Advice needed on problems after buying used car on Ebay.

macman

OP, I think you are very wise to get it re-MOT'd from the safety point of view, but bear in mind that the MOT does not test the full mechanical condition, eg if the engine or gearbox are about to expire this does not consitute an MOT failure as these are not considered safety issues.
So if it has been rallied/abused there may be other faulty areas which the MOT will not reveal.

Sirbendy

and MOT Testers will happily point out that they can't move/disturb much, so if there's styling kit etc covering major corrosion, they can't see it. The MOT is more of a statement than a fact.

If I buy, I check it out thoroughly. I bought a Renault from a carpark..iffy mileage, shot exhaust, clocked, shot brakes, shot electrics, all in all a bag of spanners. Cost £150 to buy, needed new rotors, pads, alternator, fuseboard, £300 exhaust, service, tyres, even a new fueltank..it did me for 2 years.

Never again. I bought a Rover for £100 as a shell because I was desperate..about 20% rust, rattly engine, wouldn't idle, paint was shot..that did for 18 months. I knew that was a temp motor.

This Astra and the last car I had a full check done, went back a few times to sleep on it, did a roadtest, went over it in minute detail to my own satisfaction..the dealer was getting quite snotty, until I told him if he wanted me to walk away, carry on or belt the hell up. He did.

Not regretted it yet. They want your cash, caveat emptor and don't let the sods hassle you into buying. He tried everything including the "fake call from a customer who REALLY wants it, coming to pick it up tomorrow unless you buy it". I just laughed in his face.

Personally i'd never buy from EBay. Motor Auctions, yes..dealers, yes, but Ebay..no way.

dacouch

Sirbendy wrote: »

Not regretted it yet. They want your cash, caveat emptor and don't let the sods hassle you into buying. He tried everything including the "fake call from a customer who REALLY wants it, coming to pick it up tomorrow unless you buy it". I just laughed in his face.

That sales tactic makes me laugh, I would probably have just walked away at the point just out of principle and to see the look on the blokes face! There are plenty of people that fall for this as I get them in my work and they have had this done to them and they believe it.

:rotfl:

Hintza

JK12345 wrote: »

OMG I am really sorry to hear that, how long did it take you to stop seething? that is awful :-(

I was going through my divorce period at the time (common theme to yourself!!!!!????), it was nightmare one way and another not thinking straight, buying a crap car, my mind was all over the place and when I wrote it off (u-turn at wrong time, I just didn't see the guy, nit thinking)

But that day was one of the happiest days in a long time. That car was a millstone and it was finally gone :j .

JK12345

Hintza wrote: »

I was going through my divorce period at the time (common theme to yourself!!!!!????), it was nightmare one way and another not thinking straight, buying a crap car, my mind was all over the place and when I wrote it off (u-turn at wrong time, I just didn't see the guy, nit thinking)

But that day was one of the happiest days in a long time. That car was a millstone and it was finally gone :j .

Yeah the dreaded divorce period :-( not a nice time is it!
Although sorry for your situation, am kind of releived that I'm not the only one who's bought a crap car lol

On a brighter note for me. have just spoken to trading standards, and I do have a civil case, and if the car is deemed as unroadworthy, and depending on the extent of its unroadworthyness, they will take the the car and the criminal case, so even if I dont get my money back, the seller will be more careful when selling a dangerous car in future, so nobody ends up injured.jJxx

StaffsSW

JK12345 wrote: »

On a brighter note for me. have just spoken to trading standards, and I do have a civil case, and if the car is deemed as unroadworthy, and depending on the extent of its unroadworthyness, they will take the the car and the criminal case,

Which is it?!

macman

I fail to see what regulatory power Trading Standards have over a private motor sale? And how can it be illegal to sell an 'unroadworthy' car? MOT failures or collision damaged vehicles are bought and sold every day.
The issue here is if the seller wilfully misrepresented the car's condition, which I'm not convinced has been established.

dacouch

I can't see they can / will bring a criminal case unless it can be proved they were aware of the alledged existing damage that made the vehicle unroadworthy.

I'm not sure they will pursue a civil case but we will see. I reckon if they become they will write a letter to the other party asking for their side and take it from there (If they even bother as its a private sale)

JK12345

macman wrote: »

I fail to see what regulatory power Trading Standards have over a private motor sale? And how can it be illegal to sell an 'unroadworthy' car? MOT's failure are bought and sold every day.
The issue here is if the seller wilfully misrepresented the car's condition, which I'm not convinced has been established.

I dont know, I just called them and this is what they told me, and to get back to them after the MOT. It wasn't bought as an MOT failure, or as scrap, it was bought as an on the road vehicle. But the in's and out's I really dont know, they just said there is absolutely a civil case, and if it's not fit for road use, a criminal case that they will take up depending on the extent on the MOT failure. He pointed out that the criminal aspect would not help me, and I still need to persue civilly??

Optimist

dacouch wrote: »

I can't see they can / will bring a criminal case unless it can be proved they were aware of the alledged existing damage that made the vehicle unroadworthy.

I'm not sure they will pursue a civil case but we will see. I reckon if they become they will write a letter to the other party asking for their side and take it from there (If they even bother as its a private sale)

The 1998 Road traffic act does make it an offence to sell a un-roadworthy car however it does not give a definition of un-roadworthy.

The first thing to do is have a MOT done . There would also need to be a engineers report from someone who would be considered trustworthy in court.

If the car fails its MOT which wont be evidence for court however it should be sufficient for you to contact trading standards who would decide to take it further by having a engineers report commissioned

The above actions would need to take place within a short time of taking delivery and no more than 4 weeks.