Sold my car. Buyer now wants refund or money for repairs

AVFC

I need some advice on what to do as I'm getting stressed out!

I sold my car on the 18th. 3 men came up from Bristol, spent 2 hours inspecting almost everything from the headlights to the clutch biting point. They pointed out the fact that when they started the car & it smelt of diesel. I'm no car expert and even my wifes diesel car smells funny first thing in the morning when I start it. The car passed its MOT with no advisories in October and its been parked for 6 weeks as I'm in the process of getting a company car & been using my wifes for local journeys.

They said the cars been damaged and repaired poorly when its never been in an accident. I purchased it last december from a garage. They also pin pointed out things like scuffs on the bumpers and the stereo fascia not being screwed back properly as I removed the bluetooth stereo. Despite all this, I knocked off nearly £400 for them and they took it, made a receipt for them and it was sold as seen. When I advertised it, I never mentioned that the car was in showroom condition. He asked me if it was mechanically sound and as far as I'm aware there was nothing wrong with it.

The following day I get a text from the buyer saying the car has a crack on the manifold which is why he can smell the diesel and he wants a refund or £250 back for repairs which will cost him £500. He has also accused me of lying and knowing about the fault.

He told me he was a 'mechanic by trade' so he should have checked it properly or brought a proper mechanic with him. He works for the RAC and should have brought their diagnostics kit to check it. If I was aware of this fault I would have never sold the car. He then said he will check if the MOT was genuine and I said by all means go ahead. He asked about the whereabouts of the MOT garage whilst checking the car & I would have happily taken him there. He travelled from Birmingham to Bristol with the car, had it for a whole 24 hours and the fault could have happened when he drove back. I didnt force him to buy it and he could have happily walked away, done more checks and come back.

I have already said to him that I will not give him a penny back and told him to stop harrasing me. He said he can see me on Friday to discuss this. I dont want to see him or want him texting me again. I'm worried now as I've never been in this situation before and its really stressing me out. I have a young family and he knows my address. Is there anything he can do?

Apologise for the essay

peter12345678910

First thing is to stop worrying. Why? Because it makes problems bigger.

So he is car knowledgeable and he did not see fault after a 2 hour inspection and you are not. He is just expressing an opinion. Wait see what he finds out when he visits the m.o.t garage.

AdrianC

AVFC wrote: »

They said the cars been damaged and repaired poorly when its never been in an accident. I purchased it last december from a garage.

So you don't actually know whether it's ever been damaged and repaired poorly?

The following day I get a text from the buyer saying the car has a crack on the manifold which is why he can smell the diesel

Complete cobblers.

If I was aware of this fault I would have never sold the car.

There is no fault. It's a scam.

I have already said to him that I will not give him a penny back and told him to stop harrasing me.

Is the right answer. Now stop replying to him. COMPLETELY stop. Do not reply to his texts. Do not answer his calls. If you get a call from him that you do answer, just hang up.

I have a young family and he knows my address. Is there anything he can do?

Legally? He could issue a court claim for the money. You would have a very strong defence.
Apart from that? Nothing he can do legally, no.
Of course, there's always the outside chance that he might turn up at 2am, break into your house, and murder you all in your sleep, but I don't think that's very likely. Do you?

bengalknights

I would tell him in sternest way "sold as seen"

AVFC

The car has never been damaged or involved in an accident whilst in my possession. When I brought it last December, it did not come up as a Cat C or Cat D vehicle and I continued with the purchase.

AdrianC

AVFC wrote: »

When I brought it last December, it did not come up as a Cat C or Cat D vehicle

Which doesn't mean it's never been damaged - it just means that no insurer has ever decided it was beyond economic repair.

Maybe it was bent, and the owner didn't claim.
Maybe it was bent, and an insurer sent it to a bad repairer.
Maybe it was never bent, and it's more bull.

But you do not know it was never bent.

mcpitman

As said previously, tell this person to "Go forth and multply" or words to that effect.

Sounds like a scam (awaits post about someone buying a car that has a dodgy manifold etc)

comeandgo

I would contact RAC and tell them you are being harassed by one of their employees, and give his name. I bet they will never have heard of him.

arcon5

2 hours? Unless it was a £20k car I'd have been hurrying him up after half hour. By an hour he'd be told to either walk away or drive away and to choose now.

If he turns up call the police

AVFC

If he goes through the court route I dont have money to pay for solicitors. Thats the thing which stresses me more. I can block all his incoming texts and calls on my phone but the last thing I want is a letter from the courts landing on my doorstep

Marktheshark

caveat Emptor is the legal defence and before anyone pulls up the thread where the woman lost in county court.
She admitted to the court she knowingly sold a faulty car in her defence.
Lets get that bit straight now.