to inform trading standards about this car dealer? Warning: not very exciting

[LeoTheLateBloomer]

I bought a second hand car on Saturday from a respectable looking/sounding second hand car dealer. (I know, there's probably no such thing. Sorry if you are married to one).

I'd been taking ages over making a decision because I'm paranoid about trusting salesmen. My parents found this car and told me about it. It was being advertised as coming with 12 months' MOT, 6 months' tax and 3 months warranty.

I found several similar cars (age, mileage etc) for quite a bit less money so my parents went back to the dealer to negotiate and he agreed to knock £100 off. My understanding was now that I would get everything as advertised for £100 less than the asking price.

I put down a deposit on Thursday and agreed that I would collect it on Saturday once the MOT was done.

On Saturday I went back, paid the money, collected all the paperwork, keys etc and drove off. Originally I was going to go home (an hour away) but instead went back to my parents' (local). On getting back to the house I realised that there was no tax disc in the windscreen. I phoned the dealer and he said that because he'd knocked £100 off the price, I therefore wouldn't get the tax as well. I tried to explain that a) that hadn't been explained at the time, b) this way I actually didn't get any money off at all because 6 months' tax would now cost me £90 and c) he had allowed me to drive away in a car that wasn't road legal.

He's clearly done this so many times before he had a rehearsed answer that was impossible to argue with (it cost him money to do the MOT, tax, warranty etc and he'd be out of pocket if he took money off). He even said that this 'misunderstanding' had happened before.

I was so angry that he had basically knew exactly what he was doing when he agreed to take £100 off. If he says it's too expensive to include the MOT etc in the sale price he shouldn't offer it.

I know I'm probably wasting my time and people like this have no conscience and he'd keep doing it so should I bother with trading standards?

Thank you if you bothered to read this. I told you it wasn't very exciting!

[emsyj]

YANBU. Report him for sure. He is deliberately misleading people.

[Tee2072]

Forget trading standards. Return the car and get your money back and go somewhere who sells car honestly.

[Tiredmumno1]

Take it back and say your not happy with it and get your money back

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

I bought a second hand car on Saturday from a respectable looking/sounding second hand car dealer

Where was the vehicle advertised? Do you have a copy of the ad? Does the dealer have business premises where vehicles are displayed for sale?

[Tiredmumno1]

You need to come up with a reason ie. I tried it, and it doesnt suit what i am looking for, its not big enough for the family

[LeoTheLateBloomer]

Izzy he has a forecourt in town and a website. The car was on both.

[Birdsgottafly]

I thought it was now illegal to allow someone to drive off if there was no road tax on the car and you wasn't satisfied that it was insured, as a dealer, which it wouldn't have been had it not had road tax.

I know that you get a 'grace' period but that was for a previously owned by you car, that was starting to be the norm a few years ago when i got mine, anyway.

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

Take the car back tomorrow and ask for your money back.

If you need a few businesslike phrases to make your point visit //www.consumerdirect.gov.uk and call the Helpline after 9am (they are effectively Trading Standards).

It's a buyer's market for used cars at the moment. Look for a vehicle with one previous owner, full service history, and low mileage. Do an hpi check, test drive the vehicle and inspect all documents BEFORE you buy.

If you don't know what to look for under the bonnet/chassis etc enlist the help of a knowledgeable friend, or have the car inspected by the RAC.

[Birdsgottafly]

The problem would be that you did not agree on the revised price, your parents did, so it is proving what was said on a three way conversation.


You would need them to be there if you go back. Cause enough hassle and he might give you the £100, he doesn't have to give you your money back.

[VeronicaCake]

YANBU call your local trading standards in the morning. They'll give you excellent advice on how to get the £100 back and they may also have a file on the guy and be monitoring this kind of thing. It is a blatant misuse of an incitement to purchase and probably in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regs - and therefore potentially a criminal offence. They are unlikely to pursue a prosecution on the basis of a single case but if he is ripping off lots of people like this then the more complaints they get the more likely they are to take action.

I think you need to ask advice from Trading Standards as to whether this is mis-selling before you can make a decision about demanding a refund. You are not automatically entitled to a refund for goods you no longer want, but the original contract may be void if you can demonstrate that you were induced into it by a deliberate mis-statement by the vendor.

Sadly I know far too much about this having just had to set the sheriff's office on the evil bastard scumbag car-dealer who ripped us off.

[LeoTheLateBloomer]

Thank you for all your replies.

My parents were with me when I bought the car so were able to confirm the £100 off. I followed all the AA and What Car buying guide advice with questions, test drives etc.

We went back down the forecourt to challenge him but there was no way he would budge so I doubt he'd be prepared to give me a refund if I told him I no longer wanted the car. I really need it anyway and can't really be without one now.

I'll give trading standards a call. The thing that really bothers me is that he even admitted that it's not the first time this has happened. Loads more people are going to be ripped off like this and it makes me so cross.

Thanks again.

[smellimelli]

I've asked my DH (who IS a lovely second hand car dealer!).

He says you should have been given an order form and this states exactly what you have agreed- eg tax, MOT etc or customer will tax own car as £100 discount given.

If you didn't have this not much you can do-it's your word against his. Hope trading standards can help.

If you do buy a second hand car, remember to get an order form or something in writing.