Where do we stand? Used car buyer not happy.

Crisp_£_note

:mad: Husband bought a vehicle last weekend all seemed ok on paper and on initial viewing but over this past week first impressions have now not been the correct choice and he thinks he might have walked away if he had realised. We travelled some distance to view the vehicle so it really was a buy there and then or lose out kind of deal. The seller offered us a discount for the cam-belt which needs replacing so took this off the selling price. The seller had wanted a deposit before viewing (apparently he had several viewings and several people who were interested and was waiting for a callback from someone, obviously that didn't happen) but we refused to pay this. He was a trader advertising on a well known auction site but when we contacted him outside of the auction site he kept changing the details of where to meet up - especially on our way there which ended up being at a residential property. Although he had the keys to the house if that makes any difference (could be his mates place).

Now this vehicle supposedly had a full new MOT but has got major structural issues where it should clearly not have passed. We are getting them repaired next week.

Also in the ad for the vehicle it was stated it had a service 6 months ago which is also clearly not the case.

Huge error was we didn't get / were not offered a receipt!

Can anyone please advice what we can do? Husband would like to contact the seller to complain but is this the right choice as he doesn't want to lose the vehicle as he has just sent the log book off to DVLA?

Is there a new law to protect second hand car buyers?

The car is a Land Rover Discovery.

Any helpful advice on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks! :

bigjl

Where the rust is located is significant.

Sometimes significant rust is not considered structural for MOT purposes.

If it is a private sale then you could approach VOSA incase the MOT is dodgy.

If you bought from a dealer then you need to give them a chance to out things right.

Whether that be by returning the car to them. Or them giving permission for you to have it done by a garage near you and they lay the bill, after agreeing the work.

But the price paid and vehicle age is relevant.

For example a £600 Disco 1 is unlikely to be rust free.

If it is £12k worth of low mileage Disco 3 the expectations are different.

Crisp_£_note

bigjl thanks very much.

Re the rust - It is part of the rear anti-roll-bar mounting bracket that attaches to the chassis.

One of the rear axle beams is also heavily corroded.

The garage said "how the did that pass"?!

We aren't quite sure which Disco. it is but it is an L reg 1994. 230K milage with full LR service history up to 2011 (if what is written is believable under the current circumstances) paid £1,250 after the discount for the Cam-belt.

Thanks again.

Mark_Mark

That car sounds at the end of its life.

Can you evidence he is a trader?

Nodding_Donkey

A 20 year old Disco will either have significant rust or have already had the welding done. Mind you, for that money I would have expected it to already had the usual rust spots repaired.

arcon5

20 year car with significant mileage on the clock at banger price - and it has rust? There's a surprise.

You could take it to a council mot testing station or somewhere like weonlymot for a more impartial inspection . But buying a car like this carries significant risks of significant wear and tear - should have had it inspected before buying

topdaddy_2

Tweleve hundred quid!!!!!!!
with that age disco you will need to learn to weld. Id say thats 6-800 quids worth of motor at best.



....just re read thats a discount price too.

Joe_Horner

How recent was the MOT? For structural issues, if it was within the last 3 months then contact VOSA BEFORE having it repaired and arrange for them to retest it. They will NOT charge you for this.

If repairs have been done / started they may still be interested to know about it but they won't be able to take any official action against the test station or give any official verdict on the car.

Having a VOSA report saying it shouldn't have passed is very good evidence if this ends up in court. It also leaves the seller open to criminal charges for selling an unroadworthy vehicle, which gives you far more leverage to get it sorted

This is a separate issue from SOGA etc so you don't need to let the seller anywhere near it first regardless of whether they're a trader or private.

Crisp_£_note

Thanks all for the help. I have relayed all the info to husband.

Netwizard

arcon5 wrote: »

20 year car with significant mileage on the clock at banger price - and it has rust? There's a surprise.

You could take it to a council mot testing station or somewhere like weonlymot for a more impartial inspection . But buying a car like this carries significant risks of significant wear and tear - should have had it inspected before buying

Agreed. It sounds a total shed. It is one of those situations, where in doubt, run away. The fact the seller used the old "Loads of people interested" line would ring alarm bells, and the fact that the seller kept changing the location to meet would have been the last straw to me.

Is there a link to the auction for the car?

forgotmyname

History upto 2011 so it may have been run on a shoestring since. I would have walked away.

Changed address where to meet. Again i would have walked.

I have a feeling his numbers may change when you start moaning. Get it inspected properly and see if the MOT was legit or not.

The issue is if you get them repaired then your probably just going to have to lump it and take it as a lesson.

If the MOT station is friendly with the seller then they may not want the vehicle being inspected by VOSA.