Bought a potential lemon at auction - advice?

Trouserdeagle

Hey folks,

I bought a car (52 plate Peugeot 307) at auction a couple of weeks ago for what seemed like the reasonable price of £550 (plus £65 indemnity charge by the auctioneers).

The car had 12 months MOT, but no tax, (which I promptly got the next day) and upon limited inspection - such as it is at auctions - everything appeared to be okay.

The hammer went down, I paid in full and provided the auctioneers with my details for the V5, which they filled in for me. At no point was I able to view the V5 prior to purchase, nor was I able to take the car for a test drive. In my naivete I assumed this was fairly standard.

The car started fine and aside from being a little noisy and declaring that the passenger side airbag was faulty, everything seemed okay.

After sitting in the drive for a couple of days, the time came to take it out for a proper run, and that was where the issues started to become apparent. Firstly, it absolutely refused to start, but rather just moaned and groaned as I turned they key. It did start, eventually, amidst a puff of white smoke. It still complained about the passenger airbag, and the windows refused to clear of condensation. Upon closer inspection, it seems that the A/C and ventilation has been tampered with in some way, such that the air is being routed through the glove box of all places, rather than the usual places. The sound proof wadding has also been removed from behind the dash/console and footwells, which results in a lot of noise in the cab.

Today, the V5 finally arrived, and written in the special notes section is "substantially repaired and/or accident damaged, identity checked on 07 03 2008". As the most recent owner before me didn't buy the car until April of 2012, I can't make any enquiries of them as to what happened to the car that would cause the insurance company to write it off.

I realise that an insurance write off isn't necessarily an indicator of a serious accident, which is why I'd like to find out what happened to it.

Basically, I'm just interested to see what my options are. Any advice is gratefully received.

Thanks,

Dave.

Oli.s

Im no expert but at auction as a private buyer I dont think you have any comeback at all, i'm also pretty sure that the you bid you buy attitude is taken, I wouldn't expect to be the winning bidder then get to test drive and inspect the car before decided to pay or not, its not the way auctions work in my experience. (which is limited in terms of motor auctions).

Have you tried googling the registration number, that may throw something up if your lucky.

Trouserdeagle

Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm aware of the "sold as seen" policy operated by this, and I assume most other, auction house, but you'd at least think that history of an insurance write off is something that should or at least would be declared at the point of sale.

Sure if a known fault is present, or a history that could potentially put a buyer at risk, this is information to which you should be made privvy before?

forgotmyname

If you dont know what your buying then the car auctions are not the place for you.

If your not happy stick it in next weeks auctions. Sorted.

Its a 10 year old £500 car. It may have serious safety issues not related to any accidents or repairs done previously.

Did you check the V5C before bidding? oops re-read your post you didnt. You can ask although they do seem to look at you in disgust when you ask.

Send off to swansea and pay the dee to trace previous owners.

But if your not sure just resell it.

vaio

general mechanical faults are down to you but I thought the indemnity fee means you can get your money back if the car has outstanding finance or has been written off and that fact wasn't disclosed in the auction description.

harveybobbles

Some cars do have air con outlets in the glove box - for cooling your butties etc.

Trouserdeagle

forgotmyname wrote: »

If you dont know what your buying then the car auctions are not the place for you.

If your not happy stick it in next weeks auctions. Sorted.

Its a 10 year old £500 car. It may have serious safety issues not related to any accidents or repairs done previously.

Did you check the V5C before bidding? oops re-read your post you didnt. You can ask although they do seem to look at you in disgust when you ask.

Send off to swansea and pay the dee to trace previous owners.

But if your not sure just resell it.

I'm well aware of what I'm buying at these places, as was the mechanic I had with me. The fact is, there's only so much you can tell with a visual inspection.

vaio wrote: »

general mechanical faults are down to you but I thought the indemnity fee means you can get your money back if the car has outstanding finance or has been written off and that fact wasn't disclosed in the auction description.

I was under that same impression. Otherwise, what's the indemnity fee for, if not as protection against withheld information?

harveybobbles wrote: »

Some cars do have air con outlets in the glove box - for cooling your butties etc.

Aye, right enough, but not to the detriment of the airflow elsewhere even when the airflow is set to only come out of the front demister, at full whack, it barely trickles up the windscreen and fairly blasts out of the glovebox.

Rolandtheroadie

For some reason I thought any Indemnity issues (that might be a bit wrong, might be major mechanical failure) had to be reported within 24 hours of the auction.

forgotmyname

If they didnt disclose it then you maybe in for a refund minus the indemnity fee.

Depends on the terms for the auction house you used. And if that differs for cheap cars.

steve-L

Never read the part on auctions but its in here and you can read as well as I can to repost....

http://www.oft.gov.uk/713560/publications/reports/consumer-protection/oft1241#.URnqcI4oyaA

worried_jim

Stick it back in the auction and get shot of it.