Missold a car

Aylesbury_Duck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028840#Comment_80028840

That was my thought. Without seeing the evidence, it's possible that the "cut and shut" could range from a replacement bumper/radiator grille to a whole new front end from a donor car welded onto the original, or anything in between. OP describes putty and wood screws though, which does suggest a terrible job however serious (or not) the job actually was.

OP, you should get your mechanic to produce a proper written report, with photos. You need to know if these are genuine concerns with a basis of factual accuracy, or just a mechanic sucking his teeth and telling you about the terrible job another garage has carried out, which is possible (and plausible).

Wonka_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028246#Comment_80028246

Unfortunately OP, the issue you now have is the passing of time

1. how are you going to prove that the condition is as it was when purchased and that it hasn't happened since
2. The sort of dealer that sells cars like this is unlikely to be bothered about legalities/consumer rights

To move this forward

a) Who was the dealer - independent/part of a larger group ?

b) Last MOT - who did it/ what does it say ?

c) Did you pay by finance or cash ?

born_again

As above, they will simply close down & restart under a new name, thus court action & any chance of getting money back is a potential waste of time & further money thrown away.

charlottemcalpine00

Thank you all of your advice and comments. 

We have managed to get a partial refund (£7400 vs £9000 paid initially) today. 

The garage was Ampthill Motorhouse and if anyone ever happens upon this car again with issues it’s a 2017 black ford focus WN17 AOB.

I’ve attached the photos of the front which was initially stuck with putty and wood screws and then welded over the top, on both sides of the front of the vehicle. Some parts were also held together with cable ties. 

Hopefully the garage will do the right thing and either scrap the car or inform any future buyers of its condition so they can take the calculated risk if they choose to. 

cymruchris

charlottemcalpine00 said:

Thank you all of your advice and comments. 

We have managed to get a partial refund (£7400 vs £9000 paid initially) today. 

The garage was Ampthill Motorhouse and if anyone ever happens upon this car again with issues it’s a 2017 black ford focus WN17 AOB.

I’ve attached the photos of the front which was initially stuck with putty and wood screws and then welded over the top, on both sides of the front of the vehicle. Some parts were also held together with cable ties. 

Hopefully the garage will do the right thing and either scrap the car or inform any future buyers of its condition so they can take the calculated risk if they choose to. 

Thanks for updating us - and sounds like a fair outcome settled quickly in the grand scheme of things. There's a possibility that if you went 'legal' depending on the evidence and the judge you might have pushed for a little more - but if this has resolved it, the car is gone, and there's money in your pocket to buy another car, you're probably not in a bad place. (I think as others pointed out that a deduction for 1 year's use would have been applied anyway - no matter the state/condition of the car).

I'm sure you've also learned a lot from the experience, and it's good that nothing 'bad' happened, whatever you buy next, make sure someone with a bit of car knowledge at least gives it a once over. (I'm sure you'll be doing that without any of us mentioning it!)

Manxman_in_exile

Well done for sticking to your guns.

As @cymruchris says, you might have got more if it got to court, but on the other hand you might not.

£7400 sounds a fairly reasonable refund to me given you had a year's use out of the car

tightauldgit

charlottemcalpine00 said:

Thank you all of your advice and comments. 

We have managed to get a partial refund (£7400 vs £9000 paid initially) today. 

The garage was Ampthill Motorhouse and if anyone ever happens upon this car again with issues it’s a 2017 black ford focus WN17 AOB.

I’ve attached the photos of the front which was initially stuck with putty and wood screws and then welded over the top, on both sides of the front of the vehicle. Some parts were also held together with cable ties. 

Hopefully the garage will do the right thing and either scrap the car or inform any future buyers of its condition so they can take the calculated risk if they choose to. 

That's a pretty good result. I'm surprised the dealer gave in so easily to be honest. Possibly suggests they didn't want you opening a further can of worms or, looking on the bright side, that they genuinely accept they made an error. 

Grumpy_chap

£1600 for a year's use of a car sounds reasonable.