Sold Car in August - now Buyer wants compensation!

corsavan

sarymclary wrote: »

his dad had a thorough look under the bonnet, checked the fluid levels, etc., saying how he did all their car servicing, so it's not as if the dad was a novice.

If the buyers dad knows how to service his cars, why is he letting some cowboy at the garage keep his car hostage because of the 'aircon'?

As for the mpg, not even people with brand new cars report achieving the official mpg figure. Maybe he has flat tyres or doesn't know how to drive a diesel car properly. I would ignore the email.

cyclonebri1

Just my 2ps worth OP;

He probably has been to the cab, but their advice will have been based on the same pile of tosh that he has emailed you, and therefore worthless;)

Regarding selling a car privately, the only issue is to ensure the car is not missdescribed in the printed ad. Even if you told him porkies when he viewed the car, which I don't for a minute believe you did', he could not base his claim on that.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said something to the effect of; "he could have been off road with the car or had his own prang"

6 months later and he complains??? Strange fellow as you said.

Driving around for 6 months with brake damage? I very much doubt it.

Fuel consumption, all down to him, his driving style and routing, and the fact that it is now winter which will have dramatically increased fuel use



You've received some good advise, but I would answer the email based on the facts you've stated here, and make it clear you feel no responsibility for any issues he now has:T

sarymclary

There's a good reason why I love MSE, and the fab responses to my OP sum that up.:D

I've spoken to my OH, and he's agreed that the guy was odd, had plenty of opportunity to check the car over, and is pretty sure the problems he's had could be down to wear and tear, and he wondered if he'd tried using his own 'home brew' fuel in the car, and had caused the pipes to perish, or damaged it in some way? Bearing in mind he'd done the same with his last car, and now felt unable to drive in it, I wouldn't be at all surprised. OH also commented that when he went out for the test drive with the guy, he stayed in 3rd gear unnecessarily, and wasn't an exactly good driver. OH isn't at all surprised that he had lower MPG than we had.

So, we're going to take the advice given here, and ignore the email, to avoid getting into a tit-for-tat exchange, which he may well try to do. OH feels it's unlikely he'd drive over, and try to be confrontational - he wasn't that kind of person. If he emails again, then he'll get a curt, but polite response, stating we accept no liability.

I was staggered when I discovered it was 6 months since he bought the car. It's just reaffirmed my initial thoughts that he was 'special'! Imagine SP (finally!) working in the corner of an office in about 15 years time... that all his colleagues found just a tad strange, and you've kind of got an idea of what this chap was like. SP doesn't drive, does he? :eek::rotfl:

Dave101t

dont forget the magic words:
sold as seen.

he test drove it, as soon as its driven off your drive, there is no leagal responsibility with you.

you could even report him for harassment if he is a freak.

sarymclary

Dave101t wrote: »

dont forget the magic words:
sold as seen.

he test drove it, as soon as its driven off your drive, there is no leagal responsibility with you.

you could even report him for harassment if he is a freak.

Dave, you speak the language of my OH! :rotfl:

vikingaero

sarymclary wrote: »

I was staggered when I discovered it was 6 months since he bought the car. It's just reaffirmed my initial thoughts that he was 'special'! Imagine SP (finally!) working in the corner of an office in about 15 years time... that all his colleagues found just a tad strange, and you've kind of got an idea of what this chap was like. SP doesn't drive, does he? :eek::rotfl:

Unlikely that SP drives. He wouldn't dare sit on a car seat where a female might have been with her moist panties. :eek::D

mrbrightside842

I was going to mention that his vegetable oil may have had an effect on the car, I'm sure if it was taken further and it could be suggested that this is what he'd done, that it would be viewed differently. He'll prob try and email again, so just keep ignoring.

shellsuit

I am so sorry the car has gone wrong
So sorry that now I will sing you a song
I'm sorry the fuel pipe may have a leak
But there's chuff all I can do, you soddin' great freak.

It's been 6 months now, oh how time flies
Do you think I am daft, do you think I'm not wise?
There is nowt I can do, I'm a private seller
So go back to CAB you annoying sad fella.

200888

sarymclary wrote: »

'I have been in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau, and they informed me that it was most probably illegal to sell a car in that condition, 'As I bought the car on trust that it was roadworthy, I do feel there should be some compensation and would like you to contact me'.

He can't say that you had to sell the car to him in a roadworthy condition, if they wanted to be sure it was roadworthy they should have paid for an RAC/AA veichle inspection at their expense..... you're not a mechanic so you dont even know 100% that your own car is roadworthy unless it had just had an MOT, (sometimes you can think your own car is fine then something comes up on the MOT that you arn't aware of as they obviously have a more thorough look at the car and raise it up etc.., how the heck are you supposed to check the fuel pipes!!??), unless they specifically asked you if it was roadworthy (and you can only answer to the best of your knowledge) then they cant say you lied... they didnt ask

DaveMacD

shellsuit wrote: »

I am so sorry the car has gone wrong
So sorry that now I will sing you a song
I'm sorry the fuel pipe may have a leak
But there's chuff all I can do, you soddin' great freak.

It's been 6 months now, oh how time flies
Do you think I am daft, do you think I'm not wise?
There is nowt I can do, I'm a private seller
So go back to CAB you annoying sad fella.

:rotfl::T:beer: