Used car issue - internal key switched

Ginchyq

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice. I'm in Scotland and purchased a 2nd hand car last week. All was well and I parted with my money (it was a part exchange) Only when I went to collect the car was I informed there was only 1 key.

After about 10min of having the car, I also realised there was a small chip in the windscreen, a scuff that hadn't been polished out, another cosmetic issue not sorted and window skooshers weren't working. I went straight back to the dealer to highlight how unhappy I was and it was agreed that it would go in on Wed (this was the Friday night) to get sorted. I was also told they would chase up the previous owner for the other key.

Just by chance I took a pic of the key inside the key fob, while I was looking into costs of a replacement key. This was a cut key and was branded. I got my car back on Thursday night with everything fixed and today after chasing up the key again, I happened to look at the internal key to discover its now unbranded, and uncut and doesn't unlock my car.

I raised this with the salesmans manager and explained how shocked and unhappy I am and to this point I am still considering handing it back and getting a refund. He's basically said that the chipped windscreen etc etc isn't a valid reason to return a car. I said no but my concern over security is. He's said that he will discuss it with the other salesman when he is in tomorrow but since he didnt actually see my car when it went on, I don't see how this will get progressed.

Sorry for the long process but does anyone have any idea on where I stand with this?

AdrianC

Ginchyq wrote: »

I'm looking for some advice. I'm in Scotland and purchased a 2nd hand car last week. All was well and I parted with my money (it was a part exchange) Only when I went to collect the car was I informed there was only 1 key.

Had they told you otherwise beforehand?

After about 10min of having the car, I also realised there was a small chip in the windscreen, a scuff that hadn't been polished out, another cosmetic issue not sorted

All of which you'd noticed before agreeing to buy it, right, let alone before collecting it...?

and window skooshers weren't working.

You mean washers? They weren't simply out of liquid (or frozen...)?

Just by chance I took a pic of the key inside the key fob, while I was looking into costs of a replacement key. This was a cut key and was branded. I got my car back on Thursday night with everything fixed and today after chasing up the key again, I happened to look at the internal key to discover its now unbranded, and uncut and doesn't unlock my car.

Could be simply explained by them taking the key to have another cut, having an issue, and simply picking the wrong one up by accident.

I raised this with the salesmans manager and explained how shocked and unhappy I am and to this point I am still considering handing it back and getting a refund. He's basically said that the chipped windscreen etc etc isn't a valid reason to return a car. I said no but my concern over security is.

Woah up.. You have absolutely no idea how many other keys (blade or fob) are out there. All you NOW know is that there's one blade which is. Well, make that two, because you know the other remote + blade is also out there.

At least with it only being the blade, you know the alarm will go off if anybody tries to get in, and without the chip, it can't be used to start the car.

Ginchyq

Hi,

I wasn't told beforehand that there was only one key. Their argument is that their policy is they only give you what they have (which is apparently up on posters on their walls) The guy who originally showed me the car said I should have been told.

The cosmetic parts yes and I was told they would be sorted for me beforehand. It was actually my dad that noticed the chip when I was showing him it and then we discovered the window washers didn't work (there was water in them). To be fair to the garage, they had the car polished, resin put in the chip and they have sorted the window washers.

That's true, it's just the unexpectedness of the internal key suddenly being changed without my knowledge and noone seems to be aware of it. If they had said they were getting another cut I probably wouldn't have got so worked up.

Im just annoyed that it's supposed to be a prestige sale and the car was in the showroom etc, so wouldn't even have imagined it didn't come with both keys (lesson learned for the next car I buy). The manufacturer wants £522 for a replacement key, I need to see if an auto locksmith can do one instead.

AdrianC

Ginchyq wrote: »

I wasn't told beforehand that there was only one key.

But you didn't actually ask...?