Wrong item sent to me from America

Liambooth

Hi all, bit of a problem on my hands. I bought a car that was imported from America last year. The person who imported it managed to get it through an MOT over here, the MOT ran out last week so I've taken it to be tested and it's failed due to having illegal lights for driving in this country. The only place that sells them is a shop in the States. I decided to buy a pair and paid extra for shipping so they would arrive well within the 2 week period for having a free partial re-test on my car. They arrived today and it turns out they've sent me the wrong ones. I've spent most of the afternoon/evening trying to convince them that they've sent me the wrong lights and they've agreed to send me a set of the right ones out. The problem I have is that they aren't going to arrive within the 3-7 days from the initial order date and also after the 14 day period for a free re-test on my car so I'm going to have to splash out another £40 for a full MOT test. Also I've had the day off work so I could sign for them. The questions I have are;
- Can I claim the £40 for the MOT off them seeing as it's their fault that I'm having to pay for a full test again?
- Can I claim back any extra I paid for shipping so it arrived within a certain amount of time as they will have gone over that amount of time?
- Can I claim compensation for the day off work as I'm going to have to use another days annual leave up when the new set of lights turns up?
- Who pays for the return postage? It's cost me over $100 to have them shipped here and I don't want to be paying that out again for their error.
- Should I have to pay import tax and duties on the new lights that are sent to me?

Sorry if it's a bit long winded or if I've posted it in the wrong section.

Thanks

Liam

wealdroam

Liambooth wrote: »

Hi all, bit of a problem on my hands. I bought a car that was imported from America last year. The person who imported it managed to get it through an MOT over here, the MOT ran out last week so I've taken it to be tested and it's failed due to having illegal lights for driving in this country. The only place that sells them is a shop in the States. I decided to buy a pair and paid extra for shipping so they would arrive well within the 2 week period for having a free partial re-test on my car. They arrived today and it turns out they've sent me the wrong ones. I've spent most of the afternoon/evening trying to convince them that they've sent me the wrong lights and they've agreed to send me a set of the right ones out. The problem I have is that they aren't going to arrive within the 3-7 days from the initial order date and also after the 14 day period for a free re-test on my car so I'm going to have to splash out another £40 for a full MOT test. Also I've had the day off work so I could sign for them. The questions I have are;
- Can I claim the £40 for the MOT off them seeing as it's their fault that I'm having to pay for a full test again?
- Can I claim back any extra I paid for shipping so it arrived within a certain amount of time as they will have gone over that amount of time?
- Can I claim compensation for the day off work as I'm going to have to use another days annual leave up when the new set of lights turns up?
- Who pays for the return postage? It's cost me over $100 to have them shipped here and I don't want to be paying that out again for their error.

Sorry if it's a bit long winded or if I've posted it in the wrong section.

Thanks

Liam

I am not sure there are many people on this forum that will be able to help you.

The answers to all your questions depend on the laws in the USA, and in the particular state that the seller trades from.

Maybe The Better Business Bureau can help you.

Liambooth

Thanks for your response. I wasn't sure whether anyone would be able to help but it was worth a shot.

Thanks

Liam

forgotmyname

You can claim anything you like, but the chances of them paying is probably less than zero.

What car is it? Only sold in the US? then the lights will all be the same. Nothing you cannot fix yourself in an afternoon.

Liambooth

It's a 67 Mustang. From the factory they came with red rear indicators, they've got to be amber over here to get through an MOT. Not sure how it got through it's last one?

Thanks

Liam

[Deleted User]

Are you certain that amber rear indicators are actually available from your seller? I ask because you say it was hard to convince them that they'd sent the wrong item.

I also very much doubt you'll be receiving any recompense for your MOT, day off work, import duty or shipping.

usefulmale

You have taken on an almost 50-year-old foreign car and you are moaning about £100 or so in costs for something minor. What are you going to do if something major breaks? Can you really afford to run this car here?

Liambooth

Thanks for your responses. Sorry if I've got the wrong end of the stick but i thought this forum was about saving money? I only wanted to know if anyone had any idea what my rights were regarding the situation.

Yes they do sell Amber indicators, they're made specifically for UK/EU/AUS owners to make their car road legal. They also sell other sets which aren't legal over here but are in the States, and that's what I've been sent. Like I said before I just wanted to know what my rights are when a company sends me the wrong item. Regarding the comment about something major breaking, a lot of mechanics would struggle if they were sent the wrong parts.

Thanks

Liam

bod1467

Can you remove the covers and fit some temporary amber plastic sheeting to get the car through the MOT? Then either refit the red covers or wait until the correct amber ones are supplied.

agrinnall

Liambooth wrote: »

Thanks for your responses. Sorry if I've got the wrong end of the stick but i thought this forum was about saving money? I only wanted to know if anyone had any idea what my rights were regarding the situation.

It is. But you were told back at the start that your rights are whatever the applicable law/regulations in the USA allow, and as you haven't told us which state you purchased from there's no way anyone could be more specific than that. And having rights is not the same as being able to enforce them, I think the sellers will realise your predicament and they are very unlikely to do more than sending the correct lights. It's unlikely to be cost effective for you to pursue anything else beyond writing to them.

societys_child

I just wanted to know what my rights are when a company sends me the wrong item

Any rights you have under UK law, don't automatically extend to the good ole' US of A.