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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

2nd hand car - cheeky or a scam or what?

45 replies

kirsten123 · 08/10/2014 14:49

Hi guys,

My dad unexpectedly "inherited" my mum's old car when she got a new car at work.

So dad advertised his ancient Ford Fiesta for sale. It had just been MOT'd and taxed. It actually belonged to his father until he died 4 years ago so dad has always looked after it, kept it clean etc. He just wanted £400 to cover his costs of the recent MOT & work done.

Mum posted it on Gumtree and was overrun with interest. This guy, let's call him Dick (!) was very persistent about coming over immediately and seeing it before anyone else could.

So Dick comes over and tells us he's out of work and needs car to get to contact with his son. Doesn't even test drive it and buys it for £400.

2 weeks later, we get a text to say car started making a noise, he took it to his garage and they say it's not roadworthy, he must not take his son in it, our local garage should never have MOT'd it. Dick says can we not help him out, it will be £700 to make it roadworthy. (Reminds us of his sobstory) and threatens reporting the garage that did the MOT for us and something about "legal action".

I think he wants to take advantage of mum & dad who he will see are in their 60s and, as far as he can see, have a nice house IYSWIM. Obv mum and dad think his garage are on the make. I think this may actually be a total pre-mediatated scam!

WWYD? Mum worried if she tells him to get lost that he will put the windows in! She wants to get him to return the car and give him his £400 back and just scrap the car.

Would anyone give him the £700?!!!

thanks in advance!

OP posts:

MrsGeorgeMichael · 08/10/2014 14:51

police!
wouldnt get involved and let poluce follow up
good lucj!

MrsCumbersnatch · 08/10/2014 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ilovexmastime · 08/10/2014 14:55

Sounds like he's trying to rip off your parents to me. Tell him to get lost.

AlexVause82 · 08/10/2014 14:55

Why would you even care about them reporting the garage it was MOT'd in?

Don't part with any cash. You have a MOT certificate as proof the vehicle is in working condition. Also, sold as seen. Show messages to police

Comito · 08/10/2014 14:56

Tell him to do one.

He has no claim whatsoever. Tell him firmly that he has no claim and that they will no longer be taking calls or messages from him. If he becomes abusive or threatening, report him.

Seriously, DO NOT offer to take the car back or offer him any money or even negotiate with him. He is trying it on and this is a common scam.

BoomBoomsCousin · 08/10/2014 14:56

Cheeky or a scam. After 2 weeks when he could have done anything to it, there is absolutely no way she should give him the £400 back, let alone £700. He bought it "as is". If her garage has been passing cars that are unfit they should be reported.

Excitedforxmas · 08/10/2014 14:57

No he had the chance to check car over or get an aa inspection! Tell him to get lost!

Excitedforxmas · 08/10/2014 14:58

And phone 101 for advice. Tell Dick you,ll meet him at the police station as your dad is good mates with the police mechanic!

BabyMarmoset · 08/10/2014 14:58

Obviously a scam.

Even if it was true...

The legal liability lies with the garage not your parents, who acted in good faith. If he can prove that it should not have passed its MOT then he is very welcome to sue the garage. Nothing to do with your parents.

He won't sue the garage... because it is a scam.

Missunreasonable · 08/10/2014 15:00

Ask him to report the garage and tell him that you would be happy for him to do this as you don't want people driving around unroadworthy cars.
Then tell him that you will not offer him a refund and are not obliged to do so because you are not a trader and the car was sold as seen.
If you really think he is going to be problematic just tell him that you will buy the car back from him for £400 and scrap it yourself.
He's having you on and taking you for a ride.

wanttosinglikemarycoughlan · 08/10/2014 15:00

agree, ring 101 and let them sort it out

DontTurnAround · 08/10/2014 15:00

Definitely at it! I would give him SFA

Vitalstatistix · 08/10/2014 15:03

he's a con artist, imo.

PrivateJourney · 08/10/2014 15:07

Yes, get them to tell him they need to take advice and will be asking 101 to help.

Bet he decides it's not that bad after-all.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 08/10/2014 15:10

Sounds like a scam tell him you are more than happy for him to report the garage and ask for some written documentation to prove that a garage has deemed the car unroadworthy so you can follow it up with the police. I think you'll get radio silence

LurkingHusband · 08/10/2014 15:15

He's trying it on.

Get the jump on him by telling him you have already reported it to the police, and give him the name of the officer handling it, and the case number. You won't hear a squeak since.

WoodliceCollection · 08/10/2014 15:16

WTF no way! Even if you had sold car for scrap, they wouldn't have charged you £700 to take it away, this guy is a complete chancer. Your mum needs to tell the police if she is really worried he may be violent too.

wheresthelight · 08/10/2014 15:20

police all the way!!

assuming like most men of your dad's age (my dad included) use the same garage every year for MOT's then you know full well the car was safe at the time it was sold. as others have said he could have done bloody anything to it and you have no guarantee that a garage has said anything of the sorts.

tell your parents to ignore him and report it to the police so that they are aware

KnackeredMuchly · 08/10/2014 15:31

What a knob. Don't let your parents buy the car back, he will strip it first!!

specialsubject · 08/10/2014 15:33

no chance. When you buy a car privately you have no protection, even if it does disintegrate next day.

contact 101 re threats.Make sure DVLA have been informed of sale.

ThreeQuartersEmpty · 08/10/2014 15:34

Sounded dodgy as soon as you said he bought it without driving it. No one does that, no one.

prh47bridge · 08/10/2014 15:54

When you buy a car privately you have no protection

That isn't true. The car must still be fit for purpose and match any description given by the seller. So if the seller says it has air conditioning it must have working air conditioning, for example. However, unlike when buying a car from a dealer it does not have to be of satisfactory quality given its age and mileage.

In this case I agree this sounds like a scam. Even if it isn't, he is not claiming that the car did not match the description and it seems to have been fit for purpose in that it worked for 2 weeks without problems. The only possible case he has is if it was genuinely not roadworthy when he bought it. If that is the case he can potentially reject the car and demand his money back. But if any work has been done on the car he has lost that right and would have to settle for a repair.

I would advise your parents to tell him that they will not provide any refund and see what happens.

NewEraNewMindset · 08/10/2014 15:59

Oh gosh, I would be concerned about your Mum and a Dad and possible intimidation. I have to say I would be ringing the man concerned stating that I was the daughter and you are aware of his communications with your parents and asking him what the problem was.

That alone might be enough to get rid of him as he may think your parents are on their own and vulnerable. If he becomes aggressive with you I would be contacting 101, I assume you have his address or else the DVLA does?

ChelsyHandy · 08/10/2014 17:53

Its a scam. And the car doesn't have to be fit for purpose if sold privately. It must only meet its description. Its caveat emptor still as far as private sales are concerned. The price shows you what sort of car he was buying. Courts would have no truck with him, he is full of nonsense. Call the police re the threats.

Original poster

kirsten123 · 08/10/2014 18:03

Thanks everyone.
We are drafting a text message back to him saying that we are sorry for his trouble but he needs to take it up with the garage that did the MOT.

Stand back for the brick coming through the window!!

OP posts:

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