Stupidly bought car from auction...

Louisemcc24spirit

Hi Everyone,

Any advice gratefully received - I know i was stupid though :mad:

On the 8/7/10 I purchased a car 'sold as seen' from a vehicle auction house. As I'd seen other vehicles with 'non runner' in the description I was happy to hope that the damn thing would at least get me home!

I watched the car being started up and then purring quietly in the auction room so I thought ok, for £250 it worth a go (I only wanted it as a temporary car to get to work until my work car came through)

£380 later - £250 + fees I went to drive home. Unfortunately after 5 mins I noticed I was losing power and going slower; I realised that I'd not make the 20 mile journey home so I took the car back.

The auction people were adamant that it was 'sold as seen' - no refunds; I said it was not fit for purpose and that I was not accepting the car. Eventually they got bored and said they'd get a mechanic to have a look.

I'd heard nothing so I called them on the 13/07/10 and the mechanic said the head gasket had gone and he could fix it for £540! :eek:

I know my rights are limited under SOGA but surely there must be some way this can be resolved?

Thank you for reading. (please move if in wrong forum)

10JH

If it's sold as seen then surely you can't dispute it?

If you try and sell a car through auction, do they check the mechanics at all?

Rolandtheroadie

Did it state that it was a non runner but you still bought it?

Boobydoo

Hi
I'm not the best on advising with regards to an auction house, but I know that if your were to buy the car from a trader, say on Ebay then I am sure you are still entitled to the six month time scale which traders have to stick too. Most will have you believe that you only have three months - I've been told by a reputable trader that it's six months though.
I used to work alongside a trader who purchased from Auctions and if the car arrived with problems then he would send it straight back!
Hopefully someone will come along on here shortly and give some really clear advice, but I know if I were you then I would insist the car is taken away and your money refunded, afterall if it's been sent in with a head problem then there could be a lot more wrong with it.

Hammyman

Louisemcc24spirit wrote: »

ne and he could fix it for £540! :eek:

I know my rights are limited under SOGA but surely there must be some way this can be resolved?

No. Auctions are precisely that. All goods are sold as seen, no warranty implied and it is buyer beware. There is no comeback - THATS WHY THEY'RE SO CHEAP - you take a gamble. You can't say it wasn't as described because the description would be the make, model and any MOT/tax on it.

Ebay is completely seperate and irrelevent - the sellers are bound by the terms and conditions Ebay imposes but even on Ebay, if a car is advertised sold as seen, there's no warranty and if it packs up a mile down the road, tough.

Louisemcc24spirit

Hi, thank you for your replies so far.

According to Trading Standards "Traders cannot take away comsumer rights by using terms such as 'sold as seen'.... used cars expect some faults but not excessive"

I definitely did not buy this as a non runner (i assumed this car would be ok as this wasn't advertised as such - where others were) As soon as I realised there was a problem I took it straight back within 30 mins of having keys.

Trust me guys I feel stupid enough

Hammyman

Louisemcc24spirit wrote: »

Hi, thank you for your replies so far.

According to Trading Standards "Traders cannot take away comsumer rights by using terms such as 'sold as seen'.... used cars expect some faults but not excessive"

I definitely did not buy this as a non runner (i assumed this car would be ok as this wasn't advertised as such - where others were) As soon as I realised there was a problem I took it straight back within 30 mins of having keys.

Trust me guys I feel stupid enough

You didn't buy it from a trader, you bought it from an auction - the two are not the same. Trading standards have told you wrong information.

AlexisV

http://www.exploreauctions.co.uk/ConsumerLawAuctionGoods.html

Quentin

Louisemcc24spirit wrote: »

According to Trading Standards "Traders cannot take away comsumer rights by using terms such as 'sold as seen'.... used cars expect some faults but not excessive"

Did you tell them you bought at auction, not from a trader?

If so they mislead you!

Otherwise that is the explanation why you have no comeback.

Inactive

I agree with others, buying a vehicle " sold as seen " at a motor auction, means just that.

Quinny_2

Auction houses are used to dispose of excess stock or cars that are basically knackered. In this case, the person who owned the car before you will have known this, hence the reason they got rid of it. (They may have p/x'd it at a dealer.)

I'm sorry to say that unless the auction house describe differently at the time of sale, then it's sold as seen I'm afraid. I guess the only way to cut your losses, is to re-enter it in the auction, and do what the previous owner did.

I'm lucky enough to say that my current car is an auction buy that I bought 5 years ago. 64k miles later, (Currently 136k.) it's still going strong. Mind you, it is a diesel.