Sold car privately, buyer wants me to pay for fixing it after couple of days later.

George_Michael

Poppy9 wrote: »

Can I ask why all the cars are registered in your name?

My wife use to change her car about once a year and although she liked getting a new vehicle, she disliked going to the garage and haggling over the price for the new vehicle and the trade in value.
Because of this, her cars were registered in my name as it made it a lot easier for me to do the dealing with the garages.

Don't forget that the name of the person on the registration document doesn't necessarily mean that the named person is the owner, simply that they are the registered keeper.

aurifere

I know that some factors like short ownership, or registered on my name can play against me now, but I never thought that I could have ever any problems because of that.
Also I am not a trader who is trying to sell cars as a private seller, I think it might be veryfied by checking for example how many cars I sold in last year. ( the answer is 2)

Poppy9 wrote: »

The OP does say when he bought the car a month earlier his mechanic inspected the car and found no faults so he should ask this mechanic for a written confirmation of this.

Thats good idea, I will try to get one next week, just hope he will agree to write one, cause it was quite long time ago when he's seen the car.

Poppy9

George_Michael wrote: »

My wife use to change her car about once a year and although she liked getting a new vehicle, she disliked going to the garage and haggling over the price for the new vehicle and the trade in value.

me too! I'm such a bargain hunter generally but when it comes to buying a car I dislike the haggling so I just view, test drive and then leave it to OH. He likes the mind games of walking away and waiting for them to ring you!

George_Michael wrote:

Because of this, her cars were registered in my name as it made it a lot easier for me to do the dealing with the garages.

OH uses it as a reason not to make the deal to get more wiggle because "he has to check with me/get me to sign"!

George_Micheal wrote:

Don't forget that the name of the person on the registration document doesn't necessarily mean that the named person is the owner, simply that they are the registered keeper.

I know that but it's about acknowledging that it's mine. No way would he register his car/bike in my name so why should I register my car in his name

Also what happens if registered keeper dies, can you simply register the car in your own name. How do you prove you own it?

jimjames

Poppy9 wrote: »

Can I ask why all the cars are registered in your name? Maybe I'm being over sensitive here but it sounds old fashioned like a kept woman. No way would my OH accept his car/motorbike being registered in my name as they are his, same my car is mine, so registered in my name.

I bought the cars, we both drive them. We have 2 cars that we use equally and I have another weekend car that is mainly used by me.

It was just the easiest option when I bought them that I signed the paperwork and had them in my name.

Homersimpson

I know it can be difficult not to worry but I don't think he is likely to succeed even if he takes you to court.


If the gearbox was ok when he bought it (which presumably it was during his test drive otherwise he wouldn't have bought it) then its a clear case of buyer beware.


Also the amount he paid for the car suggests its quite an old one and things do go wrong with old cars. Sadly it sounds like he has bought it just before something big has gone wrong.

jaydeeuk1

I always used to think the private seller would win in court, however that ebay caravan thread from a few years ago shows it doesn't always work out like that, and that buyer viewed it and towed it home before rejecting it. Shame it was deleted, reading through it might have given you some pointers on how to deal with it in court.

Robiati

I would be a bit careful about just responding with a ‘see you in court letter’.

I don’t think this guy has even half a case and he would be mad to take it to court – but the courts of full of people crazily determined to settle some score they have blown out of proportion.

I would certainly keep my response short and polite but I would address his points. If you do, on a slim chance, end up in a courtroom it will help to show that you have carefully and politely explained to this person why they are mistaken. A ‘see you in court’ letter could be seen as unreasonable if you haven’t given someone a chance to see why they are incorrect.

Here are the essential facts as I see them from your posts. These are what I would include in such a letter – no heat nor point scoring, just hard facts:

+ You experienced no leaks or gearbox malfunctions during your brief period of ownership of the vehicle in question.

+ You sold the car having originally purchased it for your wife who felt it was too big. There was no other reason for the sale whatsoever.

+ Since you do not feel qualified to evaluate cars, you had a mechanic check the car when you purchased it (about a month before the sale) and he found no cause for concern.

+ You advertised the car accurately and placed no restriction on how buyers could test the vehicle or have it tested by a professional [assuming this last bit is true and you did not refuse a request for a professional test – if any was made].

+ The buyer test drove the car for more than 11 miles. This is a lengthy test drive given that it is more than would be covered in an AA comprehensive vehicle check (ten miles) and twice that of the more basic AA vehicle check (5 miles).

+ You placed no restriction on the length or nature of the test [assuming this is true] and it was not, as has been suggested, restricted by available fuel. There was sufficient fuel in the vehicle at the end of the test to cover a further 40 miles [if I am reading this correctly].

+ The buyer was obviously satisfied with the car after the road test and after he had reviewed its service history. This must be the case as he proceeded to buy it and drive some 200 miles home.

+ It was then five days before the buyer contacted you with any complaint.

+ You sold the car as advertised having experienced no serious defects whatsoever.

+ The buyers claims against you are baseless and inaccurate and you will have no hesitation in defending your position in court.

That's it!

Best of luck.

rca779

How about an update from the OP - anymore happened?