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Recently bought a 2nd hand car from a trader who sells them from home. Felt like a private sale but he had trade plates and money was paid in to a business account.
Did so many checks on the car to try and make sure I wasn't buying a lemon. Long test drive etc.
Ended up with the worst luck. 2 days after buying the car, it broke down catastrophically.
The seller has been good and has said he will try to get it sorted. So far he claims he's had it checked and the timing has jumped and it needs a new timing chain. Im comcerned the engine is damaged.
I've now been without a car for 3 weeks. (Only got use of it for 2 days before it broke down)
The seller just keeps saying he's trying to fix it.
I'm not 3 weeks without a car. Paying expensive insurance and tax for a vehicle i domt have. I'm having to use buses and get lifts to work.
The big question is? What is a reasonable amoujt of time to give the seller to fix the car before i push for my money back?
Check out this recent thread.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/off-topic/how-long-is-reasonable-for-garage-to-repair-car/
2 days to catastrophic failure is refund time. Jumped time is unlikely to not have destroyed the engine
“2015 Consumer Rights Act gives you the statutory right to reject a new or used car (or anything else) within 30 days of purchase if your rights have been breached. This is called the short term 'right to reject'.
It covers faults that were present - or developing - when you bought it, or it was received in a condition that does not match what you were told. But it'll be up to you to prove that's the case. After 30 days you lose the short-term right to reject”
www.honestjohn.co.uk/advice/car-buying-advice/how-to-reject-a-car-consumer-rights-act-2015/
Within 31 days you're entitled for a full refund if the car is faulty. Ask for a refund.
Write down every communication that you’ve had with the vendor, just in case, but it’s time to demand your money back.
Don’t wait any longer!
It covers faults that were present - or developing - when you bought it, or it was received in a condition that does not match what you were told. But it'll be up to you to prove that's the case. After 30 days you lose the short-term right to reject”
This part is flat-out wrong.
Within 30 days of receipt you can reject the vehicle for a full refund if it's faulty, which I'd strongly recommend in this instance. The "reasonable amount of time" required here is none whatsoever.
Between then and six months the fault is deemed to be inherent and it is the responsibility of the dealer to prove otherwise. You have to give them one chance to make good before chasing a refund.
After six months, yes, the burden of proof lies with you.
Buying from a dealer you have the same rights as buying new (obviously taking into account wear, age etc). Private sales are different.
The seller may be stringing you along so that the 30 day milestone is passed. Reject immediately and demand a refund. Do this tomorrow by email not verbally. How did you pay for it?
we're looking for a car at the moment, so reading these threads with interest.
i assume to make life easier should such an instance occur, the best advice is to pay by credit card in case of the need to claim back?
Credit cards give you extra protection which may be easier to invoke but any finance provider is also liable. Just don’t pay cash/bank transfer even if you have the money available. Also don’t feel bad or let emotions about the car itself blinker your approach. If it’s got major faults that mean you are within your rights to reject then do just that would be my advice.
In the case of the OP if the seller is trading from his front room then he’s far less likely to be willing/able to provide a quality repair and will be trying to save £££ by getting a major fault sorted as cheaply as possible.
Reject, reject, reject. It’s foolish not to IMO.
Thanks for the replies.
I paid for the car via bank transfer to the guys business account.
As stated he is not a car garage. He is a trader selling cars from home.
I'm concerned the timing jump has caused other issues to the engine.
Also being without a car that I've paod for and have nothing to show for it, is massively inconvenient.
No courtesy car has been provided and I'm wastokg money on insurance and tax for a car I can't use.
Thanks for the replies.
I paid for the car via bank transfer to the guys business account.
As stated he is not a car garage. He is a trader selling cars from home.
Im concerned the timing jump has caused other issues to the engine.
Not even sure why it's a debate here, just tell him "i don't want the car back, i'd like a refund instead please" no matter what assurances you get from him, you're never going to be 100% confident in it... so get rid.
If buying from a private individual, I’d say you could well have a challenge getting your money back. Even if the person is operating as a small trader, I’d say there is a good chance that it is “sold as Eve if not, it could be a nightmare trying to get your money back. I guess this is the advantage of buying from larger garages.
All of that doesn’t mean that you’re not entitled to your money back. But getting it might be a different thing.
As stated he is not a car garage. He is a trader selling cars from home.
If he is a "registered trader" then I believe this is still covered under CRA and you're entitled to your money back. If it's some random bloke who is actually a private seller masquerading as a trader then you might be screwed (though HMRC may be interested should this be the case). The fact he has trade plates is reassuring, but they're not issued solely to vehicle traders so that's no guarantee of anything.
Had similar issues from a dealer a few years ago, got the runabout on what was clearly a knackered gearbox, after a fortnight and picking it back up again only for it to throw the same code a mile down the road, I turned round, drove back and politely but firmly told them we were done and that I would be returning the car and expecting a full refund. They didn’t argue.
Thing is they’re just getting the cars at auction and putting them through their own workshops for a basic “service” (codes cleared) and a bit of a valeting… whatever the scale of the outfit, that’s about all they’re doing, anything more and it’s probably not worth the hassle.
Reject now and go for the refund. The fix is likely to be a big one and take considerable labour and parts costs. It is an issue though with timing chains that for bad maintenance or bad initial quality or bad tensioners reasons that they don't last the life of the engine. You know where you are with a belt - change at the right age or mileage. Chains are listen for a rattle then panic! The dealer might well have known it was rattling and shouldn't have sold it.
Quite.
I find it difficult to believe that a used car would throw a chain 2 days after purchase and the trader either hadn't checked it over or knew all about it and hoped he'd get away with it.
It's possible but IMHO highly unlikely that this was sheer bad luck, something doesn't add up here. Between the previous owner and the trader, I would be very concerned as to what other secrets it might be hiding.