Sold Car Privately - Buyer wants REFUND? Help
Discussion
A few months ago, I bought a car for £1,100. I spent around £200 fixing it up, but these were only cosmetic improvements to make it more presentable for sale — nothing mechanical. The car had an MOT done just one month before I purchased it, so I felt comfortable that it was roadworthy.
I then sold the car for £2,595, which gave me a decent profit. However, only a few days after the sale, the buyer contacted me saying the car had broken down and is now demanding a full refund. They’ve been very aggressive in their messages and letters, even threatening to take me to the Small Claims Court or pursue ADR if I don’t pay up.
From what I understand, since this was a private sale, the car is sold “as seen” and I don’t legally have to issue a refund (unless I misrepresented the vehicle). I’m confident I didn’t — I used phrases like “well loved” and “well looked after within the family” in the advert, but nothing specific about the mechanical condition. Still, I’m worried the buyer could try to argue that those phrases amount to misrepresentation.
What worries me is:
• If they do take me to court, could I realistically lose?
• Could I end up out of pocket with both the refund, the broken car, and potentially legal fees?
• Should I just stand firm and let them pursue their threats, or would it be wiser to negotiate something to avoid the hassle?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation before, or can anyone give advice on how to handle this properly? I really don’t want to get in over my head, as this is just a hobby for me and not a business.
Any advice or recommendations would be massively appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I then sold the car for £2,595, which gave me a decent profit. However, only a few days after the sale, the buyer contacted me saying the car had broken down and is now demanding a full refund. They’ve been very aggressive in their messages and letters, even threatening to take me to the Small Claims Court or pursue ADR if I don’t pay up.
From what I understand, since this was a private sale, the car is sold “as seen” and I don’t legally have to issue a refund (unless I misrepresented the vehicle). I’m confident I didn’t — I used phrases like “well loved” and “well looked after within the family” in the advert, but nothing specific about the mechanical condition. Still, I’m worried the buyer could try to argue that those phrases amount to misrepresentation.
What worries me is:
• If they do take me to court, could I realistically lose?
• Could I end up out of pocket with both the refund, the broken car, and potentially legal fees?
• Should I just stand firm and let them pursue their threats, or would it be wiser to negotiate something to avoid the hassle?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation before, or can anyone give advice on how to handle this properly? I really don’t want to get in over my head, as this is just a hobby for me and not a business.
Any advice or recommendations would be massively appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
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