Car sales in a Covid pandemic, buying without being able to test drive

PaulP72

I am looking for help. I bought a car in March without being able to test drive the car due to the current covid controls so went to a national dealership thinking I would pay a premium and get a better level of purchaser cover, the car came with a 14 day money back guarantee due to the covid rules. The first time I was allowed to drive the car was when I collected it, within days of collecting the car I contacted the garage to advise the car had issues, they ignored this and 9 days after collection I sent an email confirming the faults/ issues with the car. Again I chased and chased via email and phone until early May when they contacted me back for the first time, with excuses of Furlough and bereavements, so I accepted this as an excuse as it was uncharted times. Then when they did respond they said I had to wait 3 weeks for a space in the diary to bring the car in (I now realize this was a delay tactic). The car was collected by me 2 days after this initial repair date with the fault still present. I contacted the next working day and re booked for now 3 and a half weeks time, the car has since been in there ownership as they have stated fault can not be corrected. They are now arguing that I must collect the car with the fault present as they can not correct it? 
Has anyone got advise on this?
Is it simply that due to Covid rules and the customers inability to test drive, that garages have managed to get rid of the stock that you would decline after the test drive and then simply played a delay game to get over contractual/ legal time lines only they know, to be able to reject you and make the purchaser accept a faulty product??
What can I do as this can not only have happened to me.

tacpot12

You were entitled to reject the car and have a full refund within the first 30 days, but you did not do this. This was your choice, not them prevaricating. You allowed the dealer to attempt to repair the car. I think this means that you are not entitled to a full refund, but are entitled to a partial refund.

The refund should reflect the use you have had of the car, and my personal opinion is that it should also reflect that you reported these issues afer 9 days. So I think they should be giving you a full refund anyway, even though you are not strictly entitled to a full refund. 

You need to be sure that the faults are in fact faults and not wear and tear. A faulty head gasket is a fault, a bouncy suspension is wear and tear. I think you also need to be sure that the fault is significant; i.e. it affects a safety or comfort feature, or the value of the car (e.g. seat can't be adjusted, aircon or heater doesn't work, car doesn't steer, stop or accelerate correctly, or an engine management light is on.)  

Your rights are granted under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. if you are confident that the car has a significant fault, you can tell them to keep the car and refund you an appropriate amount. You can discuss the amount of any refund (so have an idea as to what you would find acceptable ready in your mind), but if they won't budge from a figure, ask them to pay that figure, but tell them that you don't accept it and will consider whether the difference is enough to want to ask a court for a further refund.

I forgot to mention that if you have home insurance, you should check to see  if you have Legal Expenses cover. If you do, call your Insurers Legal Helpline before you do anything else.