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MSE News: Carcraft hit by OFT action over second hand car sales
Former_MSE_Guy
Former MSE 1.7K Posts
in Motoring
This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:
"The car supermarket has had its wrists slapped after a watchdog found major problems in the way it sold vehicles ..."
"The car supermarket has had its wrists slapped after a watchdog found major problems in the way it sold vehicles ..."
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2022 MFW 67 £2715.11/£13,000
MFI3 No.12 £0/ £40,000
Must be rolling on the floor laughing in their offices, what penalties?, what sentences?, what fines for the directors?...er none.
Virgin Credit Card - [STRIKE]£1,900[/STRIKE] £1,500 (21.1% paid off)
Nationwide Authorised OD - [STRIKE]£2,000 [/STRIKE] £1,500 (25% paid off)
Student Loan - exact amount TBC but circa £5,000
I'm on the road! :T
2022 MFW 67 £2715.11/£13,000
MFI3 No.12 £0/ £40,000
My boss operated a sales pitch for a few years, but we soon discovered that repairs, servicing, recoveries and MOT testing produced more profit and less problems for both ourselves and customers. We arrived at a solution whereby we would source vehicles for regular customers who used our garage for those services. We then carried out any MOT or servicing necessary for the vehicle chosen, in the knowledge that the customer would return for any further work during the ownership of that vehicle.
A previous owner had run the garage into the ground and created a bad reputation with shoddy, often dangerous work and almost criminal practices. It took us 2 years of hard work to even begin to win local trust, but now the garage is operated mostly by the owner's family and others. It is a successful business and is trusted by all those who use it.
My advice to anyone who is buying a car is to find such a garage. If you already have a car, do you trust the place which carries out the MOT and servicing work? If so, you are in luck. If they sell cars and have one you like, ask about it and stress that you will be bringing it to them for any work. If they don't sell cars, first ask if they will find and check a car for you. If they don't do that, ask if they will check any car you may find elsewhere and in both instances, remember to tell them that they will be your chosen workshop.
The secret of dealing with garages, is to be honest with the ones you know you can trust. Stick with the one you find and you will be treated as a valued customer. They will be honest with you. Remember that most of the trade is composed of honest people doing a fair job of work for a fair reward. There are cowboys in every trade, but despite the media shows which demonstrate the bad apples, they are a minority.
Having said all that, here is a story from the other side of the fence. Some years ago, we sold a car to a local man. 3 months later, he brought it back with the engine running very roughly and clouds of oil smoke issuing from the exhaust. After a look at the engine, I became suspicious, so I asked him to leave it and promised that we would look at it next day. It was our habit to record all relevant details from any car that we sold or worked on, so I checked the engine number and chassis numbers. Sure enough, the engine had obviously been changed. Next morning, I phoned the customer and said that we may be able to help him, but would need the log book. He brought it to us and was absolutely dumbfounded when I pointed out the difference and told him that I knew he had changed the engine, from a 2000cc to a faulty 1600cc motor, from another car. He proceeded to threaten us with legal proceedings, whereupon I pointed out that he could call the Police on our own phone and we would bring fraud charges against him. Off he went, red in the face and screaming insults.
I later learned from his neighbour, that he had put the engine into his brother's car, and decided to get another for his own vehicle by defrauding us. That is just one of many stories I can tell regarding the crafty tricks that a minority of customers have played, or attempted to play, over the years. There are 2 sides to every story, but I believe that there should be harsher penalties for fraudulent and/or dangerous work practices.
a much bigger hammer.
There are 100,000 mechanically sound vehicles left in the world.
No one knows how to fix cars any more.
It's not a Lemon, sir, I do so guarantee.
There are 474 items of scrutiny,
and my hands are sore from ticking this litany.
How come my hands are so grease free?
Is it true I even lifted the bonnet just to see?
Where are the real man of grease?
I cry as I do confess.
The last competent mechanic in the world has departed
.. and gone to Heaven.
(Jet woosh)
Some kind of folk song music would go well with it.
1 brake light out of the 3 worked?
As a bonus they had given her a logbook, MOT and tax disc for another vehicle as well as her own. They accidently
fell into the shredder.
Saleman was quite sneaky with the figures. We gave a monthly price and said over 4 years max. Haggled the price down
to keep within bugdet. But when we looked closely the sneaky begger had changed it to 5 years.
Naughty boy. When we said no 4 years he had to go and ask his manager.... Then they took her into the room to sign
the paperwork where they tried adding all the extra protection on etc.
She was desperate and needed a car quickly with poor credit history. Never again though.