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Where do I stand here?

14 replies

CarTrouble101 · 28/08/2021 19:50

I hope that I've posted in the correct place.

I bought a car on Wednesday, and a few hours later the 'check engine light' appeared. DH contacted the car dealer (CD) who agreed to us taking to our local garage, and getting back to him once we had. So we did this on Thursday morning. The garage told DH that they would need to have a little look inside, and the CD asked if we would mind bringing it back to him to get fixed instead.

DH did this on Thursday lunchtime, as he is an hour and a half away. CD says that the car would be ready for collection on Friday. Friday comes, and the it's moved to Saturday, possible Sunday. Today it's been moved to Tuesday. DH was told that the car is with the mechanic. When asked where that might be, he tells my DH that he is unable to release those details, and that if he does, the mechanic will refuse to do any further work with the CD

DH has been unable to deal with this further this afternoon, and we are a bit unhappy with what he is telling us. We decided that I will chase up where the car is, as I'm pretty sure we have a right to know (?) and just had some alarm bells ringing when we received that answer to a basic question. It would also be convenient to actually just know a time and date because of work, DC, travel etc.

Just to note that so far CD has been very polite in his dealings with DH.

I had the chance to call about an hour ago. As soon as I explained that I calling up about this car, and that I am Mrs DH, the car dealer interrupts me and informs me that he has already spoken with my husband about this, and that he doesn't need to do it with me also. I did explain that DH is currently busy, and that we just wanted to know where the car is.

That was the start of five minutes of utter rudeness. He shouted, talked over me, and mocked me. He told me that I am not the law, and that it is none of my business where the car is. He told me that he wouldn't give the address as 'you would just go and bang on his door' (I don't know why he thinks this) I did tell him in the end that he was behaving very unprofessionally, and to please just let me explain. He further angers, and tells me that he will just give me back my money and keep the car if I carry on. I did say that he could not do that, and he asked me 'go on then, if you know it all, read me your rights' and 'you must be very bored tonight, just having the time to chat chat chat'.

He ended the call that telling me that whilst I may be bored, he certainly wasn't, and then he hung up.

My question is, taking my complete annoyance at the way he has treated me out of it, where do I stand here? He told me that the mechanic wasn't a registered business, and nor did he need to be. This is surely not correct? He said that the mechanic used to work in a garage and so knew what he was doing.

Thank you if you have read so far, I just really need some guidance here. I did try to contact citizens advice, however they're now closed until Tuesday.

Also, prepared to be told if I am totally in wrong here regarding any of this, not including his attitude.

OP posts:
Stressybetty · 28/08/2021 19:56

I'm.not sure where you stand legally but if we're me I would take the refund. Shocking behaviour and rudeness!

SantaSue · 28/08/2021 19:56

I would take the money and run.

MrsScrubbithatescleaning · 28/08/2021 19:58

Get the bloody refund ASAP!!!
No reputable dealer will play games like that.

CarTrouble101 · 28/08/2021 20:50

Oh, I was afraid these would be the answers!

I know you're all probably right, I'm just so very annoyed about it all as I really like this car.

OP posts:
HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 28/08/2021 21:00

Get the refund and be very very happy with it.

The car is a lemon, the engine management light came on within hours and the CD has taken it to someone who is probably not a real mechanic to get them to 'fix' it. Likelihood is they'll be just switching off the light, possibly disconnecting the sensor and you'll find out the full issue in a few weeks when black smoke starts pouring from the exhaust or under the hood.

FictionalCharacter · 28/08/2021 21:12

What @HalfShrunkMoreToGo said.

Mariell · 28/08/2021 21:16

What a cowboy! Take the money and never darken his garage again!

CandyCaneLane0 · 28/08/2021 22:51

Bloody hell, take the refund!

Rosecottage888 · 28/08/2021 22:54

Refund 100%! I wouldn't drive that car when I got it back..

CarTrouble101 · 29/08/2021 07:47

To perhaps further complicate things, we purchased the car using part exchange.

Surely further damage wouldn't be done to our new car, based on a phone call he didn't want?

Is he not liable for the costs of the car anyhow? Either because he sold it to us faulty, without saying so, or in the warranty?
Is it not possible for him to have to cover the costs of a repair at a garage of our choosing? If we collected and took it ourselves?

I really thought the whole driving back to the CD, was of a benefit to him, not us.

OP posts:
CarTrouble101 · 29/08/2021 07:50

I meant doesn't the warranty mean that it can be fixed at an actual mechanic, if we insist?

He kept telling me that he doesn't trust any garage ever, and it's friend only who is able to repair his cars.

OP posts:
CarTrouble101 · 29/08/2021 07:50

his friend only*

OP posts:
Miniroofbox · 29/08/2021 07:55

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo

Get the refund and be very very happy with it.

The car is a lemon, the engine management light came on within hours and the CD has taken it to someone who is probably not a real mechanic to get them to 'fix' it. Likelihood is they'll be just switching off the light, possibly disconnecting the sensor and you'll find out the full issue in a few weeks when black smoke starts pouring from the exhaust or under the hood.

This.

Take the refund. Get your old car back and never darken his door again.

rainbowstardrops · 29/08/2021 07:55

Sounds like a cowboy to me and I'd be very wary if his friend was an actual mechanic and not a cowboy too!
Get your refund and drop him like a hot potato

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