AIBU to ask for full refund of newly purchased, and now broken down car?

[fourthusernamebutwhoscounting]

I've had it less than a month. I think I understand that I have some rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Can any legal-types help me draft an email to the dealer, or AIBU to ask?!

We rejected our brand new car. It broke down on day 30 so I sent an email telling the dealer that we reserved the right to reject the car pending the outcome of the diagnostic investigation (which took a week) we then got the car back another week after that. Two days later it wouldn’t start, so that was it for me. I followed up the original email telling them I was rejecting the car listing all of the reasons why and that I expected a full refund. I was expecting a fight but they didn’t argue and we did get our refund plus a courtesy car whilst this was all being processed. I can Pm you the draft of the email I sent if you would like?

Hey rockchick yes please that would be great.

You have to give them opportunity to fix the problem. You are within 6 months of purchase so the Dealership has to fix or prove that the issue was not inherant at the point of purchase. If once 'fixed' there is still the same issue, you can reject it. Did you purchase outright or is it on finance?

It's a second-hand car, paid outright on debit card. Still within 30 days let alone 6 months! It has already been to one garage for diagnosis (they just cleared error codes) and now it's back with another garage.

Also, they do not have to provide a courtesy car unfortunately. Dealers usually have only one courtesy car which was probably with another customer last week. You say they can't find a problem, what was the issue with the vehicle when it broke down? What car is it?

I had a full refund on a car last year that had a faulty gear box. You need to persist with the dealer - the manager being away is no excuse. As it’s within 30 days you don’t have to give them the chance to repair it.

I have done this. The garage tried to tell me I had to let them repair it but I was firm and escalated it to the manager who acknowledged I was within my rights to reject the car. They had to wait for the V5 to come back in order to process the refund.

I was in a similar situation and got stuck with no refund. Whatever you do, do not authorise or pay for any repairs on the vehicle whatsoever, as that is considered an acceptance of the vehicle in its state.
I was driving mine home from a dealer on a dual carriageway and the brakes failed! (They were fine on test drive).
I pulled in to a well known garage which was literally at the lights I'd badly stopped at. Being young and naive I told them to just fix it, I would drive home and sort it in the morning. Shot myself right in the foot with that one. It was a bag of crap. Couldn't return as I'd made it safe.

Was it purchased from a main dealer (eg, Ford, Nissan) or an independent car sales?

You have the right to reject for any reason within the first 30 days. We consider rejections up to a year but we have to be given the opportunity to fix the problem first (work in management in a dealership).

I wouldn't bother getting an independent report - many manufacturers won't accept a diagnosis by an independent party.

Curious - what car make/model/age was it?

Ooh more replies, thank you.
It's an 8yo Peugeot. Purchased from dealer.

In fairness, they are currently trying to repair it. Because that's what they told me to do when it broke down.
This shouldn't affect my right to reject it, as it is currently unfit for purpose.

Oh independent car sales not main dealer.

Tell them you're rejecting it:

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

Don't wait!!! I used to manage the complaints team for a large German financial services company...

You have a right to reject something faulty and you are entitled to a full refund within 30 days of purchase in most cases.

After 30 days you lose the short-term right to reject the goods.

You’ll also have fewer rights, such as only being able to ask for a repair or replacement, or a partial refund.

say anything else reject for any reason? Really? I thought it had to be faulty.

Thank you never. I have sent the letter as PP linked to, to say I am rejecting it. They came back to say I couldn't. I guess I just have to push back and insist now?

You still can reject the car, even after giving them the opportunity to repair it as I did this earlier this year.

Advise them that to be fair, you offered them chance to repair the vehicle, however as this has not been done you want to reject the vehicle. I would also call the CAB who can report to trading standards.

Yes! We got a full refund after 4 months, as the car kept conking out mid-drive. They had tried to fix it, but no luck. They weren’t happy about refunding, but we got a cheque for the full amount from the dealership.

fourth where abouts are you as that's the same excuse the dealership gave me initially!
yes I don't see why you cant use that! I would ring citizens advice, tell them what you've told us and they will advise you what to do next!

did you authorise the repair?

I think even if you did you can still refuse it.