Sold a vehicle and it broke - Need advice

[Palmers]

I sold my car yesterday to a buyer after he won it on ebay. Collected him from the train station, took him to my abode, he looked over the car, signed the documents gave the cash and drove off.


Got a call about 3 hours later that he is stuck in a services the car wont start it wont accept the key (one of those stupid fob things)

I said give me five mins and i went and googled some info, and fed it back to him. Didnt work so he called the AA. The AA said you've bought a duffer and the key isnt programmed to the car, i retorted with well if thats the case how can i use it for the last month or so no problems, if its not coded it wont start! After a few exchanged words hes got it recovered to his house (he lives 250miles away)

Got a txt this morning saying hes going to try and fix it and if no success hes bringing the car back if i dont contribute.


In my opinion I went above my means as a private seller to fix a fault i had no idea about, feeding him info etc - i dont want a broken car back, he could have dropped the fob in a puddle sat on it or something and damaged it.

Anyone know where i stand?

[Soov535]

Not your problem.

Ignore him.


He bought a car privately. It's now his problem.

Sounds to me like a well known scam - buy car, drive off, claim something wrong with it and he wants some money back.

Did he have a dog with him? On a string?

[jas xjr]

As the others have said,and will say, not your problem.
Just cynical old me doubts if it broke down at all.
How did he drive it to the services if the fob did not work?

[Jasandjules]

If the key isn't programmed to the car, how did it start and drive off in the first place?.....

[Palmers]

That was my argument, he said he came out and the key was unresponsive and not working at all.

[anonymous-user]

Assuming you are a genuine private seller then legally, he doesn't have a leg to stand on. But that won't stop him getting nasty, if he's that sort.

If he does turn up and threaten you, or similar, then you should report it to the police straight away. Might be worth researching the relevant legislation/cases, so that if he does try it on, he might realise that you are not going to budge, or be intimidated.

Sadly, this is why I usually accept a crap trade in offer from a dealer when changing cars, rather than risk going through similar hassle.

[balls-out]

Palmers said:

That was my argument, he said he came out and the key was unresponsive and not working at all.

Do not argue with him.
Tell him he has no valid claim.
Stop speaking to him.
If he believes otherwise suggest he documents his case by letter to you which you will action as you see fit (generally ignore unless he has a genuine issue that you mis-described the car in the advert)

Actually ignore all of that and use the search function here with "buyer wants money back"

[carreauchompeur]

Clearly bks, I'd suggest buyers remorse. Or a flat keyfob battery.

Either way not your problem.

[becker-on-ph]

Palmers said:

That was my argument, he said he came out and the key was unresponsive and not working at all.

Could just be the battery in the fob?

Either way its the buyers problem.

[Soov535]

Buyer is a cheeky fooker who does this all the time in the hope that people cave in and give him £500 back. He then sells the car for what he paid for it and pockets the £500 to spend on weed/dag food.

[georgefreeman]

Did you sign any used car sale documentation that states sold as seen?

He had plenty of time to look over the car and evaluate if it was road worthy. He then drove off (he could have done anything with it since he left your house and supposedly getting to the services). My bet is its a scam. If you have driven the car with no problems, then the one day someone picks it up it breaks down, seems more than coincidence.

I would reiterate the points above. Make it clear his claim is invalid. Ignore. Report any abusive or threatening behaviour. If he is a genuine buyer, unfortunately these are the risks associated with buying privately.

[MitchT]

Hmmm ... Buyer returns car with a different key to the one it was supplied with (to illustrate his claim that it doesn't work), walks off with his refund, returns in the middle of the night with the correct key and helps himself to the car. Possibly.

[superlightr]

Palmers said:

I sold my car yesterday to a buyer after he won it on ebay. Collected him from the train station, took him to my abode, he looked over the car, signed the documents gave the cash and drove off.


Got a call about 3 hours later that he is stuck in a services the car wont start it wont accept the key (one of those stupid fob things)

I said give me five mins and i went and googled some info, and fed it back to him. Didnt work so he called the AA. The AA said you've bought a duffer and the key isnt programmed to the car, i retorted with well if thats the case how can i use it for the last month or so no problems, if its not coded it wont start! After a few exchanged words hes got it recovered to his house (he lives 250miles away)

Got a txt this morning saying hes going to try and fix it and if no success hes bringing the car back if i dont contribute.


In my opinion I went above my means as a private seller to fix a fault i had no idea about, feeding him info etc - i dont want a broken car back, he could have dropped the fob in a puddle sat on it or something and damaged it.

Anyone know where i stand?

You mentioned you used the car for the last month or so. So are you doing them up and then selling them?

[chr15b]

paid all cash, or anything via paypal - eg deposit...?

[Palmers]

He paid cash, and no i dont sell cars on the side - it averaged 14mpg on a good day and the mrs said we need a house lol.

You are all confirming what i had in my head, cheers guys.

[itcaptainslow]

Jasandjules said:

If the key isn't programmed to the car, how did it start and drive off in the first place?.....

This.

If you're a genuine private seller, haven't misrepresented the car or told the new owner porky pies, then he's either unfortunate or trying it on.

Either way, it isn't your problem.

[Soov535]

Tell him in no uncertain terms to do one.

[Sheepshanks]

superlightr said:

You mentioned you used the car for the last month or so. So are you doing them up and then selling them?

I wondered this too.

Anyway, it's going to be pretty awkward for him to bring it back if it won't start.

[andburg]

i have nothing more to add other than make sure you send off the V5 as soon as possible.

Did he tax the car before leaving?

If he brings it back, report it as abandoned its not your property and id bet it would soon show as not taxed / insured

[ging84]

why does it only have one key? did your ebay description state you only had one key?