Sold car - broke 15 miles away - buyer wants refund - help?

[wormburner]

KardioKate said:

Do not take this as support for the buyer... but jumping to the crass conclusions about the buy a la Soovy is just nasty. Someone else has mentioned travellers... there's nothing to substantiate any of this/

I don't doubt he's trying it on, but there's no need to sink to his level.

Oh aye, the guy making threats down the phone is probably a lovely chap.

[anonymous-user]

Echo the above but you never know what kind of individual you are picking a potential fight with so be careful and involve the Police rather than just telling him to fk off.

[falkster]

Raize said:

Caveat emptor.

.

Imagine saying caveat emptor to a traveller/gypsy/ and after the 14th time of him not understanding what you mean his head would explode!!

[KardioKate]

wormburner said:

Oh aye, the guy making threats down the phone is probably a lovely chap.

That's not what I said.

[Funkycoldribena]

dba7108 said:

Had similar situation myself. Sold an Astra cdti, had used it for 12 months and ran sweet, sold it and half an hour later the guy rang me up saying the gear box has gone. Wanted £450 back from the £2500 price he paid. I said how do you know the gear box has gone? He said the AA are here and they say the box has gone, I said let me speak to the AA man - he put the phone down. Never heard off him again. Later that night his wife rang me up saying how will I sleep at night knowing I have sold a dodgy car. I said let me come and see the car, she put the phone down. Jokers trying it on.

What a sad state its become when this seems to be a reoccuring theme,there really are some people who have no shame/morals.If you buy privately you generally pay less because theres no warranty,its the gamble you take,if something goes wrong you use the money you saved by buying private, to fix it.
As for ringing the police-they wont be interested until something actually happens,Im amazed how many people advocate ringing the police for any minor threat/verbal abuse.

[ajb85]

• Eagerly awaits update*

[mike88]

I sold an Ford Escort once to a HUGE bloke, I mean massive. I weigh 8 stone and he was a proper PH bodybuilder type, so was his brother and dad. He paid me £470 (or soemthing) and then the gearbox exploded on the M1 while he was going home. He phoned me to tell me this and I was stting myself, luckily I never heard anything after that.

I did feel quite bad for him though.

[balls-out]

Good advice given, but I believe its 99% grey, not black and white.

If he can prove in court that you mis-described the vehicle as part of the sale and that was the cause of this ledged failure then you would be liable. I guess he would also have to show that he wasn't partly to blame by driving a car that was overheating.

I'm sure it doesn't apply here, but clear statements made (for example in the advert the buyer responded to) are considered part of the contract, even when receipts say 'No assurances written or impled'. Quite right too.

So OP, if you claimed that you have just fitted a new engine, but in fact you didn't, then he might have a case. otherwise I think you are OK.

Edited by balls-out on Thursday 16th August 12:29

[miln0039]

I did once get a guy coming back after I sold my first car to his wife - I had received £2,100 for the crappy little thing, and he test drove it and noted "it drove superbly".

Sadly, his good lady wife then jumped in once the deal had been done and tried to get it in reverse, which I will confess took a certain "knack" shall we say. Anyway, she couldn't do it, he noted that I'd backed the car on to the drive prior to the test drive so he hadn't actually checked it worked (his fault IMO) and well, I caved and chucked him £100 back to get him off my driveway.

I know in the eyes of the law it was his problem, but given that she'd only made some grinding noises and not really moved anywhere, I figured it was probably safe to say they weren't trying it on!

Although, in retrospect they still owe me a Gnarls Barkley album which I left in the CD player...(maybe I should have given them £150...)

Anyway, back on topic.

OP -I'd have a word with the local BiB. Might be a known scam in the area. Likelihood is that it probably is and the guys got previous so they know what they're looking for.

[Altrezia]

hello chaps

To confirm, the car _wont_ run. When I called him to tell him that I couldn't help, he said 'its the bottom end mate, wont even turn over'.

He then said he was thinking of getting his father, who was in a separate car, to come back for the money.

Then he said it'll be back outside my place at 8am tomorrow and he wont leave without the money.

I'll call the police in a mo just to check in, but we did call them before I called the guy, and the confimed we are in the clear legally speaking.

Just had a text from the buyer though saying:
"are you prepair to help towards this in any way with this with supplying engine / recovery please many thanks jamie"

So, what do I do now? Ignore it? Try and be nicer and offer that £100 again, but state that is NOT my fault when I do so? I can afford to lose £100 if it means he just fks of and my family don't feel threatened.

Cheers guys,
a

[Pothole]

KardioKate said:

Do not take this as support for the buyer... but jumping to the crass conclusions about the buy a la Soovy is just nasty. Someone else has mentioned travellers... there's nothing to substantiate any of this/

I don't doubt he's trying it on, but there's no need to sink to his level.

OP said:

I just sold my 1997 discovery to a chap with spoke a bit like they do on Thelma's girls

[Soovy]

Altrezia said:

Just had a text from the buyer though saying

"are you prepair to help towards this in any way with this with supplying engine / recovery please many thanks jamie"

See my post below.

He wants some money back and to keep the car.

Innit.

[eztiger]

Altrezia said:

Just had a text from the buyer though saying:
"are you prepair to help towards this in any way with this with supplying engine / recovery please many thanks jamie"

Presuming he's legit (big stretch) the fact he's previously threatened you means any sort of goodwill would be out of the window for me.

I wouldn't even entertain any further communication from him with a response.

Give your £100 to charity if you're genuinely feeling bad and want to give something back.

[Altrezia]

so; should I ignore it - reply saying now - reply saying yes?

Sorry to be thick but I am not used to this sort of thing. I do feel bad for him that his new car is kaput (if it is) but it was fine while I had it - I even tried to put him off coming to buy it because I wasn't even sure if I wanted to sell it. I have no concerns that it was a 'dodgy' car or anything like that.

[Boshly]

KardioKate said:

Do not take this as support for the buyer... but jumping to the crass conclusions about the buy a la Soovy is just nasty. Someone else has mentioned travellers... there's nothing to substantiate any of this/

I don't doubt he's trying it on, but there's no need to sink to his level.

Read the original post. There is a heavy insinuation and we are only commenting on the OPs story as that's all we have.

Assuming op is 'telling it as it is' then the corresponding information (threats and getting heavy) back up the insinuations.

You are right that there are no facts (this is a forum however!!!) but on the balance of comments it's very understandable.

Soovy, I'm with you; 'thud' again

[eric twinge]

fatboy69 said:

As per previous posts tell him to jog on. Tosspot.

15 miles & the engine overheated & seized up? Do me a favour.

Even me, with zero mechanical knowledge at all, knows that this wouldn't happen in such a short distance. 150 miles maybe but 15?

He's having you over big time.

I have nothing to add that hasn't been said already, but thankyou for reminding me of the insult ' tosspot' havn't heard that for years (or rather have not been called that for years).
I shall be using that this afternoon.
Thank you sir!

[KardioKate]

Boshly said:

Read the original post. There is a heavy insinuation and we are only commenting on the OPs story as that's all we have.

Assuming op is 'telling it as it is' then the corresponding information (threats and getting heavy) back up the insinuations.

You are right that there are no facts (this is a forum however!!!) but on the balance of comments it's very understandable.

Soovy, I'm with you; 'thud' again

So that gives us every right to use derogatory terms towards the buyer then.

[balls-out]

Reply to his text saying that you have taken legal advice* and are not liability for this car since selling and that you believe you acted honestly and in good faith. If he continues ask him to put his claim to you in writing so you can understand his position.

Offer NOTHING, keep a log of any communication.

If you really think it'll turn nasty have a camera ready and be prepared to call the BIB.


* Don't mention the legal advice was from here!

[Devil2575]

Altrezia said:

So, what do I do now? Ignore it?

Respond only to reiterate that it is no longer your responsibility and state that you will not be responding to any further contact he makes. Mention that you have spoken to the Police about the threat he made.

With respect to just paying to shut him up and not risk a brick through the window etc

If someone knocked on your door and just asked for cash not to put your windows in would you pay?

[hornetrider]

Altrezia said:

so; should I ignore it - reply saying now - reply saying yes?

Sorry to be thick but I am not used to this sort of thing. I do feel bad for him that his new car is kaput (if it is) but it was fine while I had it - I even tried to put him off coming to buy it because I wasn't even sure if I wanted to sell it. I have no concerns that it was a 'dodgy' car or anything like that.

Refer him to Arkell vs Pressdram.