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Original poster

My son bought a car from a crook this week

31 replies

Anordinarymum · 22/05/2021 21:26

He bought a second hand car from a garage advertising on Autotrader. He paid by card for the motor, and obtained a receipt.
There was a delay in collection because the man said it had failed the MOT due to wiper blades needing replacing and they were waiting for the items to be delivered after Eid.

He picked the car up and the MOT was passed with no advisories which made him smell a rat.

On the patchy service history it is clear the car has been clocked and together with the MOT he decided to take the car to an independent MOT station.
My son took the cat to Kwikfit because he was worried - he felt the seller was dishonest and he wanted to be sure it was safe to drive as he has a child.
It has failed the MOT really badly with lots of major problems. It's not safe to drive.
He has asked the garage for his money back and the guy told him to fxxx off.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this sort of thing to offer help please? We do not know what to do next. Clearly something has to be done here.
Thank you

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 22/05/2021 21:29

Who did the MOT originally? The sellers own garage? File a claim with small claims, you can do it online at Moneyclaimonline which sounds dodgy but isn't its the courts actual online system. Sometimes receiving the claim is enough to get them to take notice if not you sound like you have a good chance of winning anyway.

PainterInPeril · 22/05/2021 21:34

Check the boot!Wink
On a serious note, I'm sorry this has happened. I have no advice but hope you can sort it out in some way.

WildWestWanda · 22/05/2021 21:35

Was it credit or debit card?

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Shadedog · 22/05/2021 21:40

I bought a car that developed a £6k fault within 2 weeks. The garage (Toyota dealership - “proper” garage) were incredible arsey about it but did give me all my money back after a couple of phone calls. Tell them you are filing a claim and see if that works and then actually file it. If it’s a credit card then they should be able to help as the goods aren’t as described.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 22/05/2021 21:40

@Hellocatshome

Who did the MOT originally? The sellers own garage? File a claim with small claims, you can do it online at Moneyclaimonline which sounds dodgy but isn't its the courts actual online system. Sometimes receiving the claim is enough to get them to take notice if not you sound like you have a good chance of winning anyway.
The car was sent elsewhere for the MOT. The seller only sells cars. He is not a mechanic
OP posts:
plominoagain · 22/05/2021 21:41

If he's paid for even part of it by credit card , he's entitled to request a section 75 refund against the credit card firm

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 22/05/2021 21:41

@WildWestWanda

Was it credit or debit card?
It was paid for by bank transfer not by credit card unfortunately.
OP posts:
Clymene · 22/05/2021 21:47

If he didn't buy it from a private seller, he is entitled to a full refund within 30 days:

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car

Percypigg · 22/05/2021 21:49

Oh no. Bank transfer is no better than cash in terms of him having any redress with the bank. Such a shame.

I would advise Trading Standards. There must be other customers in the same position. Plus, the car could've been a cut and shut which is essentially a death trap. I feel for him as its an expensive lesson.

SappysCurry · 22/05/2021 21:54

He also needs to report an illegitimate MOT as it’s illegal and the issuer could lose their license for that.

www.gov.uk/service-standard-reports/report-mot-fraud-motreminders-beta-assessment

Horrible when people get scammed like this, I hope he can sort a refund out.

marchez · 22/05/2021 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hellocatshome · 22/05/2021 22:04

Kwik fit is not an independent MOT centre, they have a vested interest as usually people would get them to carry out the work. There are council run independent MOT centres who don't do any mechanical work so can't profit from a MOT failure they are the only truly independent MOT centres. I would take it there as at the moment you just have one MOT centres word against another.

Titofeline · 22/05/2021 22:06

How much did he pay for it?

BlackElephant · 22/05/2021 22:07

Start with the 1st MOT centre- you can report them if they passed an unfit car.

IhaveMyMoments · 22/05/2021 22:14

Report to mot to dvsa they will investigate the garage that gave it a hooky mot.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 22/05/2021 22:15

Thanks for the responses. He knows what he has to do now. It's just a waiting game to get the money back after he takes action. Very grateful to all x x

OP posts:
IhaveMyMoments · 22/05/2021 22:17

Dvsa will also check the car over if its truly that dangerous and you belive its had a dodgy mot.

What did it fail on

Vodkaandballoon · 22/05/2021 22:25

I would also suggest going to a different garage for an mot. I took mine to a quick fix few years ago. They quoted for a lot of unnecessary work.

Elieza · 22/05/2021 22:25

Trading standards.

They can investigate both the garage and dodgy mot station.

Boatingforthestars · 22/05/2021 22:26

Kwikfit are notorious for exaggerating issues, and fleecing customers.
What are the reasons it's unsafe to drive?

Boatingforthestars · 22/05/2021 22:28

The issue with reporting MOT centres is they will just say the car was fit at the time of the test. Can imagine it being hard to prove as your word will be against theirs.

Elieza · 22/05/2021 22:30

The mot has a mileage reading on it. If bits of the car are hanging off and it’s only done two miles since it’s mot it will be obvious that that extent of damage could not have happened in that two miles. So they could still presumably be in trouble.

There may be a history of that mot station being dodgy and yours is just another piece of evidence against them

NoIdontwanttoseeyourknob · 22/05/2021 22:34

Does he have legal cover with his car insurance? Start with a call to them. As Clymene says, he has certain legal rights.

MadeForThis · 22/05/2021 22:52

If he has purchased from a car trader he has some rights. But he might have to take him to small claims court.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 22/05/2021 22:58

@Elieza

Well, they might, but they wont help the OP.

You cannot report directly to trading standards. You call consumer advice, and they pass details onto trading standards if it's bad enough. Trading standards will act if the report is bad enough or if they get multiple reports about the same conpany. When they act, it is to shut the company down, or find them etc. They do not get individual people any money back. They will not deal with any individuals problem.

People on mumsnet always shout "trading standards" with no idea of what they actually do.