Private car swap gone wrong, whats my rights?

jenjen1

Hi, my hubby swapped his car privately after visiting a swap website https://www.swapz.co.uk (he has done this before) and after checking the car over and test driving it he swapped it for his pride and joy (the reason is that i am learning to drive and couldn't get insured on his car). Hubby drove it home (a 5 hr trip) then the next day he drove to london. On the way home the car started making a rattling noise. Now 2 days later the rattling is getting worse, and hubby thinks it is terminal. What are our rights? We have tried emailing the guy we swapped with to ask him if he knows anything about this but guess what, no reply. Thanks for any advice.

Hammyman

jenjen1 wrote: »

Hi, my hubby swapped his car privately after visiting a swap website https://www.swapz.co.uk (he has done this before) and after checking the car over and test driving it he swapped it for his pride and joy (the reason is that i am learning to drive and couldn't get insured on his car). Hubby drove it home (a 5 hr trip) then the next day he drove to london. On the way home the car started making a rattling noise. Now 2 days later the rattling is getting worse, and hubby thinks it is terminal. What are our rights? We have tried emailing the guy we swapped with to ask him if he knows anything about this but guess what, no reply. Thanks for any advice.

Has he checked there's oil in it? What are the terms and conditions of a trade that Swapz impose?

jenjen1

Hi, he done an oil change today, the oil that was in here was really really thick, hubby flushed and changed the oil for the correct oil and now it seems to have made it worse! I think the thick stuff was holding it together! I havent checked the T & C on the site but i will now (didnt think of doing it) thanks

KeithP

OP, you have got a name and address for the seller, haven't you?

jenjen1

Yes we have their name and address but we swapped te cars it wasnt a sale (doesnt know if that makes a diffenece)

goldspanners

i would imagine it would be like a private sale, nobody forced you to swap and you had your chance to inspect the car prior to swapping,so it was at your risk.

king100

jenjen1 wrote: »

Hi, my hubby swapped his car privately after visiting a swap website www.swapz.co.uk (he has done this before) and after checking the car over and test driving it he swapped it for his pride and joy (the reason is that i am learning to drive and couldn't get insured on his car). Hubby drove it home (a 5 hr trip) then the next day he drove to london. On the way home the car started making a rattling noise. Now 2 days later the rattling is getting worse, and hubby thinks it is terminal. What are our rights? We have tried emailing the guy we swapped with to ask him if he knows anything about this but guess what, no reply. Thanks for any advice.

Is your hubby a trained mechanic?

Checking the car over really insnt much unless he has xray vision?

Surely if swapping a car you would get an aa report at least to see what the car was like?

Did you get any receipt?

If i was the other swapper it would be swap "as seen" with no come back?

Personally I would get a report done on the car as evidence of what is wrong with car and get the professional to write that the issues were before you bought it.

anewman

jenjen1 wrote: »

Hi, he done an oil change today, the oil that was in here was really really thick, hubby flushed and changed the oil for the correct oil and now it seems to have made it worse! I think the thick stuff was holding it together! I havent checked the T & C on the site but i will now (didnt think of doing it) thanks

The thick black oil should have been spotted really when the level was checked on the dipstick prior to purchase. This is one of the things everyone should do when buying (or it seems also swapping) a car. Doesn't help with the current situation I know, but hopefully a worthwhile reminder.

Flushing oils have been known to cause damage to cars, particularly on neglected ones http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/flushservices.html http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

jenjen1

Hubby is a mechanic, but didnt pick up on any problems, the car seemed ok. No receipt, and no AA check as the reason for swapping was lack of cash, we cant afford a AA check. I guess we're need to put it down to experience and run it until it dies, give up on the driving lessons and get a push bike....sniff....sniff.....

Inactive

jenjen1 wrote: »

Hubby is a mechanic, but didnt pick up on any problems, the car seemed ok. No receipt, and no AA check as the reason for swapping was lack of cash, we cant afford a AA check. I guess we're need to put it down to experience and run it until it dies, give up on the driving lessons and get a push bike....sniff....sniff.....

The same thing could have happened to the car that you swapped, it is just one of those things, not a hope of doing anything about it.

Just a chance that you take with this type of transaction.

missile

If your mechanic hubby did not find fault, it is possible the guy who swopped had no idea it was in a bad way?

I don't think you have any cause for complaint...... buyer beware