MSE News: Used car dealers draw biggest complaints 14 March 2013 at 10:38AM in Motoring 10 replies 2.3K views

Former_MSE_Helen

"Citizens Advice received 45,000 complaints about used cars bought from independent dealers in the year to Feb..."

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Used car dealers draw biggest complaints



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[Deleted User]

Hardly a surprise. It comes with the territory. :cool::(

colino

It's the second biggest purchase for most people and most have no expertise in the field yet wait until they've spent their hard cash before involving any outside specialist to investigate potential problems. At least in buying a house most lenders force a basic survey to make sure the property fulfils the basic requirements and 20% of buyers actually do a proper survey before making an informed buying decision.
If you don't know anything about cars, buy from an established, local trader and/or pay someone who has expertise to inspect your next potential car before you buy.

Pincher

What's to stop the dealer from swapping parts AFTER the AA man has done a report?

Somebody put a deposit down on a car with alloys,
and then when he went to collect, the wheels were steel.
Sure enough, no mention of alloys on the deposit documents.

Turbo, catalytic converter, how could you tell if they swapped it for one on its last legs?

motorguy

Pincher wrote: »

What's to stop the dealer from swapping parts AFTER the AA man has done a report?

Somebody put a deposit down on a car with alloys,
and then when he went to collect, the wheels were steel.
Sure enough, no mention of alloys on the deposit documents.

Turbo, catalytic converter, how could you tell if they swapped it for one on its last legs?

Stay away from the windows!! :eek:

They're watching you. Keep your tinfoil hat on at all times!

motorguy

Another news story about nothing really.

45,000 'complaints' and probably 3 million used cars sold a year.

Statistically its v low.

Weed out the people who think that £1,000 150K miles mondeo they bought should have the same warranty as a new car, and you could probably half that.

higda202

I disagree after a recent unpleasant experience with a local dealer. There seems to be a significant minority of second hand dealers exploiting the relative powerlessness of consumers with current regulations.

We are left with a faulty car that the dealer will not deal with, have complained to trading standards - who will probably give a warning at best. It is unlikely that small claims will be able to extract any money because the company he feeds the sale through is purpose built to be in bad financial state.

marlot

Pincher wrote: »

What's to stop the dealer from swapping parts AFTER the AA man has done a report?

Somebody put a deposit down on a car with alloys,
and then when he went to collect, the wheels were steel.
Sure enough, no mention of alloys on the deposit documents.

Turbo, catalytic converter, how could you tell if they swapped it for one on its last legs?

I had this happen to me once. A long time ago.

The seller was selling one minivan and keeping one. I checked it over on the Sunday, and returned on the Tuesday to pay and collect. In the meantime a few things had been swapped.

fivetide

Not a surprise to see our resident car dealer blaming the punter and defending the industry

Although, the point on old high mile stuff might be true... it's the dealers that are flogging this junk in the first place. Sales of older cars have been on the up in the last few years though, austerity bites and all that.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Motorguys posts are right, if people want a rock solid warranty and a perfect car go and get a new Toyota, otherwise there is always a risk.

A lot of the problem is buyers ignorance and bone idleness, they do no research on a potential vehicle and don't aquaint themselves with some mechanical knowledge or bother with employing an expert to check it out, then search out the cheapest deal and pat themselves on the back for screwing the price down till the pips squeak...then expect new car warranty standards.

Get real.

There is another problem, buyers want toys and electronic junk, the more the merrier...''i've got fully loaded not poverty spec''...guess what all that electronic rubbish goes wrong.
KISS.

arcon5

motorguy wrote: »

Another news story about nothing really.

45,000 'complaints' and probably 3 million used cars sold a year.

Statistically its v low.

Weed out the people who think that £1,000 150K miles mondeo they bought should have the same warranty as a new car, and you could probably half that.

Exactly this.

Too many people with the mentality, I bought the car 6 weeks ago, it shouldn't need work already! Or of course, it was MOTd when I bought it, so they shouldn't have sold it to me with a dodgy clutch! Forget the fact it's been running for 6-15 years in a lot of cases.