Can’t use my car again? Think I’m done Ford.

[Just Lurking]

Slight off topic but if your car is at an authorized dealer and having warranty issues etc for a month does Ford waive your payment? Paying for a car you can’t use?!

Not automatically, no.

Typically no, especially if they give a loaner.

I've heard of people (across multiple car manufacturers) getting car loan payments reimbursed in exceptional circumstances. I think doing something to make it up to the customer when your very expensive product has an excessive number of quality issues or can't be fixed in a timely manner due to parts shortages or mistakes or so on makes perfect sense.

That said, it's always struck me as so odd to tie it someone's car payment specifically vs. using some other formula that treats people similarly. There can be a big difference between two different people's car payment, so why does the person with the larger payment deserve more for the same inconvenience?

What about people who pay cash for their vehicle, why do they deserve nothing? It doesn't make sense to me.

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[Vulnox]

I've heard of people (across multiple car manufacturers) getting car loan payments reimbursed in exceptional circumstances. I think doing something to make it up to the customer when your very expensive product has an excessive number of quality issues or can't be fixed in a timely manner due to parts shortages or mistakes or so on makes perfect sense.

That said, it's always struck me as so odd to tie it someone's car payment specifically vs. using some other formula that treats people similarly. There can be a big difference between two different people's car payment, so why does the person with the larger payment deserve more for the same inconvenience?

What about people who pay cash for their vehicle, why do they deserve nothing? It doesn't make sense to me.

I don't think that someone that pays more is "getting" more by having their payments waived. I pay more for my F-150 than someone with an XLT, but I also wanted certain options only available on that trim level. Being without the truck means I have lost the total value of that payment and the extra options. I am not getting more, or losing more, if me and someone with a lower payment both get ours waived for that period. It's actually the more equal way of doing it. Another way of looking at it, if someone buys the more expensive vehicle then they also invested more in that manufacturer/owner relationship than someone that paid less. For them to then get less also wouldn't be fair. While not always the case, in this situation just waiving the payment makes sense. There are hurdles, like if someone finances with another lender than Ford Credit, or if they put a larger down payment than I did but we have the same vehicle. Those complexities are why I suspect this would never see the light of day anyway.

As for people that paid cash or whatever, there can easily be other incentives. I got a $50 gift card from the dealership when I got my 2021 F-150 because Ford had a period of 7 days where they were installing bad modem firmware and all F-150s built during that period couldn't use hotspot, wireless AA/CarPlay, connected nav, etc, until Ford sent out a fix. I could still drive the truck and all that, so they just did it as a customer service gesture. No reason they couldn't give a gift card at a minimum to someone that paid cash based on some set percentage scale of their original MSRP.

 

[DevSecOps]

I've heard of people (across multiple car manufacturers) getting car loan payments reimbursed in exceptional circumstances. I think doing something to make it up to the customer when your very expensive product has an excessive number of quality issues or can't be fixed in a timely manner due to parts shortages or mistakes or so on makes perfect sense.

So, normally they either extend the loan and just postpone the month in question, which actually costs the consumer more because the interest doesn't pause or they make you sign off on the reimbursement as compensation for the hardship with language preventing future lawsuits or lemon law proceedings.

Anyone going this route needs to be very careful and read through the paperwork carefully because waiving a monthly payment is normally just a trick for the car company to benefit and protect themselves.

 

[onepunch]

I don't think that someone that pays more is "getting" more by having their payments waived. I pay more for my F-150 than someone with an XLT, but I also wanted certain options only available on that trim level. Being without the truck means I have lost the total value of that payment and the extra options. I am not getting more, or losing more, if me and someone with a lower payment both get ours waived for that period. It's actually the more equal way of doing it. Another way of looking at it, if someone buys the more expensive vehicle then they also invested more in that manufacturer/owner relationship than someone that paid less. For them to then get less also wouldn't be fair. While not always the case, in this situation just waiving the payment makes sense. There are hurdles, like if someone finances with another lender than Ford Credit, or if they put a larger down payment than I did but we have the same vehicle. Those complexities are why I suspect this would never see the light of day anyway.

As for people that paid cash or whatever, there can easily be other incentives. I got a $50 gift card from the dealership when I got my 2021 F-150 because Ford had a period of 7 days where they were installing bad modem firmware and all F-150s built during that period couldn't use hotspot, wireless AA/CarPlay, connected nav, etc, until Ford sent out a fix. I could still drive the truck and all that, so they just did it as a customer service gesture. No reason they couldn't give a gift card at a minimum to someone that paid cash based on some set percentage scale of their original MSRP.

I think there would be a better argument for payment forgiveness on a lease vs a purchase payment. A lease would be more akin to a rental, where you are specifically paying for "use" vs ultimate ownership of the asset. Even if your vehicle is in the shop, that payment is still applying to the balance of your loan, and reducing the amount owed on the vehicle.

Waiving an $800 or whatever payment vs. giving a $50 Chili's card to someone who paid cash for their vehicle certainly would not be equitable.....

 

[Vulnox]

I think there would be a better argument for payment forgiveness on a lease vs a purchase payment. A lease would be more akin to a rental, where you are specifically paying for "use" vs ultimate ownership of the asset. Even if your vehicle is in the shop, that payment is still applying to the balance of your loan, and reducing the amount owed on the vehicle.

Waiving an $800 or whatever payment vs. giving a $50 Chili's card to someone who paid cash for their vehicle certainly would not be equitable.....

Lol, yeah you make a solid point I think on financing still going towards the vehicle purchase, but I can't get over the loss of use aspect. While I was without our F-150, I had to put off doing some house stuff and moving some larger items that while I had an F-150 loaner, would have scratched up the bed pretty easily which would not be in the spirit of the loaner. Putting stuff off isn't really the end of the world, but this was October to November, and we had some nice 50 degree days I missed out on. I get the truck back and it's been a lot of 20s and 30s.

We all have reasons we got our vehicles, and a loaner isn't always a direct replacement. I don't expect them to give me something of financial value for lost vehicle time, but that isn't to say I wouldn't be in favor of it. I feel like the extra pain on the manufacturers end might encourage less rushing software and vehicles out the door before they are ready, because in the end I would rather give the manufacturer more reason to ensure I am never without my vehicle for something that could have been avoided than a $50 Chili's gift card, or even a forgiven months payment.

 

[Trax]

Every manufacturer has the potential to produce a lemon. If you’re out of pocket on these things then that would be a different story but at the same time we all understand the frustration. And to be fair you do recognize yourself that you bought a first generation which means you need to be ready for problems. While no one would blame you for getting out you took the risk knowingly. At the end of the day it’s your decision and your experience. But remember, grass is always greener on the other side.

 

[WI Mach e Fan]

My 2021 as been sitting at the dealership since November 2 waiting for parts! Ford can you help me out? This is crazy!!!

 

[MBCook]

My 2021 as been sitting at the dealership since November 2 waiting for parts! Ford can you help me out? This is crazy!!!

Contact the BEV team. Their number can be found in the sticky thread about what to do if you hit the HVBJB issue.

Having them involved doesn’t guarantee things are faster, but perhaps it could help.

 

[Just Lurking]

There are hurdles, like if someone finances with another lender than Ford Credit, or if they put a larger down payment than I did but we have the same vehicle.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I mentioned it would make sense to have a standard "formula" for reimbursement, and tying that formula to the value of the vehicle would make sense. Two identically priced vehicles could have a very different car payment based on interest rate, loan length, and down payment size, which is why forgiving a loan payment does not make sense to me as a form of reimbursement.

No reason they couldn't give a gift card at a minimum to someone that paid cash based on some set percentage scale of their original MSRP.

Exactly. Though I would hope for much more than a small gift card for a very extended (e.g. month or longer) repair!

So, normally they either extend the loan and just postpone the month in question, which actually costs the consumer more because the interest doesn't pause or they make you sign off on the reimbursement as compensation for the hardship with language preventing future lawsuits or lemon law proceedings.

Anyone going this route needs to be very careful and read through the paperwork carefully because waiving a monthly payment is normally just a trick for the car company to benefit and protect themselves.

Very interesting. Indeed, best to read agreements closely and make sure you're not unintentionally shafting oneself.

 

[Avelli]

So, normally they either extend the loan and just postpone the month in question, which actually costs the consumer more because the interest doesn't pause or they make you sign off on the reimbursement as compensation for the hardship with language preventing future lawsuits or lemon law proceedings.

Anyone going this route needs to be very careful and read through the paperwork carefully because waiving a monthly payment is normally just a trick for the car company to benefit and protect themselves.

I'd be concerned with this too; a waived monthly payment is a very different thing for someone who put down the minimum, vs someone who put, say, 50% down; on a GT, it could be the difference of $500.

 

[DevSecOps]

I'd be concerned with this too; a waived monthly payment is a very different thing for someone who put down the minimum, vs someone who put, say, 50% down; on a GT, it could be the difference of $500.

The point isn't really how much money you think you're getting by asking them to waive a payment.

I was told by an attorney that works against these auto companies to never accept waived payments because 99% of the time it's only for the benefit of the car company. Same goes for those terms that some people get as part of a loan whereas you can waive 1 payment each year. Yeah, you're not magically making the payment disappear, it's just extending the term of the loan by 1 month and increasing the total amount paid due to additional interest.

It's much better to ask for compensation in the form of a visa gift card because those don't require that you sign anything or accept anything.

 

[macchiaz-o]

It's much better to ask for compensation in the form of a visa gift card because those don't require that you sign anything or accept anything.

I believe this is what Ford does for some customers... One or more of: Visa gift card, loaner, and/or extended service contracts. Not loan modification shenanigans.

I fully agree with @Just Lurking, though. The way Ford computes the value of a gift card is often nonsensical. It should not be based on monthly payments. That is really odd to me, but I think they do it because so many car buyers in America are shopping based on monthly payments, so it fits that (largely illogical) mentality.

 

[DevSecOps]

and/or extended service contracts

And just because I like covering all the bases. If you have an extended warranty, or if you are granted one, be aware that your personal info will be made available to people with PTS access via your VIN. So basically anyone with $24 and your VIN.

 

[macchiaz-o]

And just because I like covering all the bases. If you have an extended warranty, or if you are granted one, be aware that your personal info will be made available to people with PTS access via your VIN. So basically anyone with $24 and your VIN.

Good advice. This is an example of why I try not to post my VIN in public forums.

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