Did I buy a lemon for a garage?, broke down on the way home
Discussion
We purchased a used car from a reputable garage for nearly £2000 10 minutes into the journey home it overheated,temp gauge went through the roof and steam from engine pulled over right away.
Phoned the garage and they were reluctant to just come pick it up and refund the cash, instead giving me advice to let it cool down and add more water. I asked the question do we have the option of them coming to get the car and just refunding us and it was met with surprise as we seemingly bought a trade/spares or repairs car and they wouldn't like to be burdened with the fault. ( remember we have only made it 9 miles from the garage, and in a lay by of a motorway)
So gave them the benefit of the doubt and filled it with water it only took a small amount. 2 miles down the road same thing again.
Called them back up and the guy was being quite difficult to speak to on the phone although kept referring to how reputable they are but also referring back to the spares or repairs thing. They said leave the keys in the petrol station and they would arrange recovery and inspect the car. If it was found to be terminal head gasket they would bank transfer a refund ( this wasn't offered on the first phone call) Why not refund us as soon as it happened we can then come back and see the car if it is a minor fault at a later date once fixed but that seemed to much to ask?. So we now have no cash or car.
The main point here is, the car wasn't advertised as spares or repairs/ trade sale. Imagine the best advert possible and that's how it was described, all the usual good stuff you want to hear. It was on the forecourt with the price in the window and all he did was tell us how good a runner it was etc etc all be it there was some body work rust ( that we accepted as it was an old car) . The car was not for sale at a low value as you would expect if it was spares or repair we paid market value. We only noticed after he ticked spares or repair on the invoice.
So where do we stand we would just like the money back asap, as I don't want a repaired car as I cant trust them. Hopefully he just refunds the cash and we can right the day off as a lesson learnt. But I would just like to be prepared if this isn't the case.
How can a car be described as "stunning,long mot, fsh" "requires nothing at all turn the key in and go!"
Then when it breaks down 9 miles down the road its described by them as "spares or repairs"
Thoughts and advice?
(I wont name the garage or link the advert I'm not here to name and shame as this could be resolved tomorrow without issue, just venting and would like a bit of advice)
Phoned the garage and they were reluctant to just come pick it up and refund the cash, instead giving me advice to let it cool down and add more water. I asked the question do we have the option of them coming to get the car and just refunding us and it was met with surprise as we seemingly bought a trade/spares or repairs car and they wouldn't like to be burdened with the fault. ( remember we have only made it 9 miles from the garage, and in a lay by of a motorway)
So gave them the benefit of the doubt and filled it with water it only took a small amount. 2 miles down the road same thing again.
Called them back up and the guy was being quite difficult to speak to on the phone although kept referring to how reputable they are but also referring back to the spares or repairs thing. They said leave the keys in the petrol station and they would arrange recovery and inspect the car. If it was found to be terminal head gasket they would bank transfer a refund ( this wasn't offered on the first phone call) Why not refund us as soon as it happened we can then come back and see the car if it is a minor fault at a later date once fixed but that seemed to much to ask?. So we now have no cash or car.
The main point here is, the car wasn't advertised as spares or repairs/ trade sale. Imagine the best advert possible and that's how it was described, all the usual good stuff you want to hear. It was on the forecourt with the price in the window and all he did was tell us how good a runner it was etc etc all be it there was some body work rust ( that we accepted as it was an old car) . The car was not for sale at a low value as you would expect if it was spares or repair we paid market value. We only noticed after he ticked spares or repair on the invoice.
So where do we stand we would just like the money back asap, as I don't want a repaired car as I cant trust them. Hopefully he just refunds the cash and we can right the day off as a lesson learnt. But I would just like to be prepared if this isn't the case.
How can a car be described as "stunning,long mot, fsh" "requires nothing at all turn the key in and go!"
Then when it breaks down 9 miles down the road its described by them as "spares or repairs"
Thoughts and advice?
(I wont name the garage or link the advert I'm not here to name and shame as this could be resolved tomorrow without issue, just venting and would like a bit of advice)
Edited by kooks2003 on Monday 26th March 21:30
t, you are absolutely correct, get your money back- all of it. Make sure you have hard evidence of the advert you bought the car from.
There is no such thing as a Trade Sale to a non trade customer.
If it was sold as spares/repairs the car cannot be driven away upon collection as is deemed unroadworthy.
In consumer law in the first 6 months from sale any fault is deemed to have been present at point of sale unless proven otherwise by the seller.
Demand your money back. Engine is almost certainly goosed.
There is no such thing as a Trade Sale to a non trade customer.
If it was sold as spares/repairs the car cannot be driven away upon collection as is deemed unroadworthy.
In consumer law in the first 6 months from sale any fault is deemed to have been present at point of sale unless proven otherwise by the seller.
Demand your money back. Engine is almost certainly goosed.
You need to show them authority, and put them in their place. Or they will take advantage of you.
Call them up, tell them you’ve taken advice from your solicitor and know your rights. And that they have 24hours tontransfer the money back or you will proceed via your solicitor and then bill them for the costs also.
Also send them a recorded letter. Stating what was wrong, what happened and that you now want them to refund. (A copy for yourself too as proof).
Or if you’re not great at confrontation, get someone to do it for you, but people like this need a strong attitude to confront them.
Call them up, tell them you’ve taken advice from your solicitor and know your rights. And that they have 24hours tontransfer the money back or you will proceed via your solicitor and then bill them for the costs also.
Also send them a recorded letter. Stating what was wrong, what happened and that you now want them to refund. (A copy for yourself too as proof).
Or if you’re not great at confrontation, get someone to do it for you, but people like this need a strong attitude to confront them.
All of the above, you are well within your rights to get a refund with no quibble.
Amazes me how dealers use terms like 'needs nothing spent' on old cars like this, all they are doing is making a rod for their own back and falsely raising customer expectations.
I hope you get this sorted with minimal hassle.
Purely out of interest, what model car is it?
Amazes me how dealers use terms like 'needs nothing spent' on old cars like this, all they are doing is making a rod for their own back and falsely raising customer expectations.
I hope you get this sorted with minimal hassle.
Purely out of interest, what model car is it?
bennettse2025 said:
Haha I'm sure you're right, I'm just yet to come across one! Same goes for estate agents
Good ones do exist. Years ago I bought a car from a specialist - a few months later it had a fairly minor problem. Fixed easily and quite cheaply and not something the dealer could possibly have known about.At the time, I posted a thread on a forum about the problem and updated once I'd solved it. Dealer saw the thread, called me and told me I shouldn't have been out of pocket / inconvenienced and that I should send him the receipt so that he could refund me the cost.
Ursicles said:
What does it say on your invoice?
If it doesnt say spares/repair then any dealer has to give a warranty with their vehicle and under sales of goods act the purchase has to be fit for the purpose intended.
It clearly isnt from what your saying.
Do you have a link to the advert btw?
Its ticked on a box that says no warranty spares or repairs/trade sale something along those lines. But it wasn't advertised as this or discussed that's what it was at any point, and we were allowed to drive it away mot'd and on the car had there insurance on it ( we were covered 3rd party by our policy). It was also on display with a price in the window on there forecourt. We also paid fair market value not if it was spares or repairs it would have been worth a about a 1/4 of what we paid. We only noticed the box was ticked after. If it doesnt say spares/repair then any dealer has to give a warranty with their vehicle and under sales of goods act the purchase has to be fit for the purpose intended.
It clearly isnt from what your saying.
Do you have a link to the advert btw?
I'm waiting to hear back from them so hopefully they are reputable and I can have a good outcome to report back. I hate this sort of stuff we just want whats right and will right off the traveling down and loss of a day we just want our money back.
I don't want to post any links or details as I don't know how this will pan out and want to keep myself right.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff