My car has previous crash damage

koffee85

Hi,

I brought a Honda civic 1.8 on the 31st December 2013, from a reputable LTD garage. On the advertisement it said it was a CAT D, hence why it was so cheap.

After i done my research the damage was to both passengers side doors. So i proceeded with the purchase as the engine wasn’t damaged.

The insurers wrote it off in 2008.

2 weeks ago i had a little accident in the car and the driver’s side panel and the bumper needed replacing.
Once it got to an independent garage they took the bumper of and underneath is a shambles!!! The Chassis is broken, corroded and bent. There are household screws holding parts together and they were bits GLUED to the vehicle. The garage has advised that they cannot repair the damage i have done until the pre-existing damage is fixed. which will cost thousands.

I have written and emailed the garage asking for a full refund as it is not fit for purpose. But they are yet to reply.
I have also called my local CAB office who has also informed trading standards.

My worry is i will have to pay for the courtesy car i am driving now. And also what should be my next step with the garage???

I feel like im hitting my head against a brick wall and no-one wants me to advise me on what to do.:mad::mad::mad::(:(:(

burlington6

Sounds like you got exactly what you paid for. ''Buy cheap, buy twice''

tykesi

I brought a Honda civic 1.8

Where did you bring it?


I think you need to formally reject the car (which you may already have done with your letter/email) and wait for their repsonse. If you took legal cover provided with your insurance, it might be worth a phone call to them in the meantime?

Netwizard

burlington6 wrote: »

Sounds like you got exactly what you paid for. ''Buy cheap, but twice''

Exactly this. Always worth buying an inspection with cars like this before you buy.

I'm assuming it had an MOT when you bought it and they told you it was a CAT D, so i'm not sure what else can be done.

koffee85

tykesi wrote: »

Where did you bring it?


I think you need to formally reject the car (which you may already have done with your letter/email) and wait for their repsonse. If you took legal cover provided with your insurance, it might be worth a phone call to them in the meantime?

Yes i have told my insurers and they are no help as the legal cover only covers personal injury claims.

spacey2012

You have been very lucky not to be killed.
Cars are built these days with crumple zones, once crumpled and straightened out they are nowhere near as strong in the second event and your face now becomes the crumple zone.

koffee85

Netwizard wrote: »

Exactly this. Always worth buying an inspection with cars like this before you buy.

I'm assuming it had an MOT when you bought it and they told you it was a CAT D, so i'm not sure what else can be done.

Thank you.

Yes it had a MOT, and on the outside all looked fine. All the damage was behind the bumper so you couldnt see it.

The CAT D was issued in 2008 and since has had 2 owners the damage that is on the vehicle now is 6 or 7 months old.

Netwizard

I would be questioning the garage that carried out the MOT on how a car can pass with a corroded and broken chassis!

koffee85

Netwizard wrote: »

I would be questioning the garage that carried out the MOT on how a car can pass with a corroded and broken chassis!

I searched the MOT garage and all seems above board. I am upset that i lost my money but im more furious that they sold me a car that isnt even road worthy.
These people cannot get away with this. Its not fair to us consumers, who trusted them.

Quiet_Spark

Netwizard wrote: »

I would be questioning the garage that carried out the MOT on how a car can pass with a corroded and broken chassis!

The MOT tester isn't allowed to start taking the car apart, and in this case the damage was obscured from view by the bumper.

teabelly

Cat D is normally light damage but having read more then the newer the vehicle is the more damaged it will have been. If it was written off as Cat D when it was nearly new then it has suffered significant damage!

If you have home insurance check that as they often offer legal cover too.

Otherwise off to Citizen's Advice consumer advice line. The selling dealer advised it was Cat D but they didn't check whether the repairs were decent. Neither did you.

Accident repaired cars are cheap for a reason and this is one issue you can have with them.