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Dealer selling from home

Hi,

I am a part-time used car dealer selling from home.
I am honest about vehicles I sell and get any known problems fixed before I sell and offer test drives and welcome full inspections.

I recently sold a car to a family who spent about an hour inspecting the car including a test drive for about 10 minutes. The car in question was a 6 year old car that had covered in excess of 160k miles but had full service history.

A month after the sale, the gearbox went and the purchaser says Citizens Advice Bureau have advised them that the car was not safe and I am liable.

I disagree as the car was sold with a MOT and was perfectly safe, surely safety implies to things such as brakes, lights, tyres and seat belts. As for being fit for purpose, the car drove fine and as the low price reflected the high mileage I feel I have done nothing wrong.

Anyone had any similar experiences?
Am I liable to cover the costs of repair?
«13

Comments

  • Strider590
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    You can't be held responsible for something that you could not possibly have been aware of....

    If I bought a car and the gearbox went 4 weeks later, I wouldn't have the cheek to go blaming the seller. I mean if it was the cam belt and id been told "yes it's been changed", then id be kicking up a stink sure, but not the gearbox!

    How do they know it's gearbox anyway? what if it's something simple and the garage is taking the p1ss? Plus don't they have to offer you the chance to look at it and rectify a fault?
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

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  • How recently did you sell them the car?
    Thinking critically since 1996....
  • nomoneytoday
    nomoneytoday Posts: 4,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you're a dealer then you're potentially liable. If it was a private sale then caveat emptor.
  • s_b
    s_b Posts: 4,464 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    cab know jack

    either pay for repairs
    repair it
    give them their money back less wear and tear charge (be reasonable )
    see them in court
    move
  • bla_bla1
    bla_bla1 Posts: 6 Forumite
    The car broke down a month after I sold it.

    Reading up on it, the regulations appear unclear when defining that I should, as a dealer, sell a reasonable car. Reasonable depends on factors such as age, mileage and price of car. I charged less then 2 3rds of the real value of the same car with less mileage. And the car was in a reasonable condition based on age and mileage.

    Surely for the gearbox to go on a car with 170,000 miles is not unreasonable and it is not something that could have been envisaged or known.
  • andygb
    andygb Posts: 14,635 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    bla_bla1 wrote: »
    The car broke down a month after I sold it.

    Reading up on it, the regulations appear unclear when defining that I should, as a dealer, sell a reasonable car. Reasonable depends on factors such as age, mileage and price of car. I charged less then 2 3rds of the real value of the same car with less mileage. And the car was in a reasonable condition based on age and mileage.

    Surely for the gearbox to go on a car with 170,000 miles is not unreasonable and it is not something that could have been envisaged or known.

    This is quite interesting, because I would have thought that with any car with excess of 150K, it would be very difficult to get any comeback.
    If it went to court, I would be tempted to quote the new Vauxhall advert which claims a "lifetime guarantee" is for up to 100K.
    If a major dealer can get away with that, then why not a small car trader (not tring to insinuate that you are small in any way of course!;))
  • Woody._2
    Woody._2 Posts: 472 Forumite
    bla_bla1 wrote: »
    Hi,

    I am a part-time used car dealer selling from home.
    I am honest about vehicles I sell and get any known problems fixed before I sell and offer test drives and welcome full inspections.

    I recently sold a car to a family who spent about an hour inspecting the car including a test drive for about 10 minutes. The car in question was a 6 year old car that had covered in excess of 160k miles but had full service history.

    A month after the sale, the gearbox went and the purchaser says Citizens Advice Bureau have advised them that the car was not safe and I am liable.

    I disagree as the car was sold with a MOT and was perfectly safe, surely safety implies to things such as brakes, lights, tyres and seat belts. As for being fit for purpose, the car drove fine and as the low price reflected the high mileage I feel I have done nothing wrong.

    Anyone had any similar experiences?
    Am I liable to cover the costs of repair?
    bla_bla1 wrote: »
    The car broke down a month after I sold it.

    Reading up on it, the regulations appear unclear when defining that I should, as a dealer, sell a reasonable car. Reasonable depends on factors such as age, mileage and price of car. I charged less then 2 3rds of the real value of the same car with less mileage. And the car was in a reasonable condition based on age and mileage.

    Surely for the gearbox to go on a car with 170,000 miles is not unreasonable and it is not something that could have been envisaged or known.

    Typical back street trader.
  • Strider590
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    bla_bla1 wrote: »
    The car broke down a month after I sold it.

    Reading up on it, the regulations appear unclear when defining that I should, as a dealer, sell a reasonable car. Reasonable depends on factors such as age, mileage and price of car. I charged less then 2 3rds of the real value of the same car with less mileage. And the car was in a reasonable condition based on age and mileage.

    Surely for the gearbox to go on a car with 170,000 miles is not unreasonable and it is not something that could have been envisaged or known.

    Mine went at 70k in the Vectra..... Main output bearing collapsed, but it took around 4 weeks of gradually getting worse before it finally went.
    I doubt at 170k it was on the original box anyway!
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

    <><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/
  • bla_bla1
    bla_bla1 Posts: 6 Forumite
    Woody. wrote: »
    Typical back street trader.


    Read it carefully mate because 170k is actually in excess of 160k so my statement is wholly legitimate.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,175 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Are you a legit trader selling from home, or is it all on the side with the cash going in the back pocket?
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