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Sold motorbike - buyer now complaining?
bubblegum6000
Posts: 73 Forumite
Hello
I really need some help on where we stand on this please.
My husband recently sold his motorbike privately - 3 weeks ago the guy comes and views the bike takes it on a quick test drive and agrees he wants it on the condition we put it through its MOT.
The bike had been having battery problems as my husband hadn't ridden it for 2 years and it has simply been kept in storage.
So at the MOT we ask them to check the battery and wiring.
It passes the MOT with flying colours and they explain that the battery simply seems to be flat as wiring is all ok and after a quick charge even the battery was ok!
We explained all of the above to the purchaser who had the bike collected. On the day of collection the battery had gone flat again but we jump started it to double check and all was good!
Today 11 days later we receive a message about how awful we are and that the bike is awful and how could we sell it in such a poor condition! We are gutted as we didnt know anything was wrong and also scared that we will be taken to a small claims court!
Firstly can they sue us?
Secondly can we be made to repay the amount? All the money we got for it us to pay for a new head gasket on my car so really cannot afford to repay it! We literally only sold it because we needed the mpney and it was sat in storage! My husband really wanted to get it back on the road next year!
Any advice would be gratefully received, thanks in advance!
Ps we are trying to get more info on what is actually wrong but dont want to phone so are waiting for a response to a text!
I really need some help on where we stand on this please.
My husband recently sold his motorbike privately - 3 weeks ago the guy comes and views the bike takes it on a quick test drive and agrees he wants it on the condition we put it through its MOT.
The bike had been having battery problems as my husband hadn't ridden it for 2 years and it has simply been kept in storage.
So at the MOT we ask them to check the battery and wiring.
It passes the MOT with flying colours and they explain that the battery simply seems to be flat as wiring is all ok and after a quick charge even the battery was ok!
We explained all of the above to the purchaser who had the bike collected. On the day of collection the battery had gone flat again but we jump started it to double check and all was good!
Today 11 days later we receive a message about how awful we are and that the bike is awful and how could we sell it in such a poor condition! We are gutted as we didnt know anything was wrong and also scared that we will be taken to a small claims court!
Firstly can they sue us?
Secondly can we be made to repay the amount? All the money we got for it us to pay for a new head gasket on my car so really cannot afford to repay it! We literally only sold it because we needed the mpney and it was sat in storage! My husband really wanted to get it back on the road next year!
Any advice would be gratefully received, thanks in advance!
Ps we are trying to get more info on what is actually wrong but dont want to phone so are waiting for a response to a text!
0
Comments
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Ignore the buyer. He was advised about the bike's condition, about the battery status, and he took it for a test ride. He decided to buy after all this information.
If he took you to court (of course he can - anyone can take anyone to court) he would lose. He won't do it - he's bluffing.
Caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies for private sales.0 -
Yes, he can sue you. He pays his money and takes the risk. He won't win though. The battery is wrecked it just needs replacing. A £30 cost, so hardly a major issue.0
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Thank you so much for tha advice! He has just text back saying the battery is the problem and that we need to sort it asap and how could we do this!
I am tempted to ignore him - we were 100% honest about the battery and that the bike had been stored!
If he had been nicer about it I may have offered because as you say they are not expensive but we already knocked £200 off the bike for a quick sale!
Would you suggest that we respond and say sorry we did make you aware of the battery issues/not our problem. Or just ignore him?
Thank you so much -we have had an awful 3 weeks first my car, then we were burgled and then this - you have finally made me stop crying this evening!0 -
Ignore him completely. Don't enter into any communication with him at all. He has absolutely no comeback on you. You made him awzre of the battery and he bought the bike on that basis.
He has no grounds whatsoever to sue you.Eat vegetables and fear no creditors, rather than eat duck and hide.0 -
Thank you - we will just ignore the last message and hope that he realises that it isn't our problem! Thanks again everyone :-)0
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