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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask car auction/garage for my money back?

49 replies

Etainagain · 06/03/2016 17:31

Bought a car at auction a month ago. Auction house said it was a part-exchange. I googled the number plate the day before the auction and found it advertised with a garage which I found odd. So I called them pretending to be interested and they said it had now been sold. Recently got car checked over and garage said needs min 2,500 spend just to get through next MOT in May and poss considerably more (other faults needs investigating) and recommended getting rid of it.

Car was sold as seen. If I had bought the car from the garage directly, I would have been protected by the Sale of Goods Act. Would I still have any protection as the seller is, I presume, the garage (although it is not the registered owner)? I believe the garage sent it straight to auction after discovering the faults on closer inspection (they give RAC warranties with their cars, so would probably have been unable to offer one with this car). Just clutching at straws I suppose.

OP posts:
BillBrysonsBeard · 06/03/2016 21:14

We sent a car to auction mainly because we didn't have to declare anything- we'd bought it and it needed loads of work. We made a loss on it but not as much as if a private seller had known about its issues. It's the risk with auctions and better for dealers to buy cars there in bulk on the off chance they get a few great deals.

Original poster
Etainagain · 06/03/2016 22:48

Do you think I should try and sell at auction and declare the problems?

OP posts:
RedSoloCup · 06/03/2016 22:51

When you sell a car at auction they tell you 'we do not wish to know of any faults the vehicle may have' sold as seen, the end, no comeback whatsoever. Sorry OP.

Original poster
Etainagain · 06/03/2016 23:00

So they wouldn't want me to declare any of the faults if I sell it at auction?

OP posts:
Original poster
Etainagain · 06/03/2016 23:03

Selling on again at auction would be by far the most convenient way to get rid of it, but there is a bit of a moral dilemma if I can't declare the faults. On the one hand, I think people know the risks, on the other I'd be worried that another idiot like me might buy it!

OP posts:
BillBrysonsBeard · 06/03/2016 23:10

But that's the whole point of auctions OP. You're not doing anything illegal... The buyer takes the risk. If they don't want to risk it they should buy from a dealer.

RedSoloCup · 06/03/2016 23:26

Honestly OP I know dilemma as we had to do it (bought car from dealer but not 'official' dealer didn't realise had to sell and make a huge loss at auction) and they say WE DO NOT WANT TO KNOW OF ANY FAULTS, you can't even tell them if you want to.

BombadierFritz · 06/03/2016 23:32

What does it actually need? Maybe a small independent mechanic would be the cheaper option?

Monstertrucker · 06/03/2016 23:44

We sold out last car at auction - it developed a major fault and we needed rid quick. No idea if the buyer picked up on the fault before purchase but that's totally not our problem. That's how auctions work and if you don't like it you really shouldn't be there.

We've also bought from auctions. I'd always only do this with my DH with me though as you do need to be able to check the car yourself a bit before bidding. Personally I think you should stay away from car auctions in the future and stick to forecourts!

Phalenopsisgirl · 06/03/2016 23:48

Auctions are for people who know their stuff and are happy to take on cars that will need tlc. This works fine if you can do the work yourself and are happy to take a gamble. You can't expect to play the auction game AND behave and be treated as you would when buying from a garage.

araiba · 07/03/2016 03:15

what are you doing buying cars at auction when you clearly know nothing about cars or the auction rules and regulations?

It's no surprise you bought a lemon

chuck it back in to auction and hope someone else is silly enough to buy it

MargaretCabbage · 07/03/2016 04:06

Sale of Goods Act doesn't apply at auction when there is an opportunity to view the item. Items are sold as seen and it is a risk.

If the car is really dangerous maybe speak to the auction house. I'm an auctioneer (though not with cars) and occasionally let people re-enter items with a reduced commission as a gesture of goodwill if they're unhappy. If they won't you're probably best just to put it back in anyway and hope you make some of the money back.

SimpleSimonThePieMan · 07/03/2016 07:21

Probably best steering clear of auctions unless you know what you're doing. As an example, my friend in the trade was recently talking to me about his wife's car. She'd used it for a couple of years but has now developed a nasty oil leak from a crank seal and a water leak into the interior. Massive job to fix it, not worth his time on a £1500 car and no way he could retail it. Gave the engine and interior a good clean. Polished the bodywork and stuck a fresh MOT on it. Banged it into the auction, job done. Someone else's problem now.

MrsDeathOfRats · 07/03/2016 07:29

When you buy a car at auction don't you get the chance to look over it prior to the auction?

Ok, you might be well versed in car mechanics but you would get an idea and a feel for whether it was solid or not.
Also, watch carefully whether other bidders want the vehicle.

What is the car and how much did you pay?
If you got a decent age/low mileage for a steal price then I think your thread(s) are you now realising your steal wasn't a steal at all.
Just cough up the repair price and chalk it up to experience.

londonrach · 07/03/2016 07:29

Yabu if an auction as sold as seen. Doesnt matter if its stored at local garage if bought at auction its auction rules.

DropYourSword · 07/03/2016 07:35

OP - can I just clarify? You called the garage the day before the auction, they listed the issues with the car but you still bought it??

DropYourSword · 07/03/2016 07:39

Sorry, I misunderstood! Was a different garage that described it's faults. Learn to read better Drop Blush

Sucks that your in this position but you've already conceded that cars at auction are sold as seen and there's nothing you can do apart from scrap it, repair it, or sell it on at auction.

firesidechat · 07/03/2016 07:46

We are buying a car from a dealership this week and have part exchanged our old car. Our old car will be going straight to auction because it's too old to sit on the dealers lovely forecourt. Whoever buys it at auction will get a great car in good condition for it's age. You pays your money and takes your choice. That's the whole point of buying at auction and not something I would do because I'm happier with a bit of warranty to fall back on.

trixymalixy · 07/03/2016 07:46

I think you need to chalk this one up to experience and hope you get some of your money back by sending it back to auction.

You're off your head buying cars at auction if you know nothing about them and can't repair them yourself.

Original poster
Etainagain · 07/03/2016 07:51

Yes, I've learnt my lesson. We've bought a couple of cars in auction in the past. One was ex-motability, only 3 years old and low mileage. The other is 6 years old, low mileage with full service hisotry. I suppose we got over confident!

Dh and I know nothing about cars, so we were taking a big risk. However, the garage that inspected the car said that just looking under the bonnet is not enough and you need to look underneath it. So even if we did have some knowledge, it might not have made a difference.

I am feeling slightly guilty about putting it back in auction and landing someone else with a dud. Just hope that the buyer is someone who can do the work themselves. It's good to know that most people recognise that auction cars are likely to have problems. I don't feel quite so bad that way.

OP posts:
Original poster
Etainagain · 07/03/2016 08:04

fireside how old is your car? It seems to me that a lot of car dealers don't want anything over 5 years old nowadays, so I suppose there are auction bargains to be had if you are very lucky. It never used to be like that, I can remember mainstream dealers selling part exchanges over 10 years old.

OP posts:
firesidechat · 07/03/2016 08:10

12 years old and we had it from new. Not many people would buy a car that age from a dealership.

Original poster
Etainagain · 07/03/2016 08:16

So did the dealer refuse to part exchange it?

OP posts:
firesidechat · 07/03/2016 09:02

No, they took it and for more than they initially said they would. I don't think they really wanted it, but we couldn't be bothered with a private sale and they wanted to sell us a nice car.

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