What can you do to make dodgy car dealer pay?

AmandaPrs

Please help

I bought a car 10 months ago from car dealer in London.
The car broke down after 6 weeks and I have returned the car to the garage for repair, which dealer failed to do till today. I went through all procedure including customer direct, trading standards and and Small Claims Court. I won the case and Judgement was ordered for dealer to pay.
Now the problems starts because dealer changed name but still trading in the same place under different company name set on someone else.
Is it really that easy for them to get away with it?


What can I do to make them pay?
I'm begging for any ideas.

forgotmyname

Some nice stickers in the window and park it outside?

Be careful though because the new owner (name on the paperwork) may want to take
you to court for defamation or slander etc..

If they had no assets then nothing you can do really.

molerat

AmandaPrs wrote: »

................
Is it really that easy for them to get away with it? yes it is


What can I do to make them pay? nothing
I'm begging for any ideas.

The judgement was against a company and that company does not exist anymore. They won't have any assets anyway apart from a desk and PC, they probably don't own the cars on the forecourt as they will belong to a finance company.

It amazes me why it is ok on these forums for joe public to not pay their debts but when a trader does it they are crooks

poppasmurf_bewdley

AmandaPrs wrote: »

Please help

I bought a car 10 months ago from car dealer in London.
The car broke down after 6 weeks and I have returned the car to the garage for repair, which dealer failed to do till today. I went through all procedure including customer direct, trading standards and and Small Claims Court. I won the case and Judgement was ordered for dealer to pay.
Now the problems starts because dealer changed name but still trading in the same place under different company name set on someone else.
Is it really that easy for them to get away with it?


What can I do to make them pay?

Was the Company sued a Limited Company? If it was, then if it's no longer trading it will have gone into liquidation and had a meeting of creditors, etc. It will have had some assets (cars).

If it was a non-limited company, then those that run the company will be liable for the judgement and can be sued as individuals.

AmandaPrs

molerat wrote: »

The judgement was against a company and that company does not exist anymore. They won't have any assets anyway apart from a desk and PC, they probably don't own the cars on the forecourt as they will belong to a finance company.

It amazes me why it is ok on these forums for joe public to not pay their debts but when a trader does it they are crooks

They won't have any assets? Their yard is full of cars some of them worth over 10 grand.
Yes they are crooks and it has nothing to do with people with debts.

AmandaPrs

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Was the Company sued a Limited Company? If it was, then if it's no longer trading it will have gone into liquidation and had a meeting of creditors, etc. It will have had some assets (cars).

If it was a non-limited company, then those that run the company will be liable for the judgement and can be sued as individuals.

It was a limited company but I don't know if they closed it down. I found out after buying car they already been using 2 different company names, one for advertising other one for sale contract

poppasmurf_bewdley

Do this company advertise in local newspapers? If they do, it may be a good idea to have a word with the editor or chief reporter. Some newspapers will have a go at a rogue trader even if they advertise with them, and take the matter very seriously. Others won't. If there is more than one local newspaper, contact the one they DON'T advertise in - their staff will be only too willing to have a go at the opposition.

Failing that, then your local council's trading standards is the only sensible recourse. They could tackle the directors if they have blatantly disregarded trading rules and get them disbarred from running another company.

molerat

AmandaPrs wrote: »

They won't have any assets? Their yard is full of cars some of them worth over 10 grand.
Yes they are crooks and it has nothing to do with people with debts.

But they will not own them, the finance company does. How do you think a small dealer can hold so much stock value.

AmandaPrs

molerat wrote: »

But they will not own them, the finance company does. How do you think a small dealer can hold so much stock value.

There is no sign of any finance company on the sale contract so I would be really surprised if that is the case

rs65

AmandaPrs wrote: »

It was a limited company but I don't know if they closed it down. I found out after buying car they already been using 2 different company names, one for advertising other one for sale contract

Do a webcheck on https://www.companieshouse.gov.uk and you will find out if they still exist.

AmandaPrs

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Do this company advertise in local newspapers? If they do, it may be a good idea to have a word with the editor or chief reporter. Some newspapers will have a go at a rogue trader even if they advertise with them, and take the matter very seriously. Others won't. If there is more than one local newspaper, contact the one they DON'T advertise in - their staff will be only too willing to have a go at the opposition.

Failing that, then your local council's trading standards is the only sensible recourse. They could tackle the directors if they have blatantly disregarded trading rules and get them disbarred from running another company.

Thanks for that. That is a great idea.:T I have already put info on the internet now is time for local newspapers.