Hi all – hope You can help me?

[uve]

Hi all,

I have been watching and learning from this forum since the Spring because we want to convert a Citroën Berlingo into a stealth camper – but I have run into a problem and need Your help.

We bought a brand new, top spec’d Citroën Berlingo SHINE XL 1.2 PureTech 130 Aut. petrol in May 2021 from a dealer here in Denmark, but it is apparently very difficult to become a Citroën owner 

We were promised that the car would be produced in July and delivered at the end of August this year. 

July came and went, and no new car was produced – after contacting the dealer I was informed, that the car would instead be produced in October and delivered to me at the end of November this year. The reason given was that the Citroën factory was closed from June until October due to lack of parts and microchips.

Since the beginning of September, I have asked the dealer multiple times for a confirmation on the October production without getting an answer.

Last week, out of the blue, the dealer emailed me saying, that he had cancelled the contract for the new car, since Citroën is not able to deliver any new Berlingo’s this year and the factory will first reopen some time in 2022.

I don’t believe the reasons given and the cancellation is illegal according to Danish consumer laws – I have politely informed the dealer that I expect him to deliver the car as stated in the contract.

My hope is that you can help me out - has any of You gotten written proof of delivery of a factory new Citroën Berlingo in the remainder of the year? I would like to strengthen my case and prove the dealer wrong.

Best regards,
Ulrik

[geoff]

Sorry to hear your woes and I wish you luck.

I have to say I think Citroen will have some small print somewhere tucked away to justify their actions and to protect themselves.

[uve]

Hi geoff,

Thanks for the good wishes – I have had the lawyers at the Danish equivalent of The AA approve the contract before signing – they are now also helping me resolve the situation after the cancellation attempt.

Currently there is a blame game going on between the dealer, the importer, and the factory – hopefully someone is going to step up soon and honor their commitment.

[notsofast]

Had you paid the full price of the vehicle or just a deposit?  I'm assuming the dealer offered a refund, but no interest to compensate for income lost on the savings?

[Gadgetman]

I'm sorry, but your chance of getting YOUR car is somewhere between 0 and a snowball's chance in a very hot place.
The lack of parts(mostly electronics) is a real issue all over the industry right now.

If you want a Berlingo, the only chance you have right now is to ask nicely if they can find a suitable replacement, possibly with lower specs or different colour, somewhere else in the system.
But since you have already made 'polite demands', that option may not exist any more.

Any lawyer claiming that he can get Citroën to magic up a car for you is only in it for the Hours. How much are you paying him?

[oilyrag]

Maybe better to get the money back rather than the Dealer going bust .....along with your cash? The second-hand market values will be on the up too.

[elingo]

Hi geoff,

Thanks for the good wishes – I have had the lawyers at the Danish equivalent of The AA approve the contract before signing – they are now also helping me resolve the situation after the cancellation attempt.

Currently there is a blame game going on between the dealer, the importer, and the factory – hopefully someone is going to step up soon and honor their commitment.

You may like to see the thread on 2021 deliveries https://www.berlingoforum.com/thread-21255.html, and specifically my post (#19)
My (UK Dealer) contract is based on a deposit and gave a delivery date of 1/11/2021 If the car is not delivered within 30 days of that date, I can require its delivery within another 7 days. Failing delivery then, I get the deposit back. So the dealer doesn't have any incentive to actually cancel the contract.

[uve]

Thanks for your input – it seems that buying a new car from a dealer is quite different in Denmark than in the UK.

I have not paid any money yet – the law requires me to pay the full amount when I pick up the new car. However, the transfer of ownership happens on the day you sign the contract – therefore I am borrowing the trade-in car (my old car) from the dealer until he delivers the new car. The trade-in price is also locked - this way of doing things incentives the dealer to deliver the new car as soon as possible - cancellation is not an option according to the law.

Over the last few days, I have had a constructive dialogue with the dealer, and he is trying to source a car from another country. I am willing to make compromises regarding trim level, options, color etc.

On a sidenote – Citroën Denmark has during the summer raised the prices for the Berlingo quite a lot. The specific model Berlingo I ordered has increased 30.000 DKK – approx. £3450.

The dealer has also informed me, that he has received news that Citroën Denmark will raise the prices again in December 2021 for the Berlingo. The specific model Berlingo I ordered in May will increase another 30.000 DKK – approx. £3450.

I am not willing to pay £6900 extra for the same car come 2022, when production hopefully normalizes again, if the dealer is successful in cancelling my contract.

[Sol]

This thread seems to be attracting American spammers like flies - no idea why. So, I have closed it to further replies.