S James Prestige Limited

2023 BMW 220i M Sport Coupe (Auto Trader) I am writing to formally log a serious complaint regarding the deeply unprofessional, deceptive, and discriminatory sales tactics experienced by my partner and myself when attempting to purchase the above-referenced vehicle currently advertised on your website and Auto Trader. Following concerning feedback regarding your business practices, we decided to conduct a test. The results have exposed a systematic and unacceptable practice of misleading consumers, rejecting cash buyers in favor of high-margin finance arrangements, and engaging in misleading advertising regarding the vehicle's specification. The sequence of events unfolded as follows: Discrimination Against Cash Buyers: My partner submitted an enquiry expressing interest in purchasing the vehicle outright as a cash buyer. Shortly after, she received an email stating that the vehicle was no longer available because another buyer was financing it. Despite this claim, the vehicle remained actively listed for sale on both Auto Trader and your own company website. Manufactured Availability for Finance Customers: On the exact same day, I submitted an enquiry for the very same vehicle. However, I explicitly stated that I intended to purchase the car using finance. Shortly after submitting my enquiry, I received an email from your sales team confirming that the vehicle was available and proactively asking whether I preferred PCP or HP options. Meanwhile, my partner was explicitly told the car was sold. This confirms that your dealership is intentionally turning away cash buyers to prioritize finance deals where you stand to make higher commission, while falsely claiming the vehicle is off the market. Misleading Advertising and Hidden Charges (Bait-and-Switch): After being told the car was available to me, I replied stating I would proceed via Hire Purchase (HP) with a deposit. In response, I was informed that the red brake calipers visible on the car in all of your promotional images are not actually included in the advertised price, but will instead incur an additional mandatory or add-on charge of £380. Displaying a vehicle with specific cosmetic features in your advertisements and then attempting to charge extra for them. These actions demonstrate a clear pattern of systemic malpractice: gatekeeping vehicle availability based on payment method and artificially inflating prices post-enquiry through hidden add-ons. I have read similiar bad reviews that consumers have complained about with S James Prestige. Although S James Prestige have replied to some but it is clear their reply to the complaints are just excuses which are warrantless. I have actual proof of email communications which without doubt squashes their lies.

I very rarely leave negative reviews, but this one is justified. Shortly after collecting my BMW i4 M Sport from S James Prestige, I discovered that the windscreen had a crack which had already been the subject of a "repair" before I purchased the vehicle. When I raised this with S James Prestige, they confirmed that the windscreen had previously been repaired and maintained that the repair was to a professional standard. After having the windscreen inspected by a professional company, I was advised that the repair was not of the standard that would be expected, which is very obvious to me anyway from its prominence, and that replacement of the windscreen was recommended. There was also a separate issue with a knocking noise from the car, and S James Prestige resolved that as they should have. Unfortunately, the same approach wasn't taken with the windscreen. S James Prestige offered a £100 goodwill gesture towards a replacement windscreen costing around £500. This completely misses the point. If a dealership sells a vehicle with a pre-existing attempt at a "repair" that is subsequently found to be below the standard a customer should reasonably expect, it should take full responsibility for putting the issue right, not expect the customer to fund the majority of the cost. I also can't help but feel that, had I noticed the crack before completing the purchase, the vehicle would never have been handed over in that condition. Instead, I only discovered the issue after taking the car home, by which point the attitude towards resolving it was very different. What disappoints me most is that this could have been such an easy situation to turn into a positive. Replacing the windscreen would have resolved the matter completely, retained my future custom, and given me a genuinely positive experience that I would have been more than happy to recommend to friends, family and business contacts. Instead, a relatively modest issue has overshadowed what could otherwise have been a good buying experience. Based on my experience, I would not buy from S James Prestige again, nor would I recommend them to anyone looking for a premium used vehicle.