Seatbelt issue after buying a car

MJMoore

My daughter recently bought a used Corsa, from a Vauxhall dealer. After a few days, whilst installing her rear dash cam, we noticed that a rear seatbelt had extensive damage. It looked like it had been chewed by a dog.

She emailed them, sending photos, and after some time, this was the response she received:

“After carefully reviewing the condition reports on this vehicle, we are unable to find anything that would suggest that this damage was present at the time of sale.
All of our vehicles go through a 50-point extensive check which includes insuring all the seatbelts are working and functional and in good condition. If there was any issue at the time of the check this would have been raised and promptly fixed. Unfortunately, as we have no records of any damage to the vehicle at the point of sale, we are not able to claim liability for this matter.”

Apart from the fact that I am angry they are basically calling her a liar, I wonder where we stand legally please? I’m quite aware that human errors happen, and this may have been missed in a rush.. surely a tick box doesn’t actually prove it was ok? Is this our word against theirs, are they within their legal rights, or is there something we can do?

Thank you so much for any advice.

Michelle

Grumpy_chap

This is a visible form of damage, so could have been spotted by your looking over the car prior to purchase.

Examining the seatbelt for wear is an MOT item, so if the car is old enough you could check past MOT history for any advisories.

I think, unfortunately, this is not an easy one to achieve success. If the seat belt was chewed by a dog, how do you prove it was not chewed by a dog after purchase?

Is the seat belt of sufficient standard to pass an MOT? If so, this might be one to chalk up to experience.

MJMoore

It was not obvious if you just looked in the back, it was tucked in. It’s chewed near the part that clips in, not high up.

She sat in the front when we bought it, I looked round the outside for her. It didn’t cross my mind that in a main dealer, where they said they had checked everything, that we’d have to pull out every bit to check.

Also, to add.. MOT was 6 months ago, no advisory. It would be bad enough to fail the next MOT, so she now needs to fund the money to get it replaced herself.

Aylesbury_Duck

How bad is it? Enough to be a safety problem, or just a cosmetic one?

If cosmetic and your daughter can live with it, do so. If more than that, give them another chance and if they won't budge, get it fixed. If it's expensive you could always try a letter before action to see if it changes their mind. If it doesn't, just leave a factually accurate review of their dealership and take your servicing business elsewhere.

MJMoore

It looks bad enough to be a safety issue. Her dad is now offering to help pay for it, as it needs doing. It just feels like bad customer service to me, instead of realising they could have missed it, they’re implying she is lying to them. I was just wondering how ‘forceful’ I could be in a complaints letter.

Isthisforreal99

How "recent" are we talking when she bought it?

sheslookinhot

Suggest you speak to the Dealer Principal. They are trying it on and that is unacceptable.

fatbelly

Disappointing they didn't sell it with a new mot. I wonder if they knew something

Was this a main dealer? Do they make any statement on their website like 'all our used cars are sold with fresh mot'?

MJMoore

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81976469#Comment_81976469

I’m not sure what you mean by the “”.. it was bought mid March.

MJMoore

They provide a new service and MOT if it’s due in less than 6 months. We bought it ‘just’ before that date. Normally I would have told her to hang off, so that they had to do it, but her existing old Astra had major problems, and she needed a new one as soon as possible.

And yep, it’s WJ King, who are a main dealer in the South East.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81976772#Comment_81976772

Sorry but that's an unhelpful answer to perfectly reasonable question.

Consumer protection differs as to whether you are within 30 days of purchase, within 6 months of purchase, or after 6 months of purchase.

The reason the questioner used " " is because you hadn't said what you mean by "recently".

And to be frank just saying "it was bought mid March" isn't particularly helpful either as in some circumstances the 30 days can be extended.

So what date did she buy it?

And what date did she first inform the dealer there was a "problem"? (NB - I'm using " " in order to get more detailed information from you so as to give you better advice)