Sale or Return - Dealer returning car but repair is required

[JmatthewB]

I was trying to sell a car on Sale or Return through a local dealer. We’ve reached the end of the contracted agreement and the car didn’t sell so I’ve asked for them to return it.

However, they called to say when they tried to bring the car from their storage facility the battery was flat and it blew a fuse when they tried to jump start it.

I reckon I’m going to asked to pay for a new fuse box or something electrical as one of the terms of the agreement was ‘reimburse the dealer for any specific work undertaken on the vehicle’.

How can I be sure the work undertaken is necessary and I’m not just being exploited on repair costs after they failed to make money selling the car?

[itcaptainslow]

...did they connect the jump pack with the leads the right way around!?

[SoundNortherner]

itcaptainslow said:

...did they connect the jump pack with the leads the right way around!?

Who knows? But now I’m fearful it’s something more expensive and more serious than a blown fuse, and they’re going to expect me to pay for damage they’ve done to the car.

[ZX10R NIN]

Wait until they actually speak to you, if they've done it they'll probably soak up the cost.

[Ed Banger]

They are most likely culpable for the damage but good luck getting them to cough up. They hold all the cards or in this case your car. If I gave someone my car to sell I would at the least expect it to be left on charge. What is the car?

Its another smaller reason I wouldn't want to consider S.O.R

[paul_c123]

In my experience, if a fuse blows, it is only necessary to replace the fuse, not the entire fuse box.

[Danm1les]

I had this and they tried to jump the car and cooked the ECU. Cost me a about a grand to have it fixed as they said it must have been an issue already.

[maz8062]

Wow, that sounds a bit iffy. So you drive the car over to the dealer in perfectly good condition. They advertise it for sale - the deal is up, it hasn't sold, so you want your car back. They've spent money advertising your car, storing your car and expending energy on your car. You don't have any bills to pay, just to take your car, thank them for their efforts and go about your business. Who has lost? Perhaps the battery issue is their way of recovering costs.

What car is it?

Your choices: get it recovered to another dealer, if they don't claim that they've fixed it already and invoice you, or pony up and move on. Nothing in life is free.

[griffter]

If they make a nuisance of themselves, you can make a nuisance of yourself. Check the owner’s manual. It will probably carry a clear warning over jump starting, certainly clear instructions. Did they follow these through? Was their jump pack pat tested? Fully charged?

I wouldn’t actually recommend this course of action, it will probably just escalate tensions. You’re always better off keeping them onside and having a reasonable conversation. Tell them you’ll take it back over winter, assess your price requirements and intend to get in touch with them in spring. Ask if you can turn up with a new battery and a new fuse and get it going yourself, is probably a better option.

[loskie]

was the clause "pay for any repairs" more aligned with them prepping it and selling it? IE making a repair to put it up for sale or for the new owner should it have sold rather than damage they may have caused.

[SoundNortherner]

loskie said:

was the clause "pay for any repairs" more aligned with them prepping it and selling it? IE making a repair to put it up for sale or for the new owner should it have sold rather than damage they may have caused.

In the case of the vehicle not selling in agreed time-
‘The seller may remove the vehicle having paid all the Dealer’s agreed disbursements incurred from maintenance or rectification of the vehicle’

But also, ‘The Dealer is liable for all reasonable costs incurred in the promotion and presentation of the vehicle’.