Trying to claim back garage labour costs

tuffers286

I bought a new catalytic converter (CAT) on Ebay recently, paid with my credit card via PayPal.

A local garage fitted it as part of some MOT repairs, but found that the exhaust was faulty (it was blowing and so failed the emissions test). On contacting the supplier on Ebay, they arranged to send out a replacement which was then fitted at additional cost by the garage.

I am trying to claim back the additional labour costs, the Ebay seller said I needed to speak to their supplier directly. I did this, they said it shouldn't be a problem, but they won't deal with me directly, only via the Ebay seller.

So the faulty CAT was returned to the Ebay seller with a covering letter detailing the request for a refund over a month ago, and I've still not had a refund despite chasing the Ebay seller weekly (and now daily).

Can anyone tell me what my rights are in this situation?

I paid via credit card through PayPal for the CAT, and on my card for the garage costs, so can I get any refund from my card provider?

Can I claim the costs from the Ebay seller and leave it to them to recover the costs from their supplier?

To make matters worse, the replacement I was sent is also leaking, but not enough to fail the emissions test. I was planning to get that replaced too, but wanted to wait for this first issue to be sorted out before I tackle that!

wealdroam

tuffers286 wrote: »

Can I claim the costs from the Ebay seller and leave it to them to recover the costs from their supplier?

That is the right way to go about it... if the seller is a business.

You only need to deal with whoever sold the thing to you.

Have a read of MSE's Consumer Rights guide for detail.

You will also find their How To Complain document useful.

hollydays

Did you return it by a trackable service? Was it buy it now or auction( not sure if there is a difference here)

frugal_mike

hollydays wrote: »

Did you return it by a trackable service? Was it buy it now or auction( not sure if there is a difference here)

As far as I'm aware, being an auction sale removes the right of cancellation under the Distance Selling Regulations, but doesn't remove any obligation under the Sale of Goods Act.

Ebay confirm that in their surprisingly comprehensive round-up of the UK laws that apply to sellers on their site.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/safetycentre/rights.html?clk_rvr_id=556646849004

vaio

DRS doesn't cover consequential costs, it just gives you the right to return unused goods for a refund.

The OP has used SoG to get a replacement for faulty used (as in fitted) goods and now is seeking reimbursement of the labour costs of fitting the replacement

arcon5

hollydays wrote: »

Did you return it by a trackable service? Was it buy it now or auction( not sure if there is a difference here)

What does that matter now?

frugal_mike

vaio wrote: »

DRS doesn't cover consequential costs, it just gives you the right to return unused goods for a refund.

Yes I know, I wasn't suggesting DSR's should/could have been used here, just pointing out what implications there were if it was an eBay auction rather than Buy it Now

hollydays

arcon5 wrote: »

What does that matter now?

I missed the bit at the end about being sent a replacement