Returning a used car from a dealer

JamGee

HillStreetBlues said:

What method of payment did you use?

Debit card

RefluentBeans

Aylesbury_Duck said:

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.

Agree with this. Unfortunately jumping straight to threatening to sue undercuts any further negotiations you do because you either aren’t going to sue, or you are going to sue and why would they open themselves up to more liability. 

I believe some will suggest a chargeback now - I don’t think this will work as you still have the car and the chargeback process doesn’t have any legal standing (ie the garage can still consider you the owner of the car even if the chargeback is successful and the debt doesn’t go away - even worse if the car is still in your possession). 

I think you can either go and speak to them directly (maybe without the car initially - assuming you’d have get it towed as it’s not drivable?) and see what they say face to face; or follow the above advice. Plenty of LBA templates - doesn’t need to be complex or include legalese, just in plain English why you want a refund, why you think you’re entitled to a refund, when you want the refund by, and how you’ll get the car back to them (as above - you may have to absorb the cost for this I’m afraid); and what you’ll do if you don’t get a refund. This formally gives them notice and hopefully they’ll cave before court (especially if they’ve got legal counsel who will tell them they’re in the wrong!) - but if they don’t you’ll have to be prepared to file a complaint through the courts. As said above, will take a while so do your best to prevent damage to the car/keep in a garage if you can. 

JamGee

HillStreetBlues said:

What method of payment did you use?

Debit card 

Arunmor

This company won't be around much longer.  Keep an eye on companies house for strike off notices etc, the boss has been here before.

Ectophile

My worry about returning the car is that they will take the car, and not refund you.  Then, if you try to sue them, they shut down the business.  That leaves you with no car and no money.

If nothing else, the car is worth scrap value.

m0bov

You need to send an LBA, then after 7 days, SCC them. Really, you'd need to return the car, with a covering letter to them. Keep receipts of the cost of having it trailered. Add this to your claim.

I'd be doing this ASAP before they vanish. You could make the claim against the Director and the Ltd company.

atticuspund

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.

Hi JamGee, Family member purchased a car here recently and within 10 miles realised it had a terminal fault. Dealership not responding to any communications. Were you able to resolve your issue? Any help much appreciated.

eskbanker

atticuspund 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.

Hi JamGee, Family member purchased a car here recently and within 10 miles realised it had a terminal fault. Dealership not responding to any communications. Were you able to resolve your issue? Any help much appreciated.

That poster hasn't logged in to the forum since May so is unlikely to see your post, but in any case it'll generally be worth starting your own thread for your issue, or did you buy from the same dealer?

atticuspund

eskbanker said:

atticuspund 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.

Hi JamGee, Family member purchased a car here recently and within 10 miles realised it had a terminal fault. Dealership not responding to any communications. Were you able to resolve your issue? Any help much appreciated.

That poster hasn't logged in to the forum since May so is unlikely to see your post, but in any case it'll generally be worth starting your own thread for your issue, or did you buy from the same dealer?

Yes, same dealer.

atticuspund

Update on Dispute with Wadda Traders Ltd – Court Action Taken, Company Now Trading Under New Name

Since my last post, a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against has been obtained Wadda Traders Ltd for the full recovery of the purchase price of a vehicle that was misrepresented and plagued with issues. Despite the court ruling, the trader has remained entirely uncooperative, and bailiff enforcement has so far failed to recover any funds.

What’s particularly concerning is that Wadda Traders Ltd has ceased trading and appears to have been replaced by a new entity, Jainf Ltd, which is trading from the same premises at 121 Canterbury Road, Croydon CR0 3HH. Public records show that the same individual who controlled Wadda is now the director of Jainf.

This raises serious questions about phoenix trading, where a business is shut down and relaunched under a new name to avoid debts and legal obligations. While I make no formal accusation, the facts and timing suggest a deliberate attempt to avoid repaying owed money.

Comments and reviews left on other platforms by other consumers appear to support a pattern of unsatisfactory conduct, and I strongly advise anyone considering buying from this business, under any name, to be extremely cautious.

There is, at this stage, little hope of recovering the monies I am owed through Wadda, and the apparent continuity of trading under a new name with the same leadership is deeply troubling.

⚠️ If you’ve dealt with Wadda or Jainf, or have relevant information or similar experiences, I’d welcome any input or advice.