Faulty car repair refund

stigseviltwin

Hi all first post here so please be gentle. Just to add some background on my knowledge here i work in procurement and have studied contract law etc but I'm extremely rusty after so long hence asking for some advice.

The garage I use for repairs effectively told me my old car was dead so I get rid of it. They then phone telling me that a customer is selling a vehicle and would I be interested in having a look. I did so and noticed a few issues with it. My main issue with the car is that it had lpg fuel installed and it didn't have any fuel in it to test. I asked for them to confirm from the seller if it worked and still do not know to this day if the seller ever existed or what went on with that side of it. In any case I stupidly took the car after myself and my partner were assured this is a car they have worked on for many years and it would be faultless and a good buy. The car was going to require an mot shortly and after being told it didn't need much prior to sale I asked them to get what was expected to be a small amount of work done. Not the case, the car ended up needing £350 repairs on top of the £500 paid for the car. The money for the car was paid to the garage by credit card as well as repairs. Having used the garage for a number of years I didn't mind paying the £350 for repairs on what I expected to be a car that would do me for at least a year. I completely trusted the garages opinion I had no reason to do otherwise, barely inspected it only took it for a short 1 mile run, that much trust. In any case I'd expect buying from a garage they should have had much better knowledge than me regarding it certainly.

I collected the car on Tuesday 28th February after paying to tax and insure the vehicle.

I drove it to a local station that stocked lpg and proceeded to put fuel in the car. As I put the pump in I heard a crack and then gas began leaking from the car at a high rate. The whole area had to be evacuated and I had to wait 2-3 hours whilst the fire brigade assessed the areas gas levels etc and eventually deemed the car safe to move.

I of course contacted the garage immediately who agreed to collect the car and gave me cash for the vehicle before I even got it home. I've agreed they take back the car and I currently have it insured and taxed in my name.

I contacted them the day after and told them that I would like a refund for the repair work that was carried out in relation to the vehicle as I would not be gaining any benefit from the repairs with them now being in possession of the vehicle. They have agreed to do that but asked for a week to sell the car which I have agreed to, I've actually gave them slightly more than a week to ensure I'm being reasonable.

I'm just trying to at this point prepare myself for the possibility that they may not give this money back to me next week and start coming up with excuses.

I'm seriously out of pocket even after I get the repair cost they still owe me, 2 months tax at £40 for a car I used for less than an hour, £65 to change my insurance and around £50 in lpg and petrol that I'm never going to get to use. I've also lost a days work sick as I had some effects from gas sore head tight lungs etc but well checked at a and e and given the all clear.

Next steps for me in my head where if no payment try and take it through the credit card company although I'm unsure how much they will be willing to help.

Or send them a letter and then take it to the small claims court. If I was to take it that far I'd like to claim for the losses I've made as well. Currently until they give me the cost of the repairs back I'm down far too much to be able to go out and buy another car so I'm not wanting to mess around if the worst comes to it.

Could somebody a little more in the know possibly advise if I'm on the right path with things like the liability and next steps in dealing with this? Thanks in advance

Chrs

davidwood123

Sorry, is this about a £500 car?

stigseviltwin

This is about a £500 car and £350 repairs yes is that an issue?

waamo

Just to be clear it reads like you paid £350 to have it fixed before you ever had the car. Is this right?

davidwood123

Yes. It's a used vehicle and things go wrong. By your description the tank cracked on your watch. Not before. They refunded you the cost of the vehicle and said they would refund you the cost of the repairs.

stigseviltwin

That's right yes. I asked them to carry out the work, didn't expect it to cost so much but didn't mind as their usually really good. Didn't expect to be dealing with a dodgy LPG tank a few hours later

stigseviltwin

Sorry, just to clarify I'm not disputing the fact that they are going to put things right. But hypothetically speaking if they didn't what's the next course of action??

davidwood123

Well the £350 worth of repairs were made to it to get it through the MOT and be roadworthy.
As it was your car it is your responsibility to have a roadworthy vehicle and you gave them the go ahead to do said repairs.

stigseviltwin

David, the vehicle was considered in a roadworthy condition by them,better than roadworthy 'excellent' it did have a current MOT and I asked them to put a new one on obviously not expecting that level of repairs being needed due to them saying it wouldn't. as previously said it was sold to me as a car that would do many miles etc, they now have the car and I've paid for the repairs so no benefit to me so why should I pay for it?

With the greatest of respect do you have some kind of expertise to add to this or advice or do you just want to pick through the comments made for irregularities rather than actually trying to help resolve the issue with me.

All your other posts on the forums seem to take this kind of tone if you've nothing helpful to add please don't waste my time

davidwood123

Fair enough. And next time, spend more than scrap money on a car or lower you expectations

stigseviltwin

Don't you worry about that david I will do. I've got enough money sitting in the bank to buy about 8 £500 cars but I'm just about done saving for a deposit for my first home so maybe you shouldn't think the amount of money people are buying cars for is a direct relation to how well they are doing in life as you obviously do.

I came on this to look for some advice on how to resolve an issue I already know a bit about not for a life lesson on some of the actions I've taken in the past few weeks in relation to spending so as stated if you have some expertise to add please do if not please don't waste my time