Any personal experience rejecting a car within 30 days

[T Wilson]

Silly silly me. Buyers beware.

I've bought a second hand car which has developed an issue inside two weeks of ownership.

Prior to purchase I researched the company using auto trader reviews and they seemed legitimate. Withing week one I had a minor issue with the car that I repaired at my own expense, while in my usual garage they said the engine had recently been apart and was I aware.

Flash forward a week and whilst driving back to my parents for Christmas I had an engine management light flash and then go off. There was no noticeable issues with the car and I was reflectively close to home so thought best to plough on. Went into limp mode a few hundred metres from my destination.

I also noticed that the washer pump wasnt working.

Is this sufficient to reject the car?

Will they argue that caused the damage by failing to pull over and will they be able to prove that through the ecu?

I have since read a wider selection of reviews and they are either entirely fabricated five star reviews or one star with identical issues to this situation e.g. Car sold with major issues that manifest days after purchase and dealer then refuses any help.

I have valued the car with a site who'll give me about a third of the value and collect. Am I best off putting this down to my own stupidity, cashing out and using the cash for a new car?

I've got so much going on in my life at the moment with family and work I really don't have the stomach for a protracted disagreement

Any feedback welcome

[anonymous-user]

Call dealer and tell them there's a fault and they will likely offer to fix it

[Bemmer]

ANOTHER first poster with a Drama to tell.... Trolley Ho

[anonymous-user]

Bemmer said:

ANOTHER first poster with a Drama to tell.... Trolley Ho

Its a little unfair. Wait for post number 2 before casting that stone

[shtu]

T Wilson said:

Silly silly me. Buyers beware.

I've bought a second hand car which has developed an issue inside two weeks of ownership.

Prior to purchase I researched the company using auto trader reviews and they seemed legitimate. Withing week one I had a minor issue with the car that I repaired at my own expense, while in my usual garage they said the engine had recently been apart and was I aware.

Flash forward a week and whilst driving back to my parents for Christmas I had an engine management light flash and then go off. There was no noticeable issues with the car and I was reflectively close to home so thought best to plough on. Went into limp mode a few hundred metres from my destination.

I also noticed that the washer pump wasnt working.

Is this sufficient to reject the car?

Will they argue that caused the damage by failing to pull over and will they be able to prove that through the ecu?

I have since read a wider selection of reviews and they are either entirely fabricated five star reviews or one star with identical issues to this situation e.g. Car sold with major issues that manifest days after purchase and dealer then refuses any help.

I have valued the car with a site who'll give me about a third of the value and collect. Am I best off putting this down to my own stupidity, cashing out and using the cash for a new car?

I've got so much going on in my life at the moment with family and work I really don't have the stomach for a protracted disagreement

Any feedback welcome

There is literally endless information on this available, you're best using a decent reference rather than the ramblings of some internet beardies. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-...

In short, no, you have to give opportunity to repair.

and TBH, you do rather seem to have the PH Bingo Full House there, so forgive us for being cynical.

[moonigan]

The CRA 2015 law states if you get a problem within the first 30 days you can reject the car and get a full refund but this can be very difficult. For this to work the seller has to accept your rejection and you have to formally reject it. As soon as you do this you need to stop driving the car and dig yourself in for the long haul. I rejected a new car within 30 days and it took 4 months to resolve. Another poster rejected a McLaren and it took a similar amount of time.

If you can afford to sit it out then the law is on your side.

[Trevor555]

Took 7 months for me with a BMW main dealer.

All whilst it was sat in the garage unable to use it.

But OP if you do want to reject get straight onto citizens advice rather than on here.

[Muzzer79]

T Wilson said:

Silly silly me. Buyers beware.

I've bought a second hand car which has developed an issue inside two weeks of ownership.

Prior to purchase I researched the company using auto trader reviews and they seemed legitimate. Withing week one I had a minor issue with the car that I repaired at my own expense, while in my usual garage they said the engine had recently been apart and was I aware.

Flash forward a week and whilst driving back to my parents for Christmas I had an engine management light flash and then go off. There was no noticeable issues with the car and I was reflectively close to home so thought best to plough on. Went into limp mode a few hundred metres from my destination.

I also noticed that the washer pump wasnt working.

Is this sufficient to reject the car?

Will they argue that caused the damage by failing to pull over and will they be able to prove that through the ecu?

I have since read a wider selection of reviews and they are either entirely fabricated five star reviews or one star with identical issues to this situation e.g. Car sold with major issues that manifest days after purchase and dealer then refuses any help.

I have valued the car with a site who'll give me about a third of the value and collect. Am I best off putting this down to my own stupidity, cashing out and using the cash for a new car?

I've got so much going on in my life at the moment with family and work I really don't have the stomach for a protracted disagreement

Any feedback welcome

What is actually wrong with it?

Maybe I’ve missed it, but you haven’t said.

Before you get to rejection or taking a financial hit, at least work out what the problem is. As far as I can tell, you have had an engine management light and limp mode. It could be anything.

For reference, I had an engine management light and limp mode on a 1 year old BMW. It was the EGR valve and was sorted painlessly and fairly cheaply.

[ZX10R NIN]

T Wilson said:

Silly silly me. Buyers beware.

I've bought a second hand car which has developed an issue inside two weeks of ownership.

Prior to purchase I researched the company using auto trader reviews and they seemed legitimate. Withing week one I had a minor issue with the car that I repaired at my own expense, while in my usual garage they said the engine had recently been apart and was I aware.

Flash forward a week and whilst driving back to my parents for Christmas I had an engine management light flash and then go off. There was no noticeable issues with the car and I was reflectively close to home so thought best to plough on. Went into limp mode a few hundred metres from my destination.

I also noticed that the washer pump wasnt working.

Is this sufficient to reject the car?

Will they argue that caused the damage by failing to pull over and will they be able to prove that through the ecu?

I have since read a wider selection of reviews and they are either entirely fabricated five star reviews or one star with identical issues to this situation e.g. Car sold with major issues that manifest days after purchase and dealer then refuses any help.

I have valued the car with a site who'll give me about a third of the value and collect. Am I best off putting this down to my own stupidity, cashing out and using the cash for a new car?

I've got so much going on in my life at the moment with family and work I really don't have the stomach for a protracted disagreement

Any feedback welcome

Firstly rather than post on here have you actually spoke to the dealer? If not why not it could be something as simple as an air mass sensor.

Secondly do you actually know what's wrong with the car?

If the answers no & the dealer isn't close then get it into your local garage to find out or get it back to the garage you bought it from.

Why would you repair a car at your own expense when you have a warranty or was it a wear & tear item?

[JimmyConwayNW]

Citizens advice are utterly useless. Its a kid on a phone who has no interpretation of legislation.

Try it, give them a call, say you purchased a car and a bulbs gone. Say an alloy is buckled. Say something and they will advise you to reject.


Original poster, get it back to where you bought it, give them a chance to fix it. If they don't / won't request refund.

Why would you be worrying before you have even asked the question?

[Trevor555]

JimmyConwayNW said:

Citizens advice are utterly useless. Its a kid on a phone who has no interpretation of legislation.

Sad to hear that but totally different to my recent experience with them.

The young man was straight in with all the correct advice, knew his job inside out.

He pointed me to their template letters on their website which contained all the proper wording which I hadn't got quite right on my previous letter.

I thought I had a good understanding of these regulations as I'd been on a Lawgistics course, and been a sales manager etc...

But I learnt something I didn't know, that the 30 days rejection period extends by any time that the car/bike is back at the garage whilst they are trying to fix it.

I'd given up hope that I'd have a case because I was over the 30 days, but the garage had it for 2 weeks in that time.

If it wasn't for contacting Citizens advice I'd have not got the outcome I did.

Total gratitude/respect from me.

[T Wilson]

Sorry everyone, it wasn't my intention to rub anyone up the wrong way. Apologies if I have annoyed you with my post. It just seemed like a knowledgeable group of people.

I am going to speak with them today or tomorrow. My anxiety is sky high due to some really toxic reviews left about how the dealer dealt with similar issues.

[Trevor555]

T Wilson said:

Sorry everyone, it wasn't my intention to rub anyone up the wrong way. Apologies if I have annoyed you with my post. It just seemed like a knowledgeable group of people.

I am going to speak with them today or tomorrow. My anxiety is sky high due to some really toxic reviews left about how the dealer dealt with similar issues.

Go in, nice and friendly, ask them if they can have a look at it for you.

Trouble is nowadays is many people go in guns blazing demanding this, that, quoting laws/regulations.

If the friendly approach doesn't work then quote laws/regulations/citizens advice.

How did you pay for the car? Can make a huge difference... A part payment on a credit card can be a very powerful aly.

[CrippsCorner]

Trevor555 said:

JimmyConwayNW said:

Citizens advice are utterly useless. Its a kid on a phone who has no interpretation of legislation.

Sad to hear that but totally different to my recent experience with them.

The young man was straight in with all the correct advice, knew his job inside out.

He pointed me to their template letters on their website which contained all the proper wording which I hadn't got quite right on my previous letter.

I thought I had a good understanding of these regulations as I'd been on a Lawgistics course, and been a sales manager etc...

But I learnt something I didn't know, that the 30 days rejection period extends by any time that the car/bike is back at the garage whilst they are trying to fix it.

I'd given up hope that I'd have a case because I was over the 30 days, but the garage had it for 2 weeks in that time.

If it wasn't for contacting Citizens advice I'd have not got the outcome I did.

Total gratitude/respect from me.

Citizens have been useless to me in the past. Many years ago I visited due to some work dispute, and the lady on the computer just Googled what to do! The exact same thing I'd done before going... didn't get anywhere.

Another time more recently due to a covid issue, and they weren't letting people in told me to email a specific address with a form filled out (which took over an hour to fill) nothing back

But, you're always going to get different experiences and I'm glad you had more luck!

[T Wilson]

Well 0% engine compression in cylinder 2 is the cause.

Dealer now not answering.

[Muzzer79]

T Wilson said:

Well 0% engine compression in cylinder 2 is the cause.

Dealer now not answering.

Playing devils advocate, it is holiday time and car dealers are notoriously quiet around christmas. They’re probably on holiday.

Wait until the new year, then go down in person and have a sensible, calm conversation. If they stone-wall you, then go to Citizen’s Advice.

[anonymous-user]

You don't need citizens advice. You need to take the course of action you want.

[ZX10R NIN]

Just take the car back with the report & I don't think you'll have any issue getting a refund, although they may not pay your transport costs.