Car buyer wants me to contribute to repairs

Poppy_Golightly

I sold my car a couple of weeks ago with full service history documents etc. and considerably lower than the asking price. Now the buyer has contacted me saying the clutch needs replacing for an amount of £1,100 and wants me to contribute! He says a problem with the clutch was mentioned in the documentation. I didn't realise that. i have no money whatsoever to pay his costs. Can he make me pay? So worried.

chunkytfg

Private sale I assume? If so just ignore it. Dont enter into a conversation with them about it.

Poppy_Golightly

Yes it was a private sale. I sold the car in good faith. He never took it for a test drive, just started the engine. He had it MOT'd before he paid for it and nothing was flagged up.

AdrianC

If the problem was mentioned in the documentation he was given during the sale, why didn't he spot it then?

Caveat emptor. Post-purchase discounts are not a thing.

Ebe_Scrooge

Poppy_Golightly wrote: »

He says a problem with the clutch was mentioned in the documentation.

As per previous posters, a private buyer has no come-back against you, unless it can be proved that you deliberately lied about a known fault - even then, he'd have a battle on his hands. The general rule is that if you describe the honestly, as far as you know (i.e. you're not expected to be a mechanic and be able to highlight potential hidden faults), then the buyer has no come-back at all.

I'm curious about the quoted text above - what documentation does this refer to ? But from the sounds of it, that protects you even more - if the advert went along the lines of "Car is in reasonable condition, but the clutch slips and may need attention", then the buyer doesn't even have quarter of a leg to stand on. Ignore him, don't even bother entering into conversation.

All that aside, he's trying it on - unless we're talking about a Ferrari, I can't see a new clutch being anywhere near £1100. For an ordinary car you'd be looking at something like £200 - £300 tops, that sort of figure.

Poppy_Golightly

The documents I gave him were the full service history - 5 years of it as the car was first reg'd in 2014 and had 26,000 miles on the clock, plus the previous MOT documents.



I think you are right about trying it on, he bought the car for his partner, he himself drives a big fancy Mercedes and he has his own business. Although he shouldn't be punished for that, I think it is taking the proverbial.


I really appreciate all your advice, it was not a nice email to read first thing in the morning before your day has even started!

foxy-stoat

What piece of documentation mentioned that the clutch needed replacing at 26,000 miles?

Poppy_Golightly

I know - who would buy a new car knowing the clutch would need replacing at 26,000 miles?
BTW He had already knocked me down £1,200 off the asking price!

MEM62

Poppy_Golightly wrote: »

Yes it was a private sale. I sold the car in good faith. He never took it for a test drive, just started the engine. He had it MOT'd before he paid for it and nothing was flagged up.

Then tell the buyer that you will not be contributing and do not engage in any further contact.

TheMoonandBack

MEM62 wrote: »

Then tell the buyer that you will not be contributing and do not engage in any further contact.

+1 more for that advice. He had all the time in the world to test the car and go through it’s history and paperwork before purchase.
Do not allow him to cause you any worry.

Johno100

Poppy_Golightly wrote: »

I know - who would buy a new car knowing the clutch would need replacing at 26,000 miles?
BTW He had already knocked me down £1,200 off the asking price!

Again and for the third time, which piece of documentation stated the clutch was on the way out?