Faulty car

Jan_Richards

I picked up a 2022 car with about 20 thousand miles on the clock from a rwputable dealer on Thursday 27 November. On Friday it broke down and had to be recovered. On Saturday it broke down again. It is an intermittent fault. I returned it to the dealer. I have requested a refund £14k. They are refusing and insisting on finding a fault. I know what my consumer rights are and have reiterated over and over again. But they will not comply with my request. Help.

visidigi

when it broke down and was recovered, was this to the dealer who 'fixed' it and gave it back?

How did you buy it, was it remote or face to face, how did you pay?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

If exercising the short term right to reject (bypass repair and go straight to refund) burden of proof is upon yourself so if they are willing to inspect and find the fault that saves you doing it. 

If/when they find the fault you aren't obligated to accept a repair, just make it clear you are exercising the short term right to reject.

If they say there is nothing wrong you'll have to take it to a garage and get them to find the fault and put down on paper what is wrong, should a fault be found the dealership should cover the cost of the inspection.

Grumpy_chap

Jan_Richards said:

I picked up a 2022 car with about 20 thousand miles on the clock from a rwputable dealer on Thursday 27 November. On Friday it broke down and had to be recovered. On Saturday it broke down again. It is an intermittent fault. I returned it to the dealer. I have requested a refund £14k. They are refusing and insisting on finding a fault. I know what my consumer rights are and have reiterated over and over again. But they will not comply with my request. Help.

It can be pragmatic to understand what the fault actually is.  If it is something minor and easily fixed, having the fault fixed and keeping the car can be the best route, assuming you are otherwise happy with the car.  "It broke down" does not allow anyone to understand what the nature / seriousness of the fault is.

TheComplaintGuy

A used car has to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If the fault has appeared within the first 30 days you can reject it outright for a full refund. If it’s after 30 days but within six months, the garage gets one chance to repair it. If their repair fails, you can insist on a refund or replacement — your choice, not theirs.

Don’t let them drag this out with endless “bring it back and we’ll have another look” nonsense. Put it in writing (email is fine): what the fault is, when it started, what you want them to do, and give a reasonable deadline to respond. Keep it factual.

If they refuse to play ball, you can escalate with a Section 75/chargeback if you paid any part on credit card, or go down the trader’s ADR route or small claims if needed. But most garages move quickly once they realise you know the rules and you’re keeping everything in writing.

Hope this helps?