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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New car stopped working : (

77 replies

redlondonbuses · 21/01/2018 08:41

My mum bought a second hand VW golf last weekend from a trader advertised on Autotrader, it's had two owners, all service history, seemed all above board. However she drove home yesterday and it stopped working, pulled over called RAC who plugged it in to electrical test and said it will cost over £1000 to get it fixed.

My mum was going to have it checked by RAC prior to purchase but didn't, she also didn't purchase the warranty. Why on earth she didn't do either I honestly don't know (I despair). The seller has said he will look at it tomorrow but does anyone know what her rights are, does trading standards have any guidelines as to 'cooling off periods' for car purchases? She paid by debit card (I said should have been credit).

My mum doesn't have much and has had the most unbelievably awful few years, has just left her abusive partner etc etc, I don't know how much she can cope with and I'm trying to pick up the pieces with her all the time and this is just another thing we do not need : (

OP posts:
AllButterShortbread · 29/01/2018 11:40

Yes I would leave reporting him until you’ve got the money back!

notapizzaeater · 29/01/2018 11:46

Why less £350? I'd be suing him for the full amount ....

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 30/01/2018 21:40

Still no refund, sent letter of intent today by email and recorded delivery, next step getting lawyers on board and reporting to trading standards. He's still advertising the car, stopped responding to emails and no money paid back...Bit of a nightmare to say the least...

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YetAnotherUser · 30/01/2018 21:45

How was the car paid for?

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 31/01/2018 09:26

It was paid for by debt card

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Original poster
redlondonbuses · 31/01/2018 09:27

debit

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Scrumptiousbears · 31/01/2018 09:38

Have you got copies of the new adverts?

Report to trading standards.

You don't need a solicitor you can do this all yourself. We did for a builder who ran away with our money.

CodPuncher · 31/01/2018 09:42

As it was paid by debit card can't your mum do a charge back through the bank? Might be worth checking with them

CodPuncher · 31/01/2018 09:48

Have a look here, it might help your mum
www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/visa-mastercard-chargeback

YetAnotherUser · 31/01/2018 17:48

Yep, try a chargeback with the bank if paid for by debit card. Nothing to lose.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 31/01/2018 19:48

That chargeback advice is brilliant, I didn’t even know you could do that. Op you definitely need to do that, you can get the money back from the idiot garage by going totally above their heads.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 31/01/2018 20:38

Yes we have copies of listings of the new advert and the advert is still live.

Thanks so much for tip re chargeback, will look into that with the bank tomorrow.

My mum is really worryingly low about this, am seriously concerned about how badly its affecting her.

Sad

thanks all for guidance and support xx

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Original poster
redlondonbuses · 08/02/2018 08:41

Another quick update; we have reported him to the fraud squad, reported him to the police, contact Autotrader and CAB, we have sent letters of intent and are now moving on to taking him to court. He has sold the car to someone else, claims that we have never owned it and has refused all letters sent to him by recorded delivery.

This has been utterly horrific and am fairly sure it's provoking a nervous breakdown in my mum.

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Original poster
redlondonbuses · 08/02/2018 08:41

Also, no joy re chargeback

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eleflump · 08/02/2018 12:20

Oh my god, that's horrific - your poor mum - did he not give you any sort of receipt or the log book when you bought it?

I can't believe he can get away with this- how did you pay him, is there no bank transaction as proof you bought it?

Really hope you get it sorted and that both you and your mum are okay.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 08/02/2018 21:34

Thanks so much for your sweet message eleflump

We did get a receipt, all transactions are traceable, he was paid by bank transfer. We have reapplied to the DVLA for ownership documents. It's all a mess Sad

My mum has started talking about suicide so am going to try to get her to her gp asap. It's awful.

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YetAnotherUser · 08/02/2018 21:36

Did the bank give a reason why the chargeback was unsuccessful?

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 08/02/2018 22:05

YetAnotherUser they said it wasn't possible, they told us to contact the fraud squad which we have done.

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eleflump · 08/02/2018 22:12

Am rooting for you red - can't imagine how horrible all this is for you both - I really hope you can get some help for your mum and that the car situation gets sorted soon.

AllButterShortbread · 09/02/2018 06:58

Has he had the gearbox replaced then? I thought it was a non-runner. How can he think he can get away with taking someone else’s money for the car when he’s not refunded your mums? Plus the dvla have his signature on the transfer of ownership document - have the new owners bought the car without getting the new owners slip? As presumably you have it. Are you sure he’s actually sold it?

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 09/02/2018 07:10

AllButterShortbread we don't know if he replaced the gearbox, we think he has most probably sold it as it works for a short period (enough for a test drive) and then will inevitably give out. He has said he has sold it and has removed it from his website and Autotrader. The DVLA still hasn't issued the ownership document, according to them this is not unusual and can take up yo 4 weeks.

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Original poster
redlondonbuses · 09/02/2018 07:11

eleflump thank you so much Flowers xx

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lazydog · 15/02/2018 20:03

Any progress yet red?

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 16/02/2018 08:11

lazydog we've taken it to the small claims court, he will have received the claim against him on Wednesday of this week. Apparently this will now be a long drawn out process Sad

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Original poster
redlondonbuses · 28/03/2018 09:02

HI all, just to say that he refunded all but £350 as my mum retained the V5C so he couldn't sell the car.

It has just been utterly horrendous and made my mum very ill. The small claims court count proceed as his address didn't accept post, the whole thing was just bizarre, scary and really damaging. I will be managing all future purchases and doing a LOT of research. Tempted to put his name and contact details on here but not sure that would help.

Flowers and much love to all of you who offered so much support and constructive advice. xx

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