Bought a second-hand car from a dodgy-dealer and need advice

lestergun

andy.m - The car cost £1000 exactly (is that what you're asking?).

anewman - The car was making odd (sloshing) noises amongst other things.

So the report from the garage says that we'll need a new radiator, a new indicator and a handful of other little things - cost to rectify will be about £500.

My girlfriend has said she'd rather pay for this herself as she doesn't want anything to do with the dealer as she's finding it too stressful (I don't think she has the MSE spirit).

Does anyone have any idea if the issues with the vehicle would be sufficient to return the car and get the cashback via the Visa Debit Chargeback scheme?

Or any other advice?

Thanks

Lester

somech

you have to ask is it fit for purpose ?
if if not document everything and ring trading standards, and please befor any of you buy a car get an inspection done

tomstickland

If the alternative garage can fix it quite cheaply then I'd just do that.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Recorded delivery letter to the dealer stating your case. Give him 14 days to respond.

No response - get car fixed elsewhere, send invoice to dealer.

Dealer doesn't pay - small claims court, armed with diagnosis of fault from other garage

Dealer found liable by court, gets CCJ against his name, either pays you or doesn't.

Doesn't pay you - bailiffs visit premises, confiscate property

lestergun

Pew Pew Pew Lasers! - Smashing advice - will pursue it this way.

Thanks

Great name BTW.

Lester

lestergun

Hi all

We took the car to a mechanic who has confirmed that there is a problem with the head gasket.

We have now sent a letter (the template was provided by Trading Standards) to the dealer via special delivery and hope they'll either provide a refund or acknowledge the issues with the car and fix or we'll take them to court.

If the dealership do not provide within 14 days (the length of time dictated in the letter) would anyone know the best (quickest/cheapest/easiest) way to pursue this through court?

I would very much like bailiffs to visit their premises and take their possessions as the guy was a nasty bully and this would provide him with an idea of what it's like to be walked over.

Thanks

Lester

NickWarren_2

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco/index.jsp

If he doesn't sort it use this.

sarahg1969

NickWarren wrote: »

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco/index.jsp

If he doesn't sort it use this.

Don't use this. It's too limited. Go to your local County Court and get a form from them and issue over the counter.

lestergun

On Monday 8th March we sent a letter to the dealer requesting they acknowledge the issues with the vehicle and to give them an opportunity to rectify them. We sent the letter via recorded delivery and recently found out that the letter was neither recorded nor delivered. So on Monday 15th March we sent the same letter via Special Delivery and have seen online that this has been received by the dealership (although no signature is yet online so don't know who took receipt of it).

We are yet to hear anything from the dealer. if nothing has been heard by the 30th March I think we're going to get the car fixed at our own expense and then pursue the dealer via the courts for these costs. Can anyone tell me if this is the correct course of action? And would the dealer have to pay for trivial things that need doing to the vehicle or just the replacement of the head-gasket?

I'm quite bitter about this and I don't just want the dealer to have to pay for the repair (as he should have done long ago) but also be punished. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Lester

lestergun

Thanks for all the responses.

Trading Standards contacted the dealer directly and the owner of the dealership told them that my girlfriend must have tampered with the car.

We have now decided to pursue this through the small claims court.

Can anyone advise on the best way to do this?

Get the repairs completed elsewhere and the bill the dealer (as someone stated above) - or - pursue the dealer through the courts to get them to complete the repairs?

Also, anything I should be wary of? The only paperwork provided with the car was a service history. I'm worried that if we take them to court, the shysters will use some little-known loophole to wriggle out of their responsibilities.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Lester