Bought faulty car from trader on autotradr

motorguy

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

Reasonable, maybe? Question is, if you hadn't noticed it now, and hadn't complained, would he had given you your money back next winter when you turned it on?

So the traders doing the right thing, yet you're making him look unreasonable because in six months time if you spotted the fault he might not give you your money back?

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

Also brings up the question, if it's only worth repairing for the price of a second hand screen, will he scrap it, sell it on at auction, or back on the forecourt, and see if the next customer brings it back or decides not to complain if they even notice?

Speaking as an ex trader, he will have the following options :-

(a) point it out to any prospective future buyer in advance and advise that the screen isnt working. It wont bother a lot of people, if the price is right and the car otherwise suits.

(b) he'll not scrap a 2006 car worth several thousand. That would not be good business practice.

(c) He would be very foolish to put it back on a forecourt and say nothing. It will be painful for his cashflow and too much hassle to repeatedly sell a car and risk it coming back time and time again.

(d) he could dispose of it to another trader.

(e) he could sell it at auction.

(f) he could complete the repair subsequently using used or new parts, at his leisure. Then resell the car when hes happy its working.

(g) he could keep the car as a runner or loaner.

fivetide

sharp910sh wrote: »

Please don't fill up my thread with rubbish. Well the car is at the mechanic they can fix the steering. They cannot fix the heated windscreen. He said he will try source a second and windscreen (not possible) or give me the money back for the car.

So it seems like he is being reasonable.

Speaking of reasonable - what store do you play by a heated screen? You've not had one before and if the rest of the car is sound and you are happy with it why not keep it? The next car could be a right lemon.


You never know, a rock might hit that same screen tomorrow requiring a replacement so it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me. Besides, you never said if it was just a few elements not working or the whole screen...

sharp910sh

fivetide wrote: »

Speaking of reasonable - what store do you play by a heated screen? You've not had one before and if the rest of the car is sound and you are happy with it why not keep it? The next car could be a right lemon.


You never know, a rock might hit that same screen tomorrow requiring a replacement so it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me. Besides, you never said if it was just a few elements not working or the whole screen...

He advertised it with a heated windscreen and was bragging how amazing the car was as it had one. Yes it doesn't work. Only 3 elements on the screen work. No good. I bought the car with it as I knew it was a good feature, rather than having to sit there for 10 minutes with the Blower on.

Anyways, so I get the car back. The steering is still isn't working properly. And obviously he didn't repair the heated windscreen. And there is a massive Bulge in the tire. I decided to just request for my money back and just guy something else.

I hope he accepts the to give me my money back. He kept going on to me a bit how're has an another buyer. There aren't many ford fiesta available for 3k in South London. I guess ill wait his response.

sharp910sh

Just to update. I called he seller. He said he will not give me my money. ( As expected).

He says I should get a third party to look at the steering problem. I will do this. He also says he will get a new windscreen after he is back on holiday. I do not believe he will do this as it will cost him a lot of money to do.

There is also a large bulge in the tire, which needs replacing as its dangerous to drive. I will have to put on my spare tire for the time being.

If he doesn't fix the problems and change the windscreen, is my only option to go to the small claims court? How easy (or hard) is this?

nobbysn*ts

sharp910sh wrote: »

Just to update. I called he seller. He said he will not give me my money. ( As expected).

He says I should get a third party to look at the steering problem. I will do this. He also says he will get a new windscreen after he is back on holiday. I do not believe he will do this as it will cost him a lot of money to do.

There is also a large bulge in the tire, which needs replacing as its dangerous to drive. I will have to put on my spare tire for the time being.

If he doesn't fix the problems and change the windscreen, is my only option to go to the small claims court? How easy (or hard) is this?

Sorry to hear it, but it's also worth a talk to trading standards first, and see if it's yet another trader they're building up a dossier on. Might even be able to get a prosecution for the illegal tyre, if they're lucky, although no doubt he'll try to claim you did it.

sharp910sh

My plan is to find out the problems with the car. I just found out the spare wheel is no use. its the wrong size. So i will write a letter and tell him i want zyx fixed or threaten him with court action.

arcon5

Finding problems on an 8 year old car ...

Shouldn't be difficult with the amount of wear and tear it's been subject to

Should have been done before buying it


Frankly you sound like a nightmare customer with unrealistic expectations !! Should have checked the spare wheel before buying. Doubt you'll have any comeback now on it unless it was advertised with such


Small claims court is easy, but a lengthy process. Can take 2+ moths to get there.
Don't expect though you'll just be able to list of dyz and it'll be easy days if he defends any action on the grounds the goods are not faulty but subject to wear as with any used goods. Then if he shows the judge he offered to fix abc which he believes are the only faults.

If he says the tyre was fine then it's 50:50 which way that will go as it's entirely plausible you've hit a curb or something and caused it.

I wouldn't be getting his back up too much at this point. He's hardly been unreasonable so far.

Not sure why people are demonising him at this point !

sharp910sh

arcon5 wrote: »

Finding problems on an 8 year old car ...

Shouldn't be difficult with the amount of wear and tear it's been subject to

Should have been done before buying it


Frankly you sound like a nightmare customer with unrealistic expectations !! Should have checked the spare wheel before buying. Doubt you'll have any comeback now on it unless it was advertised with such


Small claims court is easy, but a lengthy process. Can take 2+ moths to get there.
Don't expect though you'll just be able to list of dyz and it'll be easy days if he defends any action on the grounds the goods are not faulty but subject to wear as with any used goods. Then if he shows the judge he offered to fix abc which he believes are the only faults.

If he says the tyre was fine then it's 50:50 which way that will go as it's entirely plausible you've hit a curb or something and caused it.

I wouldn't be getting his back up too much at this point. He's hardly been unreasonable so far.

Not sure why people are demonising him at this point !

He is not being reasonable, he said he will pay for a used tire but he hasn't. He says he will replace the windscreen with a heated one but he hasn't. If I go to the small claims court I know I can win on the heated windscreen. If he says he will fix the car he must. He can say what he likes he needs to put it into action. Unless he does that my only option is to go to court.

I had a 10year old ford fiesta and it didn't have these problems. So age doesnt mean a thing. Good thing I know where he lives.

motorguy

sharp910sh wrote: »

He is not being reasonable, he said he will pay for a used tire but he hasn't. He says he will replace the windscreen with a heated one but he hasn't. If I go to the small claims court I know I can win on the heated windscreen. If he says he will fix the car he must. He can say what he likes he needs to put it into action. Unless he does that my only option is to go to court.

I had a 10year old ford fiesta and it didn't have these problems. So age doesnt mean a thing. Good thing I know where he lives.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4935463

motorguy

sharp910sh wrote: »

He is not being reasonable, he said he will pay for a used tire but he hasn't. He says he will replace the windscreen with a heated one but he hasn't. If I go to the small claims court I know I can win on the heated windscreen. If he says he will fix the car he must. He can say what he likes he needs to put it into action. Unless he does that my only option is to go to court.

I had a 10year old ford fiesta and it didn't have these problems. So age doesnt mean a thing. Good thing I know where he lives.

Sorry to hear the dealer hasnt sorted this yet.

I dont think its a good idea to "threaten" the trader, that just entrenches the situation, though i can understand your frustration.

I would be inclined to contact Consumer Direct and get their advice on handling it.