Just discovered...

cherryblossomchris

We've just discovered that we have been sold a car that was registered as a right off.

We bought it last May second hand from a dealership in Bournemouth, we were told at the time that it had been in a minor accident.

It's just gone for its MOT and the mechanic has told us that this car should never have been sold to us, it has shoddy welding as well as a number of other factors.

He actually plugged the car into his computer and all the information came up.

To say we are angry is an understatement...this may not be the right place to ask but does anyone know what we can do?

Thanks

harveybobbles

What information came up?

cherryblossomchris

That the accident had been a serious one and that it should not be on the road basically.

The mechanic came up with the analogy of 'if a head gasket blows the car has a heart attack and dies, your car is dying a slow painful death'

Dippypud

Did your mechanic utter the dreaded words "cut and shut" ?

Beetlefan

Well I have never heard of a Scanner yet that can tell you that a car has been involved in an Accident! The Dealer told you the Car had been involved in an Accident so there is very little you can do I'm afraid!!

KillerWatt

Have you considered the option that the ECU that your mechanic read the crash data from (which won't tell you how "serious" the accident was at all) could actually be from another car and was fitted as a replacement?

marksandsparx

Beetlefan wrote: »

Well I have never heard of a Scanner yet that can tell you that a car has been involved in an Accident! The Dealer told you the Car had been involved in an Accident so there is very little you can do I'm afraid!!

Dealer level scanners can tell you when and why (ie which sensors) have deployed any airbags etc.

cherryblossomchris

The dealer said 'minor accident'

The mechanic told us it had been written off and after further inspection, the welding is shoddy and the accident from what he can see was much more than minor

He didnt say cut and shut, its all the same car it just shouldnt be on the road

cherryblossomchris

The airbag sensor has been on since we bought it, we had several electrical issues with it shortly after purchase which we had resolved by the dealer.

cherryblossomchris

KillerWatt wrote: »

Have you considered the option that the ECU that your mechanic read the crash data from (which won't tell you how "serious" the accident was at all) could actually be from another car and was fitted as a replacement?

Hes given the car a thorough going over, we cant sell any parts for scrap its that bad 'mechanically'

SteveJW

How does the mechanic know it has been written off
Anything worse than a
Category D - Repairable. Probably non-structural damage. May have been economic to repair, but insurer doesn't want to.
Should be recorded in the registration document, unless someone had a major accident and didn't go through an insurance company.
If it is as bad as you claim and you have witnesses to what was said when you purchased would think you have a claim against the seller
Contact Trading Standards, their advice is free