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Original poster

Ever sued ‘We Buy Any Car, or similar?

37 replies

Fentyplenty · 30/12/2019 18:02

If so, how was the experience? I need to sell my car without trading in, and don,t fancy the hassle/risk of selling to a private buyer.

Did you find the price you got online was reduced by them once you followed it up?

Thanks

OP posts:

CollaterlieSistersSister · 30/12/2019 18:04

No experience, but assume that’s a fairly important typo in title.

Dollywilde · 30/12/2019 18:07

I helped my parents use them last month. Process was quick and easy. The only thing they tried to knock us down on was that they said we could only count as ‘part service history’ rather than full, despite having all the paperwork, because there was a 14 month gap between two yearly services. We argued back that the gap was because the car had still been in warranty at that time, the guy checked with his manager who agreed with us and got the amount restored to what it would be with FSH.

We got £7,750 for a car that would have got £9000 on the open market but my dad is disabled and mum wasn’t confident re selling independently. The £1,250 hit was worth it for them.

Original poster

Fentyplenty · 30/12/2019 18:09

Oh God - yes, I mean used not sued obviously!

OP posts:

Original poster

Fentyplenty · 30/12/2019 18:12

Thanks @Dollywilde. I’m estimating a similar gap but it’s all about the value we’d place on lack of hassle I guess.

OP posts:

safariboot · 30/12/2019 18:23

Not used them.

They'll deduct value for even the most minor of scrapes, wheel scuffs, and chips, or for any slight irregularities in the service paperwork. Someone will inspect your car and it's their job to find excuses to pay you less. Expect to actually be offered 10-25% lower than what the website claims, and in some cases lower even than that.

icebearforpresident · 30/12/2019 18:26

Didn’t rate them personally, tried to knock almost 2k off the original price offered because i didn’t have a spare key. A few hundred would have been fair enough but they only offered 3k to start with. The sales associate (not the right title I’m sure but not sure what else to call them) was also a right arse, his appointment before me left in tears because he’d hammered the price that much but ‘she’d came 50miles and was desperate for the cash’. He seemed genuinely shocked when I left with my car.

That said I know people who have used them and had no issues but once was enough for me.

LIZS · 30/12/2019 18:31

Yes they knock off for every imperfection.

SquigglePigs · 30/12/2019 18:34

We used them for a 10 year old Fiesta. We were honest about the condition of the car in the online estimate and when we took it to them they upped the amount for one thing, and took a smidge off for something else. Ended up within £20 of the estimated value. I'd expected them to cut it a lot more based on what we'd heard about them so we were very pleased. I think the people who get upset by them are often overly optimistic about the condition and value of an older car.

Bluepeace · 30/12/2019 18:35

We used we sell any car I think it was, they didn't knock anything off and we were happy with the price, we couldn't be doing with the hassle of private sale though we definitely would have made more, that said their quote was much higher than the Ford garage.

PiggyPlumPie · 30/12/2019 18:38

We used them and the guy wasn't happy with the price we were offered by the computer so he phoned his boss and got us an increase.

beautifulstranger101 · 30/12/2019 18:39

I tried them once- they said they wouldn't buy my car

Ahl134 · 30/12/2019 18:41

We've used Evans halshaw and Arnold Clark as we had lower quotes from We Buy. Process was simple and funds paid direct to bank next day.

LazyLioness · 30/12/2019 18:43

We used them and got the true value of the car. The car had finance remaining and they paid part of our money directly to them so we didn't have to faff around. I would definitely use them again.

jellybean85 · 30/12/2019 18:44

@safariboot seems a bit of a confident statement to say they will knock you down in price for certain when you haven't actually used them I've sold two through them, my own when I was emigrating and wanted it sorted ASAP and my mums old banger. Both times filled in the info accurately online and got pound for pound what I was offered. Maybe depends on the branch?

Fleurdebleurgh · 30/12/2019 18:44

Tried to use them once. They said they'd give me £50 for my car....with a £49.50 admin fee

Twospaniels · 30/12/2019 18:46

We used them about 5 yrs ago and got exactly what they first quoted. It was less than market value but we were happy to get rid of the car without hassle.

BeverlyGoldbergsHairAndJumpers · 30/12/2019 18:58

@beautifulstranger101 why not?!

NinetySixer · 30/12/2019 19:02

I’ve used them before because the car was near it’s mot, was costing me loads to park it and I didn’t have time to sell privately.

They offered me 750 for a car worth at least 4 times that. But I saw it as paying for the convenience of taking it off my hands.

MaggieFS · 30/12/2019 19:03

We got a quote from them for DF's car after he died. In the end DM part exchanged it for a new car and received the same valuation from the dealership. I suspect you get more if you can find a private buyer but it's about not having the hassle.

Geometricprince · 30/12/2019 19:05

I used them to sell an old banger, the guy was very nice and paid what we were quoted online despite noticing a dent in the door. He didn't actually drive the car either, which was fortunate as it had started making a knocking noise on the way there...

Original poster

Fentyplenty · 30/12/2019 19:05

Sounds like a range of experiences here . I do have some little chips and bumps on the paintwork so I’d expect some reduction for that. I’ll have a look at Evans Halshaw and Arnold Clark too.

OP posts:

Itsjustmee · 30/12/2019 19:07

It depends on what you want to sell your car for
Up to 5k sell privately as people will often have the cash or take out a bank loan
Over 5k trade in or use someone like WBAC
If selling privately make sure it’s got an up to date MOT and if possibly recent service history
Do HPI check ( they are about 10 pounds ) so it shows any buyers there is no finance
Good photos in daylight especially one of milage if it’s low
Get it cleaned and valeted
I’m Always amazed how many people try to sell a car with 3 months MOT on it
And a good advert. My car only had 30 thousand miles on it and was 10 years old
It was a mini so they hold there prices better
But I still got 5k for it WBAC offered me £3750

I sold both my car and my sons car within a week
I got full asking price for both
My neighbour to 4 months to sell his car as he wanted a to high a price and didn’t advertise it
Accept cash only
No PayPal or money into bank account
These are often scams
Cash cash and cash only

BorissGiantJohnson · 30/12/2019 19:12

We went to we buy any car, they quoted a price for a car in reasonable condition which it was, then they went round and knocked off a bit for every scratch, bit of dirt (literally) and dent, which there wasn't but the bloke said the dent wasn't visible to the naked eye unless you were experienced at looking like he was! It knocked a ridiculous amount off the price they first offered but by that time we were dropping off the car on the way to buy our new one so needed the cash straight away and didn't feel able to walk away at that point. As we were leaving the bloke had the cheek to laugh and say he'd never bought a car that cheap before, which was rubbing salt in the wound a bit. Knob. I definitely wouldn't use them unless you're absolutely desperate, and don't expect to get the amount they first offer you, it will go down.

Babybel90 · 30/12/2019 19:15

DH used them, and he’s a bit of a fanny (this is the only time it’s ever worked to his advantage!) so he stood there umming and ahhing over the price and they upped it 3 times until he was happy with it.

radioband · 30/12/2019 19:20

I used we buy any car, the price online was 5k it was then reduced down to 4.5k on inspection. Don't accept the first reduction they give you as they will up the price. They put mine down to around 4.2k initially. My alloys had all been scratched which reduced the price mainly and some dents. I didn't find them to be overly picky with the inspection tbh and money was in my account the next day.

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