Just bought a secondhand Citroen from main dealer. While briefly going through contract with salesman he explained fairly high extra charge on top of the car was because the change of owner fee was high, because of the CV of the car. Car to be prepped for one week’s time.
On reviewing the contract I saw that the reason for a high charge was for ‘marquage’ and ‘assurance de marquage’. Deepl translator didn’t really help; went back to dealer.
He said all car windows now have to be marked with a code and the service was charged, first to etch each of the 6 windows and second, an annual assurance charge.
I insisted I didn’t want this, but he insisted it was compulsory even for private sales.
So I had no choice…€62 for marquage; €114 annual fee.
Several rude words! No. It is only obligatory if your insurance requires it to cover you for theft.
Phone to cancel asap if you don’t want it.
We chose to have it, but did not pay for the annual registration as we reckoned having the number plate on the window was deterrent enough. Always had it in London.
A few years ago was going up the M6 in my Alfa GTV and was pulled over by a police Range Rover. The officer told me that things had been quiet so he was doing routine scans on number plates and my plates didn’t match my car! Fortunately he looked at the windows and realised the car’s number had been transcribed incorrectly. A cautionary tale.
We saw and wanted the car; it has just the spec. we had been searching for - diesel, auto, fitted towbar, reversing camera. We paid a deposit. Signed contract. Car to be ready and CG admin to be done in one week.
Returned next day, after seeing the marquage details and said we didn’t want it to be done. Salesman insisted it was compulsory ON ALL SALES NEW / SECONDHAND, dealer or private sale. I tried to get it stopped but he would not. So I gave in.
So now what do I do?
This tread got me looking at the cars, one new from September//October last year Company car, and Mrs W. 2 cars, one bought 2nd hand in April 23, also Mrs W. VSP bought 2nd hand 8 yrs ago, all windows have some sort of markings but from what I see they are some type of CE standard numbers and Plilkinton glass, the windows are as far as I can work out numbered by the type and sizes, nothing resembling car number identification.
As said above as for a chat with senior manager and ask to see the legislation, if they can’t provide such, make one hell of a fuss and threaten to inform the press to get a good deal and then inform the press. You can start with these below:
On me dit que légalement, le gravage des vitres est obligatoire : vrai ou faux ?
Le gravage des vitres est-il obligatoire dans le Code de la route ? Non ! Légalement, aucun texte français n’impose que les vitrages des véhicules soient gravés. C’est une option que vous avez la liberté de choisir ou de refuser lorsque votre concessionnaire vous la propose. Vous n’êtes donc exposé à aucune verbalisation si vous n’avez pas choisi ce système antivol défensif.
We have 2 cars, one purchased last year and the other 4 years ago. Both were second hand and both were imported from another EU country as that’s what our garage often does. Both appear to have an identifier on the front side windows, with the manufacturer of the car’s name included. My partner’s understanding is that this is the vehicle identification number, unrelated to registration (since both cars had their proper French plates some time after purchase.
There was no cost implication and certainly no mention of any sort of contract.
Looks like the salesman is looking forward to a better percentage on the sales bonus. There’s no legal obligation to have car windows engraved. This is a scam! Whilst in the meeting with senior management I’d ask to see the legislation en vigueur and possibly call the police/GD’s. This is blatant fraud!!!
Then draft a letter to the local and consumer press
I remember when I was working in Liverpool, Co car were Vectra’s. Colleague said dont leave any valuables in it, up here they hit the tow eye with a club hammer and the airbag force blows out all the windows
I think that was pretty much the correct advice for anything left for 5 minutes in Liverpool.
I used to deliver Raleigh bikes to the docks and you could hardly get out of the cab before some kid came up offering to ‘look after it for you mister?’ It was obligatory to make the contract, one mate didn’t and came back to see Raleigh bikes without tyres being ridden all over the bombsite.
I’ve had this done twice without my express permission, so I imagine it’s standard practice. First time was a new VW and second time a new BMW. In both cases I wasn’t charged for the etching (it’s only applying a sticker anyway) and the first year of the abonnement was free and I just subsequently cancelled it. I didn’t check with my insurer if the engraving was mandatory because I think on balance it’s a good idea. What I did object to on the Tiguan was they didn’t get all the etching absolutely straight
I think this is the current crew I was “signed up” with…
after you’ve tackled the Management…