Car I just bought was a write-off, seller lied.

Debt_Free_Chick

GogolBordello wrote: »

I am so unhappy that I was such a mug...I know I'm not the first, nor the last.

Have you been a mug? Have you actually paid more than the car was worth?

There are too many Cat C write offs these days, IMHO. Insurers are quick to write them off purely on the cost to repair basis - which is fair enough, as they are in business to make money. But the point about a Cat C W/O is that the state of the vehicle is such that it can be realistically returned to working order. I assume it has an MOT, so it's roadworthy?

Think carefully ... have you actually lost out financially? If not, then there's no point in pursuing this as your damages in law will be limited to your actual financial loss.

I don't condone sharp practice, but being pragrmatic, you must consider whether you've lost out financially or not.

HTH

GogolBordello

Officer_Dibble wrote: »

OP

Give us the full details, car, price paid, checks you did, how advertised etc.

Sorry, just did a hospital dash with my 10 month old baby.

Car is Citroen C3
53 plate
Paid £2230
Advertised on Autotrader
I didnt do any checks :-( silly me.
Like I say, inexperienced.

GogolBordello

karenx wrote: »

How can you prove the adress?

His Yorkshire address is on the V5 but we picked up from an address in Rainham Essex.

Wig

GogolBordello wrote: »

Sorry, just did a hospital dash with my 10 month old baby.

Car is Citroen C3
53 plate
Paid £2230
Advertised on Autotrader
I didnt do any checks :-( silly me.
Like I say, inexperienced.

Find your car on here and post the results
http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/motoring/used-car-prices/Citro%EBn/C3+%282002-%29/

eg...
Citroën C3 (2002-) 5Dr Hatchback 1.1i L (2003/53)

Average Mileage: 70,000
Price New:£8,852
Insurance Group:2
Retail:£3,210
Private Good:£2,550
Private Average:£2,160
Private Poor:£1,780
Part Exchange:£2,330
Trade:£2,205

mikeouk

personaly i would get intouch with the seller and threaten him with trading standards, see if he will give you some money back. £2230 isnt over the top for that car, probably abit more than id want to pay for a cat c, but alot depends on how well it was repaired and you have to remember if you resell it, then you have to disclose its cat c. If you run it for a couple of years and get £1000 back then it hasnt been a bad buy over all.

biscuitdunker

GogolBordello wrote: »

His Yorkshire address is on the V5 but we picked up from an address in Rainham Essex.

How do you know it's his address in Yorkshire? It could be anyone's.

He could be operating as a wreck recovery company, picking up wrecks, doing them up and selling them on. The address on the V5 might not be his. This is a well known scam. People sign over their wrecks to these guys, who are supposed to scrap them, but instead they repair them and sell them for profit. This may be why he didn't let you see the papers when you turned up. I had this happen to me when I purchased a C2 a few months ago. The only thing we could do was threaten the bloke with trading standards and the police (even though we knew they wouldn't get involved) eventually he caved and refunded most of our money.

You really need to find out whether the car is safe and sound, especially if you have kids.

Wig

mikeouk wrote: »

personaly i would get intouch with the seller and threaten him with trading standards, see if he will give you some money back. £2230 isnt over the top for that car, probably abit more than id want to pay for a cat c, but alot depends on how well it was repaired and you have to remember if you resell it, then you have to disclose its cat c.

Do you? Why? If it is a private sale, he can choose to disclose what he likes, all he has to do is not lie. Happy to be corrected of course.

If you run it for a couple of years and get £1000 back then it hasnt been a bad buy over all.

Agreed

biscuitdunker wrote: »

You really need to find out whether the car is safe and sound, especially if you have kids.

Also agreed, but I wouldn't have put the emotive emphasis on the subject of the children.

emmell

A typical back street wannabe trader, I'm selling it for my brother,sister aunties uncle cousins friend, pretending to be a private seller. My particular pet hate, these are the ones that hide behind their 'private' status so you have no rights whatsoever. Contact the previous owner to see if he really is a relative, if not, use this information to try to get something back from him. That's if you can trace him, did he really live at the address you bought the car from.
Also if you contact the previous owner they may tell you why it is a cat. c.
ML.

biscuitdunker

One thing you should do if you have his phone number, is do a google search for his number, see how many other wrecks he's selling. I'd be surprised if you bought the only one.

Wig

emmell wrote: »

Also if you contact the previous owner they may tell you why it is a cat. c.
ML.

I'd do that too, and ask if it really was his father who sold you the car.