My Battle with The Trade Centre

Fake_Tofu

I purchased a Nissan Qashqai from Trade Centre UK on 29 January 2026 for £13,200, paid through part exchange, credit card, and direct debit. My wife and I were shown a 99‑point safety inspection, which stated the vehicle was in full working order.

However, after the sale was completed, we were told there was a “minor” gear‑linkage spring issue and advised to return for a quick repair. Despite expressing concern, we had already paid, exchanged our previous car, and updated tax and insurance—leaving us no option but to take the vehicle. I was told "They could fix it whilst I waited…"

At the repair appointment on 6 February, I was informed the fault was not the spring but an issue with the gear selector, requiring replacement. When I asked to reject the car, I was incorrectly told that signing an acceptance‑of‑repair form meant I had forfeited my consumer rights.

I was pushed into booking another repair for 17 February, only to arrive on the day and discover the parts hadn’t been delivered. I queried the repair form again and was repeatedly told I had “no option” to reject the vehicle, which I believe is misleading and incorrect.

Further delays followed, including the discovery of yet another fault (gear cables), with additional parts not expected until 25 February. On 20 February, still within the 30‑day right‑to‑reject period, I formally notified Trade Centre that I wished to reject the vehicle. They refused a refund and said ‘they wouldn’t consider the vehicle for rejection’, so I initiated a section 75.

A week later The Trade Centre informed me repairs were complete. I told them I had initiated a section 75 at which point they said they were retaining the vehicle and refused to refund me.

I am now progressing the Section 75 claim through my credit card provider, I have around 20 days until I can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman.

My question is: should I continue with the rejection and Section 75 claim, or would anyone consider accepting the car back at this point?

Any other advice welcome.

daveyjp

If its a Nissan with their terrible CVT auto gearbox get your money back. It will always be trouble.

Ergates

Given the things they've said to you - do you trust them? At all?

Woodstok2000

I wouldnt take it back.

If you do decide to take the car back, remember your 30 day right to reject timeline is paused while repairs are ongoing, so you could still reject the car if you aren't happy.

sheramber

What is the direct debit for? Finance?

Fake_Tofu

"Direct debit" apologies, I meant debit card (cash).

I do not trust them at all. Setting foot in their showroom was the biggest financial mistake I have ever made.

I don't want to take the car back but obviously things have dragged on quite a bit. In general, it's there usually light at the end of the section 75 tunnel?

As a side note, my credit card provider asked me to do a charge back. However following the section 75 guide on Martin Lewis… due to the part ex and non co-operation from the Trade Centre I pushed back and requested the section 75.

Aylesbury_Duck

Having started the S75 process I would see it through.

Fake_Tofu

Nearly at the point where I can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman, the credit card has only just acknowledged my request for section 75, they are not in a hurry to help resolve this.

I read somewhere that if I signed a firm showing then the opportunity to repair the vehicle, I lose the sort term right to reject, can anyone shed any light on this?

They identified 3 specific faults I signed the first time and when I tried to reject when they couldn't fix they said I couldn't. They said I had no option but to sign for repair attempt number 2. When they identified fault 3 I told them I was rejecting, didn't collect car but they did the work anyway.

This was all disclosed as part of the charge back section 75 declarations I made.

born_again

Nearly at the point where I can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman, the credit card has only just acknowledged my request for section 75, they are not in a hurry to help resolve this.

There are no time limits on S75, they take as long as they take.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956983#Comment_81956983

"… I read somewhere that if I signed a firm showing then the opportunity to repair the vehicle, I lose the sort term right to reject, can anyone shed any light on this?

They identified 3 specific faults I signed the first time and when I tried to reject when they couldn't fix they said I couldn't. They said I had no option but to sign for repair attempt number 2. When they identified fault 3 I told them I was rejecting, didn't collect car but they did the work anyway…"

It depends…

As you know, when you buy something and it fails within 30 days of delivery to you, you have the short-term right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for a full refund.

However, if you agree to the repair of goods you cannot then reject them without giving the trader reasonable time to carry out the repair (unless that time would cause significant inconvenience to you).

So yes - if you have agreed to the repair of faulty goods you have to give the trader a reasonable amount of time to carry out the repair. You cannot reject them before the repair has been attempted, unless to do so would cause you "significant inconvenience" - whatever that means.

But if you agree to a repair within the first 30 days (when the short-term right to reject is still active) the 30 day clock is paused and only starts running again when you get the repaired goods back. So if you agree to a repair within the first 30 days and the repair takes 14 days, then the short -term right to reject window is in effect extended to 44 calendar days from delivery

Do you follow? [Read s22(6), (7) and (8) of the Consumer Rights Act linked to above to make sure you understand how the 30 day short term rejection window can be extended].

If a first repair fails within the short term right to reject window [whether extended or not] you are then entitled to a full refund. If a first repair fails after the short-term right to reject window has expired, you are again entitled to a refund, but the trader can reduce your refund for the use you have had of the car.

In your case I'm uncertain how many repair attempts there have been and whether you have given them a reasonable amount of time to do the work.

You say the initial problem was a minor gear linkage spring which upon further inspection became a gear selector problem (should that inspection itself be considered the first attempt at repair?). When they came to replace the gear selector they dicn't have the parts (should that be considered a second attempt at repair or part of the first attempt?) And then further issues became apparent (should they be considered third and further attempts at repair or still part of the first?).

Also without knowing the dates of all the above impossible to say when the short term right to reject for a full refund expired.

What I can say with certainty is that if the garage had already had one attempt at repair and it still wasn't fixed, then you were legally entitled to a refund at that point. They are only permitted one attempt at repair before you can reject. If they told you otherwise they were lying. Whether it would be a full refund or not would depend on whether or not you were exercising the short-term right to reject.

When s75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 was introduced it was intended to be used as the basis of a court claim against credit providers. If you tried to pursue a s75 claim through the courts it would take you months if not years. Your credit card provider is not necessarily dragging their heels. They are satisfying themselves in the same way a court would that you have a genuine claim against the trader.

Fake_Tofu

I initiated the section 75 process with M & S Bank (the credit card provider) and after 7 weeks they contacted me saying they have sent me the wrong form and want me to start a charge back process with them and they won't consider the S75 until this is resolved. That will be 60 days from now before they even look at my claim. They apologised and offered me £75! Pursuing their route could mean I'm waiting until the end of August for resolution.

My timeline means I am pursuing the short time right to reject. Which I think means I am entitled to full refund or no refund.

As it has now been 8 weeks since my initial complaint I have escalated to the Financial Ombudsman but have found out it will be 6 weeks until an investigator is assigned.

I am unable to purchase a new car until this issue is resolved as if it is found I don't have the right to reject I am stuck with the car. If I am successful with the charge backs (£10,000) but not S75 (£3,200), am I better off returning the charge back money and keeping the car? I guess this is my fall back position. I'm still the legal owner of the vehicle and it might be better to take a chance on a dodgy car than the definitely loose more than £3k???

Considering M &S charge back delay was caused by an error on their part, I was considering asking them to consider the claims in parallel or to give me a decision in principle on the S75. If they did this I could start the charge back process with them straight away. I don't mind waiting for the charge backs if I know that, eventually, I will get all the money back. Am I wasting my breath trying this? I can't tell if they will see this as a fair compromise or in some way weaken my chance of getting my money back. If I buy a new car and am unsuccessful I am stuck with 2 cars.

If they won't consider a decision in principle type arrangement, am I better off cancelling all charge backs and forcing them to decide on the S75 now? I know that seems a bit drastic... Or possibly not starting the charge back with them and hoping the FOS come to a decision? If I start the charge back with M&S then will the FOS say that I need to wait for the outcome of that before they will make a decision?

I appreciate M&S want to claim back as much money as they can however I'm just left in limbo waiting 8 weeks at a time for decisions without a car or a significant amount of money.

As always, any suggestions welcome.