posts

198 months

Friday 16th December 2022
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Why cancel ? It’s an amazing car. Beautiful on the eye, super build quality, possible daily, great weekend car , affordable and not an EV.

boombang

Original Poster:

551 posts

181 months

Friday 16th December 2022
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More than covered on the deposit thread, primarily terrible seats. Disagree on the super build quality point but that might have been the particular demo I drove.

R33FAL

575 posts

175 months

Friday 16th December 2022
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I am in the same boat. Cancelled my December car on Monday this week… havent even received an acknowledgment of the email…

Flat6

592 posts

262 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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I phoned customer services and sent an email confirming cancellation and got an email response almost immediately, but it was almost the full 14 working days before it hit my account..

boombang

Original Poster:

551 posts

181 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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Good news for me at least - the deposit was returned following a formal written complaint, although they haven't actually responding or acknowledged the complaint.

I've dealt with some poor companies in my time, Lotus Cars are far from the worst but the experience is well outside expectations and has left me disappointed - pretty much the same as I felt about the Emira itself.

rudester

777 posts

159 months

Monday 23rd January 2023
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I cancelled mine sometime ago and received my deposit within the quoted 14 days

Philip Glazebrook

1 posts

21 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Following my test drive I cancelled my order. I was disappointed in the car both dynamically and ergonomically. After months of delays my anticipation and expectations were high. Sadly the Emira missed the spot. That was on the 14th January.

I have been chasing chasing chasing and still haven’t received the refund of my £2000 deposit paid over two years ago.

Short of instructing solicitors I’m at a loss as to what action to take.




BertBert

19,701 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Is the timeline for deposit refunds defined in the order terms?

Powerful Peanut

24 posts

160 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Philip Glazebrook said:
Following my test drive I cancelled my order. I was disappointed in the car both dynamically and ergonomically. After months of delays my anticipation and expectations were high. Sadly the Emira missed the spot. That was on the 14th January.

I have been chasing chasing chasing and still haven’t received the refund of my £2000 deposit paid over two years ago.

Short of instructing solicitors I’m at a loss as to what action to take.
wow !!!! They are a total disgrace . My email to be fair was on 8 th Feb , was told I would have it back last week during one of my four calls . It is the constant blaming someone else in accounts . Have Lotus got a cash flow problem ? Come on Lotus , get someone’s to respond .

boombang

Original Poster:

551 posts

181 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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BertBert said:
Is the timeline for deposit refunds defined in the order terms?
It was 14 days for very early deposits then went to a softer 'we aim to' later on.

If anyone is having issues with refunds I suggest you formally complain to Lotus Cars via email, make it clear you will be following the FCA complaints process and explain why you feel you have not been treated fairly.

BertBert

19,701 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
quotequote all
boombang said:
It was 14 days for very early deposits then went to a softer 'we aim to' later on.

If anyone is having issues with refunds I suggest you formally complain to Lotus Cars via email, make it clear you will be following the FCA complaints process and explain why you feel you have not been treated fairly.
I don't really understand what it has to do with the FCA? They will regulate any loan activity, but this is just a commercial contract problem surely? Much more likely to be the Consumer Rights Act I would have thought.
I'd write a letter of complaint. If it doesn't do the trick, send a letter before action, If that doesn't work issue a small claims proceeding.

boombang

Original Poster:

551 posts

181 months

Monday 20th February 2023
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Lotus Cars are FCA regulated therefore have to act as required by a regulated firm. This includes the TCF requirements which they have certainly breached misleading people on no price rise and withholding deposit return (where T&C's stated at time within 14 days).

In my complaint they never bothered responding but the money was back within a day (having waited a considerable time prior).

BertBert

19,701 posts

218 months

Monday 20th February 2023
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makes sense, but I would have thought it was only the Lotus Finance bit, but I know nothing!

Re the price promise, I suspect that Lotus have covered themselves legally in as much as the current orders are actually not orders until finalised - the terms explicitly say that the deposit secures a place but Lotus are not committed to selling you an Emira and you are not committed to buying.

For the deposit though that was a term of the current order, although I don't have to hand what it says. So if they end up being breach of that action can be taken!

Bert

ThisInJapanese

11,035 posts

233 months

Thursday 23rd February 2023
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Has anybody heard from Lotus this week?

I had a reply on Monday saying they would send the deposit back to the account I used to pay, but I don't have that account anymore. I've tried to call, but the phones are set to being 'closed' and just cut you off.

If there something going wrong at Lotus?

ThisInJapanese

11,035 posts

233 months

Thursday 23rd February 2023
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ThisInJapanese said:
Has anybody heard from Lotus this week?

I had a reply on Monday saying they would send the deposit back to the account I used to pay, but I don't have that account anymore. I've tried to call, but the phones are set to being 'closed' and just cut you off.

If there something going wrong at Lotus?
Just managed to get hold of them on the Live Chat on the website, could be useful to try there is anybody has issues getting through to them.

douglasgdmw

494 posts

226 months

Thursday 23rd February 2023
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I cancelled my order of the i4 via email on Monday 20th Feb and then phoned then later on that afternoon as I requested acknowledgement of the email and not seen anything. Person I spoke to indicated they could not respond immediately as they were processing a number of "enquiries".

As I did not hear anything on Wed I rang up again to be told that they had not had any correspondence from me, Person on the customer care was great and asked me to reply to my recent email and they picked it up straight away, confirmed acknowledgement and sent it over to accounts for the refund,

So hopefully things will be processed by Lotus accounts smoothly.


ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Sunday 26th February 2023
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I was told by an owner who got one of the first cars in November that he had wondered about being the first to get a new new car ... and talking today, wouldn't again.

Read into that what you will, but waiting for an Emira may not be the worst thing.

As an aside, it was parked next to a McLaren 570 and the Emira looked the prettier car smile

It really is a looker ...

ThisInJapanese

11,035 posts

233 months

Sunday 26th February 2023
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douglasgdmw said:
I cancelled my order of the i4 via email on Monday 20th Feb and then phoned then later on that afternoon as I requested acknowledgement of the email and not seen anything. Person I spoke to indicated they could not respond immediately as they were processing a number of "enquiries".

As I did not hear anything on Wed I rang up again to be told that they had not had any correspondence from me, Person on the customer care was great and asked me to reply to my recent email and they picked it up straight away, confirmed acknowledgement and sent it over to accounts for the refund,

So hopefully things will be processed by Lotus accounts smoothly.
I was told that my payment should have been sent on Friday. I was then told it hadn't been sent. I suspect I'm in for a long fight with them especially given that the account I paid from is now closed.

BertBert

19,701 posts

218 months

Sunday 26th February 2023
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ThisInJapanese said:
I was told that my payment should have been sent on Friday. I was then told it hadn't been sent. I suspect I'm in for a long fight with them especially given that the account I paid from is now closed.
Let's hope not. You are most likely dealing with overworked accounts peeps doing refunds rather than any deliberate effort not to give money back. I reckon some more patient too-ing and fro-ing will get it sorted.