Scammed by used car dealership?

beakysian

I bought a 2006 Ford Focus last August with 45k, 10 service stamps and a clean MOT (no advisories). I presented it for MOT and service this week and the MOT work has just cost me £1000 at my regular independent garage (service was cancelled as that is every penny I have at the moment). A huge amount of work has been carried out on the rear suspension that was so heavily corroded that one part had snapped long ago and corroded itself back into position. This is not damage that has occurred during my ownership, it has clearly been in a deteriorating state for a long time.

My question is, do I have any come back against the place I bought it from? I had two small items fixed under the 3 month warranty it came with but have no additional cover on it. However, my feeling and my garage agree, is that the extent of the deterioration would have been very clear to the mechanics in the dealership's onsite workshop and that it has been deliberately omitted from the records as it didn't quite constitute a MOT failure.

Do I have a leg to stand on? It has left me very upset as my previous car was draining my income, I gambled and invested in something I hoped would be more reliable and I'm now even worse off.

Thanks for reading.

caprikid1

I think this is why the used car market is not the place to be in. The car is 10 years old and you bought it over six months ago.


Of course you have no recourse to the original dealership.


I suspect a snapped spring which is common at cars half that age.

Herzlos

Did you get it inspected by anyone at the time? Can you prove the damage was there when you bought it?

Is it a large chain or an independent garage?

If it's an independent with it's own MOT place, you've probably got no chance though you can always threaten to make the VOSA (I think?) aware of the MOT discrepancy.
With a larger chain, you may be able to get somewhere by complaining to the head office.

But you're talking about buying a car from a dealer that's probably worth under £1000, so your expectations should be appropriate - it's a 10 year old car with 10 year old problems.

arcon5

Snapped and corroded back together ? ?
What component was it ?

You never gave the dealership the opportunity to inspect, let alone put right so even if you had any rights they will be nonexistent now.

custardy

arcon5 wrote: »

Snapped and corroded back together ? ?
What component was it ?

You never gave the dealership the opportunity to inspect, let alone put right so even if you had any rights they will be nonexistent now.

Be interested to hear this myself!

beakysian

Herzlos wrote: »

Did you get it inspected by anyone at the time? Can you prove the damage was there when you bought it?

Is it a large chain or an independent garage?

If it's an independent with it's own MOT place, you've probably got no chance though you can always threaten to make the VOSA (I think?) aware of the MOT discrepancy.
With a larger chain, you may be able to get somewhere by complaining to the head office.

But you're talking about buying a car from a dealer that's probably worth under £1000, so your expectations should be appropriate - it's a 10 year old car with 10 year old problems.

It wasn't inspected at the time, my only proof the damage was already there would be my garage's say so (and common sense that such extensive corrosion can't take place over 6 months). It was an independent second hand company and I'm inclined to agree with you I'm unlikely to get anywhere.

arcon5 wrote: »

Snapped and corroded back together ? ?
What component was it ?

You never gave the dealership the opportunity to inspect, let alone put right so even if you had any rights they will be nonexistent now.

custardy wrote: »

Be interested to hear this myself!

caprikid1 had it in one - snapped spring.

Thanks for your feedback everyone.

rob7475

Were you having any problems with the car before you took if for the MOT?

Are you 100% sure it's not the garage ripping you off rather than the dealer? I've never heard of something snapping, then the rust welding it back together.

For MOT's, I'd always take a car to a place that only does MOT's - they have nothing to gain by failing your car as they don't carry out any repairs.

beakysian

rob7475 wrote: »

Were you having any problems with the car before you took if for the MOT?

Are you 100% sure it's not the garage ripping you off rather than the dealer? I've never heard of something snapping, then the rust welding it back together.

For MOT's, I'd always take a car to a place that only does MOT's - they have nothing to gain by failing your car as they don't carry out any repairs.

I wasn't aware of any problems before taking it in, I expected a few bits and bobs to probably arise. Sadly there is nowhere within 60 miles of me that only does MOTs (council depot etc) so I have to put my faith in regular con artists...

BeenThroughItAll

There is almost no likelihood that a snapped spring could corrode itself back together. Think about what a spring does - it's constantly moving, vibrating, extending and compressing. No way a temporary rust-weld would last five minutes, let alone six months.


Basically, you've had a rear spring snap. Happens all the time, I've replaced at least seven or eight coil springs, both from front and rear, on a number of vehicles I've owned or looked after in the last decade.


I suspect 'regular trustworthy garage' bloke has simply spun a line to justify the extensive work they've charged for. For a £1000 to be spent on ten year old Focus rear suspension they must have changed virtually every component. Post a breakdown from the invoice of what they've done and we'll be able to tell you whether it's fair.

debtdebt

Snapped spring six months into ownership. Good luck in proving it was there at the point of purchase. It's more likely than not it happened AFTER purchase.

"it didn't quite constitute a MOT failure" - There you go. Roadworthy at the point of previous MOT.

Hoof_Hearted

I think the general opinion is that you will have to swallow this.