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Ford aftersales

Ford finished 2007 as one of the most popular commercial vehicle manufacturers after receiving 17 awards during last year from specialist media and key motor industry organisations.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director at Ford of Britain, said: "Our commercial vehicle line-up has gone from strength to strength since the new Transit was launched last year."

He stated that demand for the Ford Transit has led to extra production of the vehicle with it outselling the firm's main competitors put together. 

The aftersales service offered by Ford is part of the appeal for customers and ensures that the customer service experience the manufacturer offers "does not stop at the end-users door".

Servicing includes free bodywork advice for customers looking for a specific van for a specific job.

It offers a level of support to the conversion industry - an online resource will provide a greater level of accessibility for both converters and operators alike.

Aftersales offer drivers various accessories and additional fittings for vans including rubber floor mats, play lining, seat covers and devices such as the Tom Tom Go 300 - the first portable navigation system to include full postcode search and traffic option with in-built Bluetooth.

The Transit also has an 'aux-in' socket which allows drivers or passengers to plug in their mp3 music devices through the Ford audio unit.

Hiring a Ford van can be done via contract hire - a method of payment which can allow a driver to offset their rental amount against company for profit for taxation reasons.

Ultimately this may reduce a tax bill and allow finances to be invested elsewhere.

Ford allows drivers to take up the contract hire option without maintenance being included. This gives them the option to remain with a trusted mechanic if they would prefer to.

Ford offers two different financial plans for a customer to choose from as well as offering to tailor any protection to suit a specific driver’s needs.

The Options package allows a customer to pay a deposit of zero per cent and a minimum guaranteed future van value (which protects a driver from unexpected fluctuations in market value).

A driver has the opportunity to receive a new Ford van every two to three years and the option to own a vehicle at the end of a contract.

The Ford Acquire package is a more permanent proposition guaranteeing the driver ownership of the vehicle by the end of the agreement.

Again deposits can be as low as zero per cent but the agreement between Ford and the driver can be settled at any time.

Other options include the Guaranteed Asset Protection, which is designed to protect a driver in the event of a vehicle being written off, and the Payment Protection Plan which insures a driver's policy in case of illness, injury or employment.

With every used van sold, a free 12 month warranty is offered to customers.

For those drivers that work as part of a fleet or business, the Ford Business Partner option is available.

Ford Credit, the world's largest automotive finance company, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.

The company offers a range of different options including contract hire (with the same terms and conditions as a loan driver), conditional sale, flexible lease and Ford Options.

For a conditional sale the customer makes a deposit and then pays the remainder, plus interest over an agreed period. At the end of this period, providing there are no outstanding payments, they own the vehicle.

Taking the flexible lease option allows payments to cover the use of a vehicle. Once all the payments have been received, the company can sell the vehicle with Ford as the agent and all sale proceeds will be returned by the manufacturer (less any money owed) as a rebate of rentals.