Getting a refund from private car sale for broken car

longylong

Hi

We recently purchased an automatic car from a private seller on Ebay.

We person who had the car listed was selling the car on behalf of a friend who we have had no direct contact with.

At the time of test driving the car all seemed fine and also drove home with no problems.
The day after we bought it home the gear box starts to play up by not going any higher than 3rd gear (the car has 4 gears). We've had the car looked at by a family friend mechanic who also sourced a second opinion and its going to be £1500 to fix which is slightly more than we bought the car for.

We have contacted the person who sold the car and is refusing to give us a refund and also refusing the give us the details of his friend who's car it was.

Does anyone please know if we have any case for a refund from the owner/seller? Can Ebay do anything?

Thanks in advance

forgotmyname

The friend may have been the name on the V5C??

Dont buy cars from people not registered on the V5C. It maybe a dodgy trader or a scammer.

Private sale that cars yours. You could try taking them to court for a refund. You may even win but getting your money back is another thing.

Their defence.. you inspected it and drove it and was happy enough to pay and drove it away.

Sub £1500 car so over 10 years old? Some repairs are to be expected.

longylong

Were not sure who's signature it was on the V5 as it was already signed when my wife signed. I was not present at the test drive or V5 signing as it was my Wife and Father in law.

Father in law has had a few conversations with the seller but he refused to give the details of the owner so I am now thinking that he is the owner and his friend/owner does not exist.

The car is over 10 years old but only has 20.000 miles on the clock. The story given was that it was shared between his friend and his friends mum who has since passed away, They drove very few miles in it and he is now selling it on behalf of his friend. The car has been in his garage unused for the last year.

My only hope is that he was not supposed to sell the car if he is not the owner of it.

I'm fully expecting it to be tough lesson learned on our behalf but just hoped that there was some small mistake he has made in selling it that I can hold against him.

forgotmyname

Its not about the signature its the name and address on the V5C. If the name and address don't match then your taking a big risk.

As I said it maybe a dodgy trader.

If your only hope is was he allowed to sell it than the hope score = ZERO.

So its been standing and needs a thorough shakedown. I would imagine all sorts of bills for a car thats been unsed for a year or more.

Either way its now yours.

imho

If you have a Android mobile you can install Vehicle Smart App.it will tell you mileage on last Mot and will tell you if the car failed Mot. You just need Registration plate details.

TonyMMM

With a car of that age and low mileage - (apart from all the normal service items that are going to be needed) the first thing to try would be a complete transmission oil/filter change - can be done quite cheaply and can sort out a lot of problems with some automatic gearboxes - especially if it hasn't had much use like yours.

ballisticbrian

If you have a Android mobile you can install Vehicle Smart App

You don't need a phone or app, just go-ogle it.

pinkshoes

What did the advert say?

How did it describe the car? Anything mentioned about excellent runner?