Of course, it came across as ugly, I all but stated that my feelings were somewhat unreasonable, and while I am well aware of the terms of my lease, my point was (supposed to be) that rules are rules, true, but blindly following a rule for no other reason than “Because it’s the rule” is completely counter-intuitive.
I run my own business and we have “rules” but I regularly bend or break them when there is no, or next to no loss to me or my customer AND there’s a benefit to either or both of us. The truth of the matter is, there really wasn’t a downside for Motability from allowing me to get the car early (but still well within the final 3 months when they will allow you to order) but there would have been a substantial benefit on both sides. I’d have had the car I wanted, and they’d have had a confirmed continuing customer for another three years. Win-win, both sides benefit which, personally, I think is EXACTLY the time when you should bend a rule.
Rules should, in my opinion, always be a guideline, and if there’s a GOOD reason not to stick to the letter of them, then that’s the time to consider if it’s better for everyone if there’s a little flexibility, so I repeat (ironically the one thing no-one mentioned in the comments.) that I believe rules should be taken with a little common sense to get the best overall outcome for everyone.
This was never about me bitching about not getting what I wanted, it was about the missed opportunity for both sides of the situation to benefit, ultimately resulting in BOTH sides being worse off.
"Man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, in cages of convention, from the cradle, to the grave."