Returning a used car from a dealer

JamGee

I bought a used car for 2k from a dealer on  22/05 from Croydon. Approximately 15 minutes down the road. It lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple faults and engine management light come on. Traffic was really busy, so I drove very gently home. The following day I took the car to a local garage and had them run a diagnostic. The car has
multiple faults across all management systems. This car was to be my son's first car, which he had saved for. The garage will not return my calls, as I've stated I want to return the car for a refund. The garage don't have a website but advertise through Auto Trader under the name Wadaa Trader. There is a three month warranty with the car provided by Handler Protect but the advice I've had from two local garages is that the car should be returned. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Ayr_Rage

Take it back in person and ask for a full refund.

LightFlare

JamGee said:

I bought a used car for 2k from a dealer on  22/05 from Croydon. Approximately 15 minutes down the road. It lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple faults and engine management light come on. Traffic was really busy, so I drove very gently home. The following day I took the car to a local garage and had them run a diagnostic. The car has
multiple faults across all management systems. This car was to be my son's first car, which he had saved for. The garage will not return my calls, as I've stated I want to return the car for a refund. The garage don't have a website but advertise through Auto Trader under the name Wadaa Trader. There is a three month warranty with the car provided by Handler Protect but the advice I've had from two local garages is that the car should be returned. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

how far was home compared to turning around and getting a refund there and then ?

Did you try and contact the garage at the time to inform them and ask for a course of action ?

born_again

Should have turned round & gone straight back. That would give them no wiggle room for blaming anyone else.

You need to take it back. 

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, take it back and reject it.

JamGee

LightFlare said:

JamGee said:

I bought a used car for 2k from a dealer on  22/05 from Croydon. Approximately 15 minutes down the road. It lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple faults and engine management light come on. Traffic was really busy, so I drove very gently home. The following day I took the car to a local garage and had them run a diagnostic. The car has
multiple faults across all management systems. This car was to be my son's first car, which he had saved for. The garage will not return my calls, as I've stated I want to return the car for a refund. The garage don't have a website but advertise through Auto Trader under the name Wadaa Trader. There is a three month warranty with the car provided by Handler Protect but the advice I've had from two local garages is that the car should be returned. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

how far was home compared to turning around and getting a refund there and then ?

Did you try and contact the garage at the time to inform them and ask for a course of action ?

You're right. Traffic was very busy in Croydon at the time, as it was the school run. So I headed down the A22 back to Lewes. I spoke with the seller first thing the following day. They just fobbed me off about how the car had been in their showroom for a couple of months. Following the diagnostic, I sent images of the faults, along with a video which the garage took at the end of the diagnostic which included the date, and mileage of the car. I followed this with a phone call saying I wanted to return the car for a full refund. The call was terminated and now the seller never answers. I texted saying he has until the end of Tuesday 28th to agree to refund the 2k on receipt of the car, or I'll go through small claims court and he'll have pay to for the car to be returned himself... 

JamGee

born_again said:

Should have turned round & gone straight back. That would give them no wiggle room for blaming anyone else.

You need to take it back. 

Yep, you're right. Trying to take it back

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

JamGee said:and he'll have pay to for the car to be returned himself... 

Worth a note the trader is responsible for return costs, other than any costs incurred by the consumer in returning the goods in person to the place where the consumer took physical possession of them. 

Other than that yes reject the car under the 30 day right for a refund, if they have a showroom and it's only 2k hopefully that will help you but worth a note an LTD can fold and not pay it debts so you need to be sure they'll pay if you win at small claims.

Worth checking the company on Companies House, been in business for 20 years, great, been in business for 6 months and director has a string of other dissolved car companies, not so great  

JamGee

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

JamGee said:and he'll have pay to for the car to be returned himself... 

Worth a note the trader is responsible for return costs, other than any costs incurred by the consumer in returning the goods in person to the place where the consumer took physical possession of them. 

Other than that yes reject the car under the 30 day right for a refund, if they have a showroom and it's only 2k hopefully that will help you but worth a note an LTD can fold and not pay it debts so you need to be sure they'll pay if you win at small claims.

Worth checking the company on Companies House, been in business for 20 years, great, been in business for 6 months and director has a string of other dissolved car companies, not so great  

Well, just checked and the company was registered in May 2023... doesn't look good. I guess I could return the car unannounced and not leave until I'm refunded. Of course if he refuses to refund me, then we're at an impasse. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Now you've made the threat of small claims court you should see it through, otherwise they won't take you seriously.  Write to them properly (not by text) on Wednesday if they haven't responded, giving them 14 days to sort it out or you'll begin court proceedings.

Don't use the car any more.  Court action will take months, so you may need to make arrangements to store the car for a while.

HillStreetBlues

What method of payment did you use?