Dealer finds a fault after buying my car.

ValerieC

Car is clear on all HPI checks, never written off, the issue is the car is a hybrid and has some very complex tech in it. Even a simple headlight assembly for the car is over £1,000, so I have no doubt something could be hugely expensive to repair on it. 

The dealer did not return the car last night, it seems they expected me to send them the money before they would set out to bring the car back (it is nearly a hundred miles from my home), so it seems they will keep the car if I don't send them money? Okay then guys, keep the car, be my guest! Business concluded. They might exchange money for cars without inspecting them properly, I don't.

I've told them that if they bring the car back, at their own expense, I will only accept  the return if I have the car inspected for new damage, or swapped or stolen parts. I haven't heard  back from them yet, I may ask them for photographoc evidence of the fault, and ask why the car is today STILL on sale on Autotrader when they know it has a major fault.

I appreciate some of this may not look like the smartest move. I've contacted the intermediary, motorway.com who organised the sale and asked them to advise me as well.

Val.

caprikid1

Don't bother with them further, they could be swapping parts from your car to another one !.

The_Fat_Controller

If there were no fault or warning lights showing when the vehicle was collected and you have correctly described the vehicle then the dealer has no comeback.

I would not engage in any further contact with them.

ValerieC

For the benefit of those with doubts, which I can understand, the car is very rare, (the dealership where I had an official stamped service for the car last year had never had one in before)  I want to be able to discuss this without worrying about who is reading it, or what they are reading into it.

The dealership is actually very large and I don't think it would be worth their while scamming me, but they clearly don't want to pick up the tab for their own failure of basic due-dilligence.

For my own ethics, it may seem stupid, but I feel very bad if something I do damages somebody else, even if unknowingly, so this is very difficult for me. Thank you everyone for your comments, even the negative ones.


Val.

Brie

Thanks for coming back to explain Val. 

Must admit I agree with others who say they are the experts and the should know what to look for.  Even in a very special car they should have googled "known faults" or something.  I'm glad you are not sending them money up front and insisting on check being done before you consider taking it back.  I don't think you should take it back but understand the desire to do the right thing. 

caprikid1

Thanks for the update "he dealership is actually very large"

That is quite surprising and I suspect it is someone within the dealership trying to get out of a mistake they made, extremely unprofessional and borderline illegal due to the element of harassment that seems to be occurring.

m0bov

Sorry OP, have you been paid for the car??

ValerieC

m0bov said:

Sorry OP, have you been paid for the car??

They transferred the money to my account on the evening of the sale, I transferred ownership of the car to them and it was taken away on a transporter.

Val.

Grumpy_chap

ValerieC said:

Car is clear on all HPI checks, never written off, the issue is the car is a hybrid and has some very complex tech in it. Even a simple headlight assembly for the car is over £1,000, so I have no doubt something could be hugely expensive to repair on it. 

The dealer did not return the car last night, it seems they expected me to send them the money before they would set out to bring the car back (it is nearly a hundred miles from my home), so it seems they will keep the car if I don't send them money? Okay then guys, keep the car, be my guest! Business concluded. They might exchange money for cars without inspecting them properly, I don't.

I've told them that if they bring the car back, at their own expense, I will only accept  the return if I have the car inspected for new damage, or swapped or stolen parts. I haven't heard  back from them yet, I may ask them for photographoc evidence of the fault, and ask why the car is today STILL on sale on Autotrader when they know it has a major fault.

I appreciate some of this may not look like the smartest move. I've contacted the intermediary, motorway.com who organised the sale and asked them to advise me as well.

Val.

This still does not make a lot of sense.

Parts on new cars are absurdly expensive but an expensive headlight is unconnected to the drive-train, whether ICE, self-charging hybrid, PHEV, or EV.

It would aid understanding of the thread if you could give some indication of what the fault actually is - I am sure this can be done without being too specific that would identify you if the garage searched online.  You can just say in very generic terms "clutch / gearbox" "hybrid battery" "bodywork" "engine management" "emissions" etc.

Whatever you do, you are a private seller and the buyer was a professional tradesperson - they are the expert and had every opportunity to assess the car using their professional skill before completing the purchase.  YOU are under no obligation to accept the car back and you definitely should not accept the car back.  If you refund the money before the car is returned, you will never see the car so will be without car and without money. 

Do not engage in asking for evidence of the fault or anything else.  Simply state that the car was sold as seen and you will not entertain any further discussion, then block the number.

Grumpy_chap

caprikid1 said:

Thanks for the update "he dealership is actually very large"

That is quite surprising and I suspect it is someone within the dealership trying to get out of a mistake they made, extremely unprofessional and borderline illegal due to the element of harassment that seems to be occurring.

I agree, very odd that a large dealer would act like this - it is an individual trying to cover their back-side.

I had something similar with a Jaguar (from a main dealer) in July this year that I saw but then did my due diligence and identified the car had likely been used as a taxi before.  Raised the concern with the Sales Rep, who was understanding and said they would try to clarify.  Next thing I knew the "Chief Buyer" was on the phone hurling abuse at me.  All I had done was a free online check - not my fault the "Chief Buyer" did not also do that check before buying the car.  I watched the car - it was up for £26k when I saw it and the last before it sold was just under £20k...