Stuck at the Agent?

[Arlette]

Has anyone heard that the reason increasing numbers of vehicles are stuck at the dealers is that the dealers (in reality agents) never actually own the vehicles and hence their contractual relationship to carry out the PDI check is not their responsibility? Thus Ineos cannot release the vehicles to the customers as they are not in a contractual position to rely on the Agent to complete the PDI.

A very interesting but rather stupid situation if it’s true!

If it’s true why would you pay without or even before a confirmed delivery date?

 

[marko]

Has anyone heard that the reason increasing numbers of vehicles are stuck at the dealers is that the dealers (in reality agents) never actually own the vehicles and hence their contractual relationship to carry out the PDI check is not their responsibility? Thus Ineos cannot release the vehicles to the customers as they are not in a contractual position to rely on the Agent to complete the PDI.

A very interesting but rather stupid situation if it’s true!

If it’s true why would you pay without or even before a confirmed delivery date?

I was at my agent a couple of weeks ago and a mechanic came into the showroom and backed out a customer vehicle to carry out its PDI so they are definitely being completed whatever the contractual arrangement.

 

[Eric]

Has anyone heard that the reason increasing numbers of vehicles are stuck at the dealers is that the dealers (in reality agents) never actually own the vehicles and hence their contractual relationship to carry out the PDI check is not their responsibility? Thus Ineos cannot release the vehicles to the customers as they are not in a contractual position to rely on the Agent to complete the PDI.

A very interesting but rather stupid situation if it’s true!

If it’s true why would you pay without or even before a confirmed delivery date?

IA just pay the agent to carry out the PDI. Likewise with any warranty work. The agent is also paid a handling fee for ever car sold. Future services are carried out by the agent direct.

 

[Arlette]

I was at my agent a couple of weeks ago and a mechanic came into the showroom and backed out a customer vehicle to carry out its PDI so they are definitely being completed whatever the contractual arrangement.

But it wasn’t delivered?

 

[Arlette]

IA just pay the agent to carry out the PDI. Likewise with any warranty work. The agent is also paid a handling fee for ever car sold. Future services are carried out by the agent direct.

Yes - thanks for the clarification. I was however pondering that the hold up in deliveries is in fact due to the risk Ineos has if the PDI is ineffective and damage of some form results. This would be a contractual issue beyond payment for the PDI service but essential to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy. It might therefore be necessary to have a contractual agreement between Ineos and the Agent that ensured a thorough PDI. This would of course benefit the customer but also protect Ineos from an agent failing to do a thorough PDI.

 

[marko]

But it wasn’t delivered?

Not yet as far as I know.

 

[J8hn]

Not yet as far as I know.

Was it a Donney Grey SW?

 

[Eric]

Yes - thanks for the clarification. I was however pondering that the hold up in deliveries is in fact due to the risk Ineos has if the PDI is ineffective and damage of some form results. This would be a contractual issue beyond payment for the PDI service but essential to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy. It might therefore be necessary to have a contractual agreement between Ineos and the Agent that ensured a thorough PDI. This would of course benefit the customer but also protect Ineos from an agent failing to do a thorough PDI.

The agent is acting as a contractor to IA to carry out a PDI.
If it is not in accordance with the IA specification/instructions then normal civil/contract law would apply, it would be contractors liability. This is the situation in any client - contractor relationship. The contractor would bear resonsiblity for the clients damages.

 

[marko]

Was it a Donney Grey SW?

Trialmaster with winch as far as I can remember