I'm a silly fool!

newbie_emma

I sold a piece of equipment I had that I no longer needed, which someone came to view and wanted to buy. Negotiated a price with them, they came back to dismantle and take home. I was happy to help them out with it - now a month later they've messaged me saying the equipment has a fault and want a significant amount back. They saw the equipment working when they came to see it, and were happy to buy it.

Now I feel like an idiot for not asking them to sign something to say they were happy to buy it or something - apparently a small claims court case is heading my way. I didn't do anything wrong.

Now I don't know what to do? I've said I don't agree and anything could have happened to it after them having it for a month.

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657820/i-039-m-a-silly-fool

How did you sell this equipment, eBay , facey or local advert.

If the court papers arrive get yourself over to legalbeagles website and start a thread there and you will get good advice.

Start now collating all correspondence between you and buyer as a record and before you sold it do you have video and or photos of the item working?

Woodstok2000

It would help to know what the equipment was, how old it was, and what the fault is.

Consumer rights don't apply for private sales in the same way they would for a trader. The only protection is that it's correctly described and the owner has the right to sell it. So as long as you described it accurately and it was yours to sell, you're all good.

Alderbank

Was this equipment something you use in your business or was it a private sale?

How did the buyer learn you wanted to sell it? Was it word of mouth or did you advertise it somewhere?

If it was a private sale you are only bound by what you said in your ad or what was said when the buyer came to inspect and buy.

For example, if you said 'in perfect working order' and that was true at the time of sale, you have no further liability.

user1977

I suspect a small claims case won't be coming your way and they're just trying it on.

LightFlare

this commonly happens once they have used the item for the purpose/event they wanted it for and no longer really need it, so are looking for some money back.

newbie_emma

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907695#Comment_81907695

Thanks for your comment! I put a FB advert out on a relevant page. I did state it was in full working order - because it was. They came to view the equipment working in January, messaged me the next day to say they wanted to buy and 'didn't want to miss out' on it. I agreed the price - they came back to collect a few days later- this was in January, then got a message last day of Feb saying its faulty. I have all messages where they say thanks for letting them come and see, saying they want to buy, negotiating the price and then making arrangements to collect. Then nothing until a month later.

newbie_emma

I hope so - but if they do I am willing to contest it wholeheartedly. They came to see it working and were happy to purchase it after viewing. Then I've not heard anything until a month later - surely they could have done anything to it in that time.

CliveOfIndia

It's the same as buying a car privately, a topic which crops up time and again. As long as you didn't deliberately lie to the buyer, or knowingly give them false information, then it's Caveat emptor. They viewed the item, they were happy with it, they bought it. End of story.

elsien

It would help if you confirmed whether it is a private sale or a business to business one.

newbie_emma

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907783#Comment_81907783

It was a private sale. I'm just an individual I'm not a trader or in a trade or anything.