Private sale

turnitround

So turn this around Op. 

If YOU bought a second hand car for £8000 and it broke down within 5 hours would you contact the seller and try to return the car straight away or would you go out and spend £3000 getting it fixed before asking the seller for your money back?

TripleH

How do you know the photo of the dashboard was your car or an identical model?

I have error strewn dashboard on car / mate with same / got picture from t'interweb.

Buy car for £8,000 (market rate) but claim it broke down etc demand £3,000 back from seller because.

Make vague threats about legal action to panic them into caving in. Refuse to return car for full refund or to allow external mechanic to view as I've 'already forked out the money'.

Get refund of £3,000 (after bullying seller) and sell perfectly fine car for £9,000.

Full unabridged story not available as hardback from a pub carpark near you.

in_the_Cotswolds

Ask to see the receipt of the work undertaken.  If she says she hasn't got one then you definitely know it's a fraud. Who will hand over £3000 without a receipt.

Ms_Chocaholic

Do a reverse image search for the photo she sent you

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

jansky82 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

jansky82 said:

 5 hours later she calls me that the car broke down 

Sorry if it's been said but specifically why did the car break down? 

On the image of the dashboard she sent it was "low oil pressure" warning light with some others. Did not happened before or during the sale. 

Hello OP

Until you get court papers in the post (should that ever happen) I think the advice to ignore is the general consensus. 

Should the buyer actually go through with small claims I think in order to put a defence together the above with the below need to be very specifically clarified. 

 she texted me asking about the brakes, engine etc..... Also I said that the engine and brakes are fine. 

RFW

I'd largely be ignoring at this point.

My guess would be that the buyer is trying to get some money back.

I'd probably send a polite reply along the lines of "Unfortunately I've been advised to avoid any further communication and any legal matters will go through my solicitor."

Most of the story wouldn't stand up before a judge, if it ever got that far. My only caveat to that would be how the OP's ad was worded and if it was a simple sale of their own vehicle. If they regularly sell cars then they may be a business, so different situations would apply.

Although Trading Standards wouldn't necessarily support you it may be worth contacting them via local council and asking if they can advise.

I'd probably also do a bit of Googling of the buyer and see what comes up. They may well be car dealers themselves.

Not for anywhere near this amount, or even a car, but I once had an irate customer telling me a product was dangerous and wanting a full refund, several weeks after purchase. After a couple of searches I found they'd been trying to sell the item at a hefty profit and not managing to.

soolin

in_the_Cotswolds said:

Ask to see the receipt of the work undertaken.  If she says she hasn't got one then you definitely know it's a fraud. Who will hand over £3000 without a receipt.

I wouldn’t be engaging the buyer at all at the moment, wait for any claim to be opened. 

jansky82

RFW said:

I'd largely be ignoring at this point.

My guess would be that the buyer is trying to get some money back.

I'd probably send a polite reply along the lines of "Unfortunately I've been advised to avoid any further communication and any legal matters will go through my solicitor."

Most of the story wouldn't stand up before a judge, if it ever got that far. My only caveat to that would be how the OP's ad was worded and if it was a simple sale of their own vehicle. If they regularly sell cars then they may be a business, so different situations would apply.

Although Trading Standards wouldn't necessarily support you it may be worth contacting them via local council and asking if they can advise.

I'd probably also do a bit of Googling of the buyer and see what comes up. They may well be car dealers themselves.

Not for anywhere near this amount, or even a car, but I once had an irate customer telling me a product was dangerous and wanting a full refund, several weeks after purchase. After a couple of searches I found they'd been trying to sell the item at a hefty profit and not managing to.

I am a private seller, not a trader, I have described the car as private person would do, with limited car knowledge. I had this car for over a year (16 months). It was mine at the time of sale and nothing was wrong with it before or during sale.

Thanks 

RFW

jansky82 said: I am a private seller, not a trader, I have described the car as private person would do, with limited car knowledge. I had this car for over a year (16 months). It was mine at the time of sale and nothing was wrong with it before or during sale.

Thanks 

I don't see much that could happen to you then. Keep all the details, screenshots of the original ad  and all emails and any other communication.

If you do get taken to court it's a fairly straightforward defence. I really can't see it going that far. As I say it sounds like they're after a grand or three from you.
If that is the case they'll probably give up at some point.
There's always the chance that everything they've said is genuine and they're not very bright but if that is the case they shouldn't be buying a second hand car in a private sale.
I realise these things can be quite stressful until resolved but as I see it you haven't done anything wrong.