Kia Calls Foul on ACC Levy System, Offers Customers Rebate

Kia Calls Foul on ACC Levy System, Offers Customers Rebate

AUCKLAND – 7 September 2015 – Kia Motors New Zealand today announces its disagreement with current ACC levy system as well as a rebate for Kia Sportage customers affected by ACC classification errors.

Kia will be offering a rebate to Kia 2010 and 2011 Sportage owners for the difference in ACC levy costs between Band 1 (lowest risk rating) and Band 4 (highest risk rating). This equates to $90.00 (GST inclusive) for each customer.

The 2010 and 2011 Kia Sportage vehicles are 5 star ANCAP crash rated and contain modern safety equipment, but were, in the company’s opinion incorrectly classified high risk and allocated to ACC levy Band 1. To Kia customers and the general public, a high risk rating indicates the vehicle is unsafe, a position Kia refutes and holds untrue.

Since May, Kia has attempted to resolve the levy discrepancy with ACC and fix what it, and its customers, see as an error in the ACC system. ACC is aware of the problem, but have indicated they won’t correct the classification error until the 2016 and 2017 levies are reviewed.

“Knowing there’s a problem, or in Kia’s case no problem, with the risk classification of a vehicle and charging consumers more is just plain wrong,” said Todd McDonald, General Manager, Kia Motors New Zealand.

“At Kia we look after the interests of our customers. ACC has it wrong so we want to pay the levy difference for current model, 2010 and 2011 Kia Sportage owners, and we hope that they take us up on the offer.”

Kia customers have been vocal about the ACC rating. The company has received over 140 direct complaints and many more through their dealer network to date.

While manufacturer vehicles change year to year, the variations are minor in most instances. A 2011 Kia Sportage is nearly identical to a 2012, yet the ACC ratings occupy opposite ends of the spectrum representing the highest and lowest risk ratings.

“There’s a problem with the system, and while we can’t fix it for everyone we can look after our customers that stand by us year after year. It’s beyond reasonable logic to have identical cars rated so differently based on when they were registered,” added McDonald.

The ACC banding issue equates to about $90 (inclusive of GST) for each customer and Kia will provide the same sum via rebate on a customer’s next full scheduled service at an authorised Kia dealer or service centre.

Sportage owners can see if they’re eligible by visiting Kia.com/NZ and typing in their VIN number.

“We believe ACC should be putting this right, but we’re not about to leave our loyal customers out of pocket,” added McDonald.

*Offer terms and conditions apply.

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