Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Bought a car. Hate it. Can I get a refund?

68 replies

WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 08:26

So upset. I bought a car yesterday, 18 months old from a dealer. Lots of issues but basically I discovered after driving all afternoon that I have made a huge mistake and I hate the car. Is there any way I can take it back and ask for my money back (less deposit) or is this not possible with used cars?

OP posts:
NotDavidTennant · 04/11/2018 09:19

The 14 day cooling off period only applies to things like online and mail order shopping were you wouldn't have a chance to inspect the goods before purchase.

My2favboys · 04/11/2018 09:20

if it was brought from a private seller you'd have no rights but you've brought it from a dealer. I'm sure you'll be fine sorting it out. Maybe give citizens advice a call before your husband goes down to get some proper advice. good luck.

NotAllIndividuals · 04/11/2018 09:24

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-second-hand-car-i-bought-has-a-problem-what-are-my-rights

The foot rest and colour are not the dealers problem as they were obvious when you looked at the car. If the dealer said the car would be cleaned but wasn't you could reasonably go back and insist it was cleaned properly, and likewise if they offered a mat and didn't provide it you could pursue that but the best advice I was ever given was 'if it wasnt written down it didn't happen' trying to prove the dealer said something is very hard. You might have to rely on reputation and get them to clean it.

Don't even mention not liking the colour! That won't get you anywhere.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
prh47bridge · 04/11/2018 09:26

I'm not even sure that if there is a fault you have any rights as presumably it was sold as seen being second hand

I wish people would stop propagating this myth. You do have rights when buying second hand goods.

If you buy a second hand car (or, indeed, any other second hand goods) from a private seller it must match any description given by the seller. If you are buying from a trader it must match any description, be fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality given its age and price. If the seller is a trader they must tell you about any faults or problems that go beyond reasonable wear and tear.

In this case the vehicle does not appear to have any faults. The only real issue is that it hasn't been cleaned and a mat for the boot hasn't been provided. Not liking the colour is not a fault, nor is the lack of a foot plate unless the dealer was aware that the OP needed one and sold her this car anyway. I therefore don't believe the OP has the right to a refund based on the information posted here. I agree that the OP's best course of action is to sell the car to someone else.

However, just to reiterate, you do have rights when buying a second hand car (or, indeed, any other second hand goods). Do not believe people who tell you otherwise.

Notwiththeseknees · 04/11/2018 09:28

My friend bought a used car from a dealer that smelt of smoke. She took it back & complained so they valeted it again. No change. She took it back again and after standing her ground they changed it.
See if there is another one in stock you do like & negotiate from there. It may cost you in the short term. He sounds like an untrustworthy person though, so if there is anything materially wrong with it you would be on a better footing. Does it smell doggy at all? Is the service history complete (relevant if he said it was).

Original poster
WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 09:32

Thanks everyone. Having a footplate fitted may be an option. I did originally like the colour and the scuffs are indeed liveable with. I just need to sort out somewhere to put my foot so my toes are flexed rather than pointed.

OP posts:
Original poster
WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 09:36

I did ask to see the service history and the book has been stamped and dated but the checklist wasn’t ticked. Dealer said they never bother with that.
I do feel that I have been very naive. Lesson learnt. A very expensive lesson though
The dealership is small so very few cars on the forecourt. It is linked to a larger dealership though so that might be worth perusing.

OP posts:
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/11/2018 10:30

Did you really not even sit in the driver's seat, let alone take it for a test drive, before you agreed to buy it?

As somebody who also has bad problems with foot and ankle pain when driving (nerve damage and resulting muscle weakness), this is the very first thing I'd check the suitability and practicality of before going any further with any vehicle.

NotANotMan · 04/11/2018 10:35

Did you not test drive?
You can get those issues fixed. I would ask the dealer to pay for a full valet but otherwise get the footplate fixed and get over the colour!

dawnc27 · 04/11/2018 10:41

who said it was a motorbility car? im assuming thats what you mean when you say ex mobility. as motorbility cars are leased on 3 year contracts so in theory shouldnt be up for sale until its just over 3 years old, unless surrendered due to death or even more rarely the car becoming unsuitable and it being agreed to end the contract early.
if theyre saying this and its not correct id be very wary about what other lies you may have been told

Original poster
WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 11:01

The test drive lasted 10 mins and my foot felt fine then. It’s only having driven it for a longer that it has become painful.
Definitely ex mobility. The log book has had to be changed from disabled and we think the scuff marks must have been caused by a wheelchair.
Externally the car is perfect. I love the shape and it is otherwise easy to drive. If DH has no luck tomorrow we will consider private sale. I’ve always part-exchanged older cars previously.

OP posts:
Santaclarita · 04/11/2018 11:43

Probably just going to have to sell privately. He sounds like a knob so would be surprised if he took it back but stranger things have happened. Put it down to experience and check the car better next time.

CaptSkippy · 04/11/2018 11:58

10 mins? OMG, next time make sure you drive it for at least an hour and take it out on the highway too. You want to see how it handles under all circumstances.

FartingInTheFence · 04/11/2018 12:08

10 mins is not long enough.

Hoping you get it all sorted.

Curious, what car is it?

cakesonatrain · 04/11/2018 12:08

An hour? Who takes a car for an hour's test drive??!

Original poster
WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 12:18

It’s a Vauxhall Mokka. I have been driving a Meriva for 8 years. I bloody loved that car but they have stopped making them. I was told the Mokka was very similar

OP posts:
Original poster
WackyRacesWoo · 04/11/2018 12:20

The test drive was 20mins with DH driving for half the time.

OP posts:
Kezzie200 · 04/11/2018 12:23

Dont believe anything you are told with cars unless youve proved it to yourself and, as others say, anything you definitely want, like valet, mats etc get it written down and dont seal the deal until they do.

For this one, i would either go back on a busy day and say they didnt valet as promised and provide the mats as promised. Or just put it down to experience.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/11/2018 12:27

Oh I had a Mokha as a courtesy car, couldn't wait to give it back. Horrible cars. Apologies to any Mokha-lovers out there.

Change it if you can OP I don't think you'll ever be happy with this one.

Kardashianlove · 04/11/2018 12:42

If you’re worried about service history then you can usually phone the manufacturer and they can confirm, often it’s not fully stamped etc but has got the SH.

In terms of the dog hairs, you could probably insist they valeted it if that’s what they agreed.

The scuffs, again you could argue that’s what they promised but they would only put them right not refund you. (In future you are better to say that you’ll come back and view it again once they are gone so you can decide).

The footplate and colour, that’s obviously nothing to do with the dealer.

You need to decide what outcome you want. If you want the dog hair and scuffs gone focus on that.

If you want a refund, explain the car isn’t right for you and can they try and swap it for a different one. Don’t get tied into dog hair and scuffs if this is what you want though.

GlassHeart1 · 04/11/2018 12:51

Re motability, with DLA to PIP change, lots of people lost their cars if they couldn't/weren't able to buy them before the 3 year term so the car could well be less than 3 years old.

EnidButton · 04/11/2018 13:47

You don't like the colour now because of the other issues. You're mind is looking for other reasons to dislike it because you feel bad about it generally. So colour won't be an issue eventually.

Hopefully it can be sorted out with the dealer but if not...

If you're ok to fork out some more money then you can get a footplate fitted I'm sure. The scuffs can be polished/painted out. Get it professionally cleaned inside and out and buy a mat for the boot. Extra money you didn't count on and annoying but better than feeling crap about it every time you get in.

Understandable that you're upset about it though. He does sound like an arse. Hope your foot pain eases off soon. Flowers

EnidButton · 04/11/2018 13:49

*your

QuinionsRainbow · 04/11/2018 14:02

An hour? Who takes a car for an hour's test drive??!

We had a test drive the other week. The salesman told us to take it away for a couple of hours, try it in the garage at home, find a steepish hill to see how it performed under load, etc. etc. We took it to Tesco, did our shopping, and that was long enough for us to decide we didn't like it. We were out for about an hour and a half with it.

chrisinthesun · 04/11/2018 14:08

@WackyRacesWoo

Sorry but you really have no case.

All this boils down to, is you not paying enough attention when you bought the car.

The dealer has no duty to refund you and take the car back, and he definitely won't.

You test drove it for 10 minutes and did not notice no footplate there for your left foot? I notice if that is missing immediately when I drive a car. You'd think if you needed it you would have noticed that!

YABU. You need to just suck it up, and then try and sell it in 3 months if you still hate it.

I agree that the colour may grow on you. And you can easily get a footplate fitted and get the scuffs out. Chipsaway do scuffs. Quite reasonable prices too.

www.chipsaway.co.uk/

Agree with an hour's test drive being OTT. Most I have ever done (and I have done many!) is 15 minutes. I have certainly never heard of a dealer letting someone take it for one and a half to 2 hours and do their bleeding weekly shop in it!