Help! I have a car problem again :(

[MrsKnight]

Hi all,
I could just cry right now, I really do feel like I've had enough & need a break from things going wrong.
My new second hand car (ford focus) turned out to have a fault when we got it home the air con would only work on setting 4 (highest). The radio is also faulty but the cd bit works . please don't shout at me for not checking it b4 buying it. Hubby n I already feel bad enough.
We contacted the car delear & complained, basically told us to remember it's a 9 yr old car. The warranty only covered engine n gear box & is now out of warranty.
The air con has stopped working altogether now & it's obviously something we need working to clear windows etc in bad weather
Has anyone had experience of this & ideas of costs to fix?

We are already had a payment break with GT for the car. We requested to take a 2 month break (June/July) which they were great with. But upon finding out I was pregnant, we contacted them to cut it short & reduce it to one month (June), so we could get it repaid b4 the baby was due. Yet I'm having difficulties getting them to sort. I had to pay julys over the phone. I've had 3 reinstated direct debit forms all saying to recommence from July but repaying back 2 month break when I've only missed one month.
Then I'm it says my last payment is in May 2013 but my IVA started. In April. When i questioned this they said its because my first payment was May. I had to point out my first payment April 2008 was spread over the first 3 months & I have proof, they said they had it down as over time.
So now I don't know if I'm coming or going, if I had just left my payment break as it was, I would not have this additional stress & the money to fix the air conditioning. I was wanting to do what was best for our IVA & to prepare for the new arrival, but it all seems to of back fired on me. Not sure what to do.

[Jo.58]

Hi
Sorry to hear about your car problems. Check on the consumer direct website they give you lots of info on your rights when you buy a car ie it must be in satisfactory condition, fit for it purposes and as described, If it does not meet all the critia then you usually have the right to a repair or replace, you can also call them they will give you further advice. You don't say how long you have had the car, but do give them a call don't just take what the car dealer says, been there. Just search consumer direct
Hope you get it sorted
Jo

[plasticdaft]

The air con in my golf hasnt worked since I got the car. They are often expensive to fix so just use the car without. As for the radio it may be worth buying a new one,I got a £69 sendai cd player fitted from halfords and it even connects to ipods etc.

Hang in there.

Paul

[Broke of London]

Hi Mrs Knight, one by one!! The car...if you only need a new gas canister it could cost about £50 but a new air con system could be about £200-300 plus fitting (my bloke helped with this obsv). Personally, my air con is broken so I go old skool...a mix of vents and open windows LOL. The payments...sounds like they've taken on board what you've said so they just need to rectify the DD form or even better, allow you to set up and control a standing order. Thing will come good Mrs K.

[MrsKnight]

Hi Jo, had the car 3 months, I will look at that site thank you, I just don't know if I can face a battle right now. I'm supposed to be avoiding stress due to being high risk in my pregnancy.

Hi plasticdaft, thanks I'm not bothered over the radio if I'm honest, it's something that can wait!
How do you clear the windows in the winter n keep them clear, steam, condensation, ice etc? Hubby has to go to n from work when the weather is at it's worst, early mornings n late nights. Does not fill me with joy if they are expensive to sort!

[MrsKnight]

Hi BOL! I know Im all over the place at the mo, I'm blaming it on my pregnancy mush brain. I quite happy to open windows etc, so I know where u are coming from. All I can thing of is how bad last winter was & how much hubby uses n needs the car.
I've no idea what GT are doing it's been 3 weeks since I tried to get it all sorted by phone n emails, n I've heard nothing. They appear to do everything by DD, SO would be so much easier to control & pay additional bits of overtime etc.
Feel very fed up n emotional today x

[Broke of London]

You're allowed emotional with so much on your mind. But your hubby can wrap up warm and the vents will blow warm air. Try to stay calm for your baby. This is far more important to you and hubby than whether the car has air con! x

[Foggy]

Lyns... I know it's a pain, but you can do without air con very easily. It doesn't help with demisting etc, that is still down to your cars standard vents ( should be a section in the handbook about best settings for demisting. The air con is really for keeping the car's interior cool in the hot weather ( and we don't get a lot of that really! ). As a bonus, using air con adds about 10% to your fuel usage, so with no air con you will be saving money !

[MrsKnight]

Ok maybe I'm getting confused! But the vents to demist the windows are not working I think this is why I'm referring it to the air conditioning bit as to demise the windows u have to turn the dial to the window vent bit, n turn on blowers setting 1,2,3,4, n then adjust the heat setting. So we can't demist or heat air at all! That's the problem x

[Foggy]

Ah, right -- its the FAN that's not working ( or, if you are lucky, the switch). As that is an integral part of the car I would assume the dealer has to put it right -- not under warranty, but under the normal Sale of Goods Act whereby the goods have to be of merchantable quality and fit for purpose.

I had a similar problem with lights once, and an email to my local trading standards proved very helpful.

[Jo.58]

Hi Lyns
maybe not a good idea for you to deal with the stress of the car, as the baby is far more important. Don't beat yourself up about not checking the air con in the car when you brought it, we all do these things. maybe hubby can have a look at the website see what he thinks but I'm sure you will manage ok without the air con, I know my previous car didn't have it I just use to have the warm air blowing. try not to worry I know easy said than done
hope you feel better soon take care x x

[Jo.58]

Foggy, just read your post, I agree the car dealer should put it right as they have only had car 3 months.
I did have a problem with a car w brought from a car dealer second hand and I contact our local trading standards, they were very helpful and in the end the car dealer had to sort it

[Grant Thornton]

Hi Mrs Knight

You are going through a stressful time at the moment and Grant Thornton are very keen to address any issues you are experiencing with your IVA.

Please email ivacustomerservices@uk.gt.com with only the words "IVA Forum" in the subject line and I will review your case and resolve any problems.

[MrsKnight]

Foggy: Sorry for not explaining it properly or correctly. The fan was working but it only worked on setting 4. Which is the highest setting, so I don't know if there is loose connection to the switch or something wrong with the switch.

Jo: thanks hun, as much as I love my hubby, I often wish he would grow a pair! He just can not & does not know how to handle these things. As much as I would love to pass this to him, it would never get sorted.

I feel quite angry & stupid now, thoughcan blame pregnancy mush brain as I was pregnant when I bought it! We bought the car in Middlesbrough (60 miles) away so it's not local.
I'm going to look into what the both of u have said above, but when I look back to how the car sale happened I know they are going to be hard to deal with.
Really don't need this right now, thanks for the help x

[Jo.58]

Lyns my hubby is just the same I have to deal with everything and he wonders why i get stressed!!! But I know how you feel wish I could help more, let us know how you get on
take care x x