Moral: Don't buy sh1t cars.

Fit it with a tow hitch, and use it as a trailer.

If Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act applies you could end up with the full price of the car credited to your account even if you have only paid the deposit and a few monthly payments.

The credit card company (and possible loan company, I have only dealth with credit cards companies) have a equal liabillity for the problem. (Some VISA cards have the same protection).

Write to the credit card company and quote Section 75 etc as per the Martin Lewis money website.

The cedit card company may fob you off but continue with the claim all the way to the Ombudsman, who is very supportive and helpful.

Problems you have described are not a new issue concerning squaddies and cars in Germany purchased in the UK or the other way around.

I know of a Major who paid for a new car to be delivered to Germany from the UK, ordered and paid for in JHQ, Germany in DM's, only for the supplier to disapear with the cash and no car supplied. Problem solved by UK main importer who was contacted and advised in no uncertain terms of the bad PR that could follow and a possible boycott of their products by BAOR personnel in the early 80's. (This was a big issue then full front page cover on the BAOR newspapers).

I had a similar problem in the UK by taking a RHD tax free purchased car from Germany and having a major componet failing within the guarentee period. The UK garage who normally serviced the car refused to fix it under the guarentee. With a bit of digging around I found the car had been imported into the UK first then shipped to Germany so the UK Importers accepted liabillity.

So in short if it cost over £100 use your credit card even if it is only the deposit.

Tow it to Dover.

Originally Posted by longhaired co

we have now been left stranded due to the car becoming dangerous to drive with no apparrent fix in the near future.

Dangerous to drive in what way?

Email the bbc or the daily mail and hope for the best? Maybe shame them a bit

I would advise anyone based in Germany to join ADAC. Their Euro-wide cover is very good (I had cause to use it in France while I was based in Germany and the service was beyond my expectations) and reasonably priced last time I looked.

As for the warantee cover, which I assume is your real issue, speak to KIA UK again but ask to talk to a grown-up. You are covered but it is not a routine situation so the first half-wit on the help-desk isnt going to have a script to cover it.

Consumer rights : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights

Mention the words "class action" and "crankshaft pulley bolt" to Kia UK, and ask them do they want to appear in Autocar again. It may illicit a surprisingly swift change of heart, even if the CPB isn't what's wrong with your car.

With an abbreviation of KIA I wonder how they sell any cars in the anglophone world, especially so in military circles. Begs the question, how did your Kia die?

The address for the company's HQ is:

Kia Motors (UK) Limited
2 The Heights
Brooklands
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 0NY

The Managing Director is Mr Michael Cole.

What about writing to him and asking whether he can help you?

If he says 'yes', you're sorted; if he says 'no', you've then got a refusal in writing which you can use for further action.