Buying a Used car from a Dealer

SieIso

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

It sounds like they're moonlighting as a dealer, get the police involved.

It doesn't sound like that to me - everything OP has shared so far indicates a private purchase from an individual, albeit one selling multiple cars.  It's possible that they're masquerading as a dealer, but in the absence of anything from OP that would support that interpretation (and choosing not to answer direct questions about the company's involvement), it may be problematic to make the assertion stick....

In Northern Ireland where I think the OP is from, a dealer is someone who sells more than one car per year.

eskbanker

SieIso said:

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

It sounds like they're moonlighting as a dealer, get the police involved.

It doesn't sound like that to me - everything OP has shared so far indicates a private purchase from an individual, albeit one selling multiple cars.  It's possible that they're masquerading as a dealer, but in the absence of anything from OP that would support that interpretation (and choosing not to answer direct questions about the company's involvement), it may be problematic to make the assertion stick....

In Northern Ireland where I think the OP is from, a dealer is someone who sells more than one car per year.

Not something I was aware of, where is that defined?

born_again

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

It sounds like they're moonlighting as a dealer, get the police involved.

It doesn't sound like that to me - everything OP has shared so far indicates a private purchase from an individual, albeit one selling multiple cars.  It's possible that they're masquerading as a dealer, but in the absence of anything from OP that would support that interpretation (and choosing not to answer direct questions about the company's involvement), it may be problematic to make the assertion stick....

In Northern Ireland where I think the OP is from, a dealer is someone who sells more than one car per year.

Not something I was aware of, where is that defined?

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/knowledge-base/how-many-cars-can-be-sold-privately-before-that-person-is-deemed-to-be-a-trader

HillStreetBlues

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

It sounds like they're moonlighting as a dealer, get the police involved.

It doesn't sound like that to me - everything OP has shared so far indicates a private purchase from an individual, albeit one selling multiple cars.  It's possible that they're masquerading as a dealer, but in the absence of anything from OP that would support that interpretation (and choosing not to answer direct questions about the company's involvement), it may be problematic to make the assertion stick....

You don't get around being classed as a dealer just because it's an individual.
OP stated that they boasted about high volumes of sales, if that's not a dealer not sure who would be,

ArbitraryRandom

HillStreetBlues said:

eskbanker said:

SieIso said:

It sounds like they're moonlighting as a dealer, get the police involved.

It doesn't sound like that to me - everything OP has shared so far indicates a private purchase from an individual, albeit one selling multiple cars.  It's possible that they're masquerading as a dealer, but in the absence of anything from OP that would support that interpretation (and choosing not to answer direct questions about the company's involvement), it may be problematic to make the assertion stick....

You don't get around being classed as a dealer just because it's an individual.
OP stated that they boasted about high volumes of sales, if that's not a dealer not sure who would be,

If it's getting to the point of legal action, I think we need some clarification of who exactly did/said what (the worst thing the OP could do at this point is lodge a claim against the window replacement business if there's no contract with that business) - from the posts, an employee of the company advertised 'some' cars, an owner of the company 'boasted' about selling lots of cars, and the OP bought the car from once of the directors (presumably the same one as was boasting). 

I think the important questions are still what name is on the receipt, who was the car registered to before purchase, and did they charge VAT (the VAT question is simply because if they did then it shoots down their claim they're not a business, and if they didn't then if you win the small claims you can report them as they probably also didn't pay the tax due). 

Could be it has nothing to do with the business other than using the yard, and they need to go after the person that sold it to them (as an unregistered dealer). 

Alderbank

Another important question might be what remedy the OP is seeking. Is the car driveable?
Some gearbox rattle due to wear and tear might be expected in a 12 year old car.

'Issue' is not really enough information.

newbieni

**Updated**

Following a recommendation on this thread I reported this individual to trading standards. They called me today to confirm that the said individual was operating with the remits of a dealer under their name rather than the company they are a director within. Trading standards also advised that the individual as a dealer had responsibilities to fullful. They made the following recommendations to me:

1. Write a letter addressed to the individual and post it via recorded delivery giving them 15 days to respond with a solution. 
2. If they do not respond within 15 days, commence a small claims procedure against them.
3. Trading standards also advised that the dealer broke the law by not declaring the vehicle a write-off.

What should I do? Trading standards were very helpful and citied that with my case it was a clearcut win at a small claims court, however, I have heard of many instances before in which the individual who loses never pays up, and I do not want to throw good money after bad.

Thanks in advance.

eskbanker

newbieni said:

What should I do? Trading standards were very helpful and citied that with my case it was a clearcut win at a small claims court, however, I have heard of many instances before in which the individual who loses never pays up, and I do not want to throw good money after bad.

Sounds like Trading Standards have summarised your options adequately?  They're correct that winning in court is no guarantee of actually seeing the money....