Consumer rights for trader vs private sellers

hoolahoop

Hi

Hoping someone has experience or knowledge about these things! I bought a second hand car privately a couple of weeks ago. It ran fine during the test drive and we had a look at the key things to check engine wise etc, all seemed fine.

A couple of days after getting it I noticed a rattling underneath the drivers seat.. turns out the car is completely rusted on the inside, I've just paid for the brake discs and 3 coil springs to be replaced. That's just to get it roadworthy - it's only a matter of time until various other bits go too!

The guy who sold it to me listed it on autotrader privately, yet mentioned he sells 2 or 3 cars a month on behalf of a friend who runs a sales room. This car had been taken as part exchange.

I realise it was 'sold as seen' and I have very few rights given it was a private sale. However, I can't let it drop as I'm scraping by as it is and cannot afford to lose the money I spent on it. The fact that the guy confessed to it being a sideline for him surely means he should have listed it as a trade sale on the advert? Maybe that's naive of me and there is a loophole, but it's a loophole that has a lot of implications for people like me who get screwed over!

I'd be very grateful for any views on this and will be looking into what I can do next. He did mention where he works so a rant-filled visit there is my final option!!

macman

A trader must sell a vehicle that is road legal and as described. If it has faults then you can reject it in the first month under CRA, or beyond that he can repair or refund you.
Unfortunately you appear to have taken it elsewhere for repairs to be done without any contact with the vendor, so your chance of him offering to pay for repairs or take it back is now next to none.
Of course other bits will fail in time, it's a secondhand car. Give us some context: make/model, year, mileage, price? When was it last MOT'd and serviced? How did he describe it's condition and what questions did you ask about it?
If he is posing a a private seller then you should report him as such.

caprikid1

Out of interest, what is the age and mileage of the car and price paid.

MovingForwards

If it has a (long ) MOT and you think it shouldnt have passed report it to VOSA who may take your car to check it over and you risk losing the car and MOT.

Did you test drive it and have a good look over it (or have some one else look over it) before buying?