Private car sale - buyer unhappy.

BlackyPFC

So, first post on here, hope you can help put my mind at ease.

I sold my Clio 5 days ago online. I reduced the price from £500 to £450 after negotiating with the buyer. I sold to a 22 year old girl who I believe it was her 2nd car as she mentioned in text messages that she had crashed her first one.

She went ahead and insured the car before i could even tell her where the car was located to cone view it. I thought this was odd but if she wasnt bothered about viewing it, well that is up to her. She taxed the car prior to arriving to pick the vehicle up.

She paid in cash, a reciept was written including sold as seen. Which we both signed. We both have a copy.

The advert for the car stated that the wing mirror cover was broken and that the car although it has 8 months MOT, it did have advisories. (I didnt specify, however the certificate was in the car should she wish to view it.)

Anyway, so the car is sold and a day later I recieve a message saying that there are advisories on the car and did I know about them. I obviously said yes and stated that the advert said there were advisories, however she never asked me what they were. She never replied to this message although my phone tells me she read it.

4 days pass and i think thats the end of it.

Tonight I recieve this message:

The car u sold me j have had nothing but problems with it, the gears won't work properly won't go into reverse now or first gear I would like some money back to get it sorted as it's unsafe for my daughter

So I have replied with this:

Evening,

I can assure you that the car had no problems with the gears when it was sold to you. In order to get it onto the driveway it had to be reversed. In order for you to drive the car away you would have had to have put the car into first gear. You purchased the car 5 days ago, and only now you are reporting issues with it. I do not know how you have been driving the car and the standard of your driving. The car was sold as seen, which is stated on the reciept that you signed. You could have taken the car for a test drive when you arrived. However you decided to buy the car without even viewing it first. I understand that you are worried about your daughter however there were no issues with the gears when it was sold to you.

When buying a private car the responsibility is on the buyer to ask questions and check the car over if they wish.

The car was in a good state when sold to you. Has 8 months MOT. I reduced the price for you out of good will. I will not be refunding any money as I believe the money recieved was a fair price for the car.


So I just wanted to check where I am from a legal point of view, and also if anyone believes that I am beong unreasonable, if so why?

Many thanks

DB

AndyMc.....

As long as you were honest in the ad then it’s sold as seen and a case of buyer beware.

ess0two

Don't bother replying, seems the norm nowadays, most think sold privately it comes with a warranty.

Robby1988

You have absolutely nothing to worry about, it is their problem.

If the cars packed in on them now, then thats just a risk you take when you buy cars privately without even a viewing.

It’s a £450 car, I’d expect some niggles anyway myself..

fishybusiness

Re MOT advisories, any potential buyer can look them up online via MOT History search.

There is no need to have the paper copies to hand, buyers responsibility to do their homework.

caprikid1

"You have absolutely nothing to worry about, it is their problem."


Not strictly true, there have been cases on here where the buyer of a private car has taken the seller to court.


But....


If it is as described and not dangerous at the point of sale then a private buyer has minimal come back.


Given that there is a general principle of a "Car describes itself", then a £450 Corsa is a cheap run around that may last a week or may last 4 years. It is an old car at the end of its cycle and you should expect maintenance. If the car was a 6 month old BMW then it could be a different matter if you also described it as perfect, faultless etc.


As mentioned ignore.

AdrianC

It's a £450 car, bought unseen... What on earth do they want or expect?

I know what they wouldn't be getting from me... Any replies to their messages at all.

LandyAndy

BlackyPFC wrote: »

The car was in a good state when sold to you. Has 8 months MOT. I reduced the price for you out of good will. I will not be refunding any money as I believe the money recieved was a fair price for the car.

Not sure I'd have written that but too late now.

missile

I would block their phone number

angrycrow

Can't Help thinking this was a young girl who crashed her car but did not qualify for a courtesy car due to limited time Since passing her test. She has bought the cheapest car locally to keep her mobile whilst hers was repaired and she is now trying to get her money back. She would not be the first to pull this scam.

Robisere

You have no further responsibilty towards this buyer. You have done everything you can to advise of problems with the car at time of sale. Your letter is a model of the correct response. The buyer has no legal right to ask for any form of refund.

Make no more responses to any further correspondence from the buyer or anyone else in connection with the sale. Keep any such correspondence you receive, but do not reply to it. If they call you, refuse to have a conversation, just say that your final response was in the letter you sent, and end the call.