7 types of customer that aren’t a good fit for a vehicle broker like OSV

It is because, as a company, we like to be honest with our customers that we’re writing this article, so you know who will and won’t be a good fit for the business, depending on individual needs.

We know that we’re not the right vehicle broker for everyone and we believe it’s really important we talk about that.

Do you have bad credit?

If we’re being completely honest here, if you have poor credit or county court judgements (CCJs) in your credit history, we won’t be able to help you when it comes to leasing a new vehicle, even if you have outlined a sensible budget.

We always recommend customers sign up for a credit check service when they’re looking at big-ticket items such as buying a house or leasing a car. This gives you a really good idea of what is in the last six years of your credit history.

We’re experts at working with complicated finance applications, but we can’t help you if your credit rating is poor.

It’s for that reason that we might not be the right fit for you.

Are you based outside the UK?

If your legal base is somewhere outside mainland UK, unfortunately, we aren’t in a position to help you.

Essentially, if you live, or have a registered company, in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, on Hayling Island or the Isle of Wight then we can help you to lease a car.

However, if you’re someone who lives on the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands then we won’t be able to help you. This is because though they are part of the British Isles, they aren’t part of the UK mainland so they have their own DVLA, and therefore their own registration system for new vehicles.

Because the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have their own DVLA, you would have to change the registration plate of a car to drive it there as a resident. Unfortunately, you cannot do this when you lease a vehicle because you don’t own it. A leased vehicle is the property of a Finance House and they are based in mainland UK, so they are unable to do this.

Do you conduct all your business over email?

Are you someone who does all your business via email and doesn’t like to talk to anyone over the phone? If the answer to this question is yes then we’re not the right vehicle broker for you.

At OSV we offer a bespoke service, catering to you and your vehicle needs and this is not something we can do effectively by email.

We like to ensure that we offer a high level of service and that you get the benefit of our team’s expertise as well as ensure we fulfil requirements set out by the FCA that ensure we’re offering you the best and most suitable leasing options for your individual circumstances. This is something we need to communicate over the phone.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate with you over email, but we really want to understand your vehicle needs. We have so many options available to offer you and speaking on the phone makes it a much more personal experience. At OSV, no one is a number, every customer is an individual and we feel it’s important that we can provide you with the personal touch.

Do you prefer to do business face-to-face?

As a vehicle broker, we aren’t the same as a dealership, our business is carried out primarily on the phone and online.

This isn’t because we don’t want to see you in person, but our business is very rarely carried out face-to-face.

We’re based in West Sussex, but do business with people across the whole of the UK. So we may be just a little too far away for you to pop in for a visit.

If you do want to have a chat and see the friendly face of the person who’s helping you on your new vehicle journey, you can always speak with us on Zoom. We’re only a call away.

Of course, if you do want to visit us we’ll welcome you with open arms and a cup of something hot. Though we would recommend you give us a call to let us know.

Do you want your lease car for a taxi?

Have you been looking for a new car? Are you thinking about using it as a taxi or an Uber? If the answer to the second question is yes, then we’re probably not the right vehicle broker for you.

We’re not saying that you can’t lease a car to use as a taxi, but we would definitely recommend you go through a specialist lease company that leases taxis.

It’s incredibly rare for manufacturers to send lease deals for taxis across to a vehicle broker like OSV.

Are you happy to talk budget?

Some customers simply don’t want to talk about their budget and just want to be sent offers. 

Of course, your budget is not the most important factor in the beginning. However, having an idea of the budget you have set aside for your new vehicle will give us an idea of the direction we should be going when it comes to the requirements you have given us. 

It’s important for us to be able to provide you with vehicles that meet your individual requirements and are affordable for you.

Are you looking for the cheapest price?

We’re always looking for ways to give you the best deal when searching for vehicles. However, we’re not a company that just looks for the cheapest price, we focus on value. 

We’re going to look for the ideal price, and sometimes that may not, on the surface, be the cheapest one.

We pride ourselves on finding deals that are tailored for you and your situation. All this means is we listen to what you tell us about your specific needs and then we search for the vehicles that are right for you and fall within your budget.

We know that some companies focus on getting prices without considering whether the vehicles and offers they have found are right for your situation. For example, they may find an offer that has the monthly payment you want, but the mileage is too low, or your initial payment is higher than you originally budgeted for.

If you simply want the cheapest deal, then we’re not the right company for you.

Our focus is on customer service and ensuring you have a great experience when you work with us and get exactly what you are looking for. 

As you can see, the list of people we are not in the best position to help is rather short. But in summary, if you are not a resident of the UK mainland, want to do all your business via email, or want to lease a vehicle for use as a taxi or an Uber then we’re not the right vehicle broker to help.

We’re also not a good fit if you‘re only looking out for the cheapest deal and don’t want to discuss your budget.

We work hard to be a good fit for everyone, offering advice and finding the most suitable vehicle offers for our customers. However, we understand that we aren’t for everyone, and we hope that this article has helped you to decide if OSV is a good fit for you.

Who is a great fit for OSV?

Have you just started the search for your next vehicle? Do you live in the UK? Do you have a healthy credit score and want to get rid of some of the stress that can go with getting a new car or van? 

If you’ve been searching for a vehicle broker and we’ve just described you, then we’re the company you’re looking for.

With just a phone call or Zoom meeting, we can start the search to find the car or van you’ve been looking for, one that meets your requirements and budget. 

We hope, in the future, you will join the thousands of happy customers we have been able to help since the business was founded in 1997.