Need advice pls

phoebe03cat

My daughter has just bought her first car from a private buyer...paid cash and bank transfer. Bought 9th June; as doing exams only drove it a few times. Appeared to now have wheel wobble and a sticky passenger seatbelt, neither of which were apparent on test drive. Also radio doesnt work..but we knew this at the time of course. Now realise probably all happened at time of knock.
Took car for wheel alignment today and dd has been told car has been in an accident. unable to align as front nearside cross member has been cracked..is out of line and badly re-welded. MOT guy was called over and very helpful. He says he wouldn't pass it and car is dangerous to drive. Car came with Mot dated April 6th 2012.
We are thinking of getting an engineers report and pictures done when we get this fixed at bodyshop to preserve as evidence.
Have been told today it is well worth doing as rest of car really good.
Basically we have been sold a vehicle that is dangerous to drive and should be able to prove it.
All suggestions welcome please.

Notmyrealname

Your only choice really is to lump it and fork out for repairs if you want to keep it or get a full engineers report and go through county court for a full refund.

Just as an aside, where did you take it for the wheel alignment? If its Kwik-Fit I'd take anything they say with a pinch of salt.

Tobster86

What sort of car is it?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

you knew about radio at time of purchase so scrap the idea of having the buyer for that one.

the crossmember can be dropped out and one had on fleabay (also known as a sub frame), or salvage yard, and is a few hours to fit, would recomend having it painted in underseal before fitment.

Tobster86

Need to know what car it is; some subframes/crossmembers are bolted on, others weld to the chassis. The fact that this one has a poor welding job suggests the latter.

phoebe03cat

Thanks for help..its a nissan micra by the way. Not worried at all about the radio as it would need replacing anyway. Have booked an aa engineers report for next week, which is the advise of citizens advice bureau. As they are neutral their report would be useful if we proceed to small claims. Will feel happier too with dd. in it.Looking through all the paperwork and work done (just about every receipt has been kept) its become obvious that any paperwork relating to the accident and repair has been removed, deliberately concealed. Short of putting the car on a ramp and shining an inspection lamp on it, weld and repair is simply not visible, but we are not professionals. Bottom line is we have been sold a car which we have now been advised is not safe to drive. We have probably put about x20 miles on it..most of it on the journey home. Thanks atrixblue ...looks like its fixable..have reported to trading standards too.

jaydeeuk1

Trading standards? To say what?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Trading standards? To say what?

this just might be not the first car this person has sold they would investigate if the name has cropped up a few times relating to the same thing in a short period. trader posing as a private seller to limit anyone rights.

phoebe03cat

oh dear..did a check on the mot we were given when we purchased ..in date 16th April and valid..but says there is a more recent test available. Managed to track it down..Dated 11/6/12..mileage ties up and car details. Again its passed BUT on the date of this test 11/6/12 the car was sitting on our drive!Bought 9/6/12. Have tried to ring vospa but shut till Monday.

s_b

phoebe03cat wrote: »

oh dear..did a check on the mot we were given when we purchased ..in date 16th April and valid..but says there is a more recent test available. Managed to track it down..Dated 11/6/12..mileage ties up and car details. Again its passed BUT on the date of this test 11/6/12 the car was sitting on our drive!Bought 9/6/12. Have tried to ring vospa but shut till Monday.

have you bought a ringer then?

lee678

contact the garage that tested the "second car" immediatley, the name will be on the report you looked at, is it local to where yours was tested ? is it local to where the car was sold from originally ? make the garage aware of potential fraud, that should close down one avenue for these sellers of erm, " micras"