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Major issue with privately bought car. Where do I stand?

16 replies

Lovemusic33 · 17/05/2018 19:33

Probably going to out myself here as I know some of my friends are MN’s.

Last week I bought a vehicle, a vehicle I had been wanting for a long time. Being a older model I knew that buying it was a bit risky. I went to look at it, took someone with me to check it over. Everything seemed fine but owner didn’t let us drive it due to insurance. Checked all the normal things, oil cap clean, not smokey and everything where it should be. Was a little worried that there was no paper work to indicate a belt change so knocked the price down to take into consideration I would need to get a new belt and water pump. It had a 12 month MOT. Went to pick it up the following week once I had sorted insurance and tax. When I drove it away the heaters were blowing hot, thought this was odd as it was a sunny day, what have the heaters on. After driving for a hour a light started flashing on the dash, I pulled over and called my dp who was driving back in his car, he came and looked and the coolant pressure was high. We continued to drive back slowly and kept stopping (a 45 minutes drive). Up until today it has been sat on my drive as I couldn’t get anyone to look at it. Today I found a garage near by to look and confirmed my fears that the head gasket has gone, I’m looking at a huge bill to fix it or a possible new engine.

I have contacted the person who sold it to me and all I got back was ‘it was fine when I had it’.

I am obviously very very upset, I spent my savings on this and although to some it’s not a massive amount of money, to me it’s everything I had.

Where do I stand?

OP posts:
OutsideContextProblem · 17/05/2018 19:37

Do a bit of google research on the bloke (google phone number for example) and see whether he has other cars for sale. It’s a bit of a long shot, but he sounds super-dodgy and if he’s a business seller masquerading as private then you have more rights.

How did you pay?

AnnieOH1 · 17/05/2018 19:38

Was this definitely a private seller? Do some homework to see if they're trading even off the books. Did they have any other vehicles?

I must admit you were naive at best to buy a car without driving it.

Was the logbook in the sellers name?

I would call trading standards in any event in case it is part of a bigger scam (dealer gets a lemon and claims to be private seller etc).

greendale17 · 17/05/2018 19:39

If it is a private sale there is nothing you can do. You should have checked the car thoroughly. Not being allowed to drive it- why didn’t you walk away at this point?

PotteryLady · 17/05/2018 19:39

I don't think you can do anything. I'm sorry but I would of insisted that they drove me around for a test drive - perhaps with hindsight got an AA inspection. Sorry non of this is helpful now.

Ginmakesitallok · 17/05/2018 19:40

Sorry but you were an absolute idiot buying it without driving it.

LittleBearPad · 17/05/2018 19:42

Caveat emptor applies, I’m sorry.

Dodie66 · 17/05/2018 19:45

Thwowner not letting you drive or taking you for a drive would be a red flag for me. I’d want to see it running etc.
I don’t think you can do anything about it

PlumsGalore · 17/05/2018 19:51

When we bought a used cR private for DD we took out a temporary one dY insurance policy for about £30, test drive the car, paid cash and drove it home again. I am not sure you can do anything now.

notapizzaeater · 17/05/2018 19:53

Have you legal,insurance with your house insurance ? Maybe ring them ?

Ylvamoon · 17/05/2018 19:56

Is there a contract? (Written or handshake) What questions did you ask about the car? AND why didn't you test drive it or your oh??? (most insurance will cover you for this...)

specialsubject · 17/05/2018 20:04

if he really is a private seller, the guarantee expired when you drove off. no one could have known that the gasket was about to go.

if he is a closet trader then you do have some comeback.

Lovemusic33 · 17/05/2018 20:11

Even if I did drive it the problem wouldn’t have been obvious, warning light didn’t come on until we had got half way home (a hours drive). We did see it running and checked all the obvious signs for head gasket issues (oil, coolant, smoke). My garage said it wouldn’t be noticeable unless driven quite far.

I know I should have got the AA to check it out for me, I know I should have driven it (even though it wouldn’t have showed the fault). I asked a lot of questions, was told it was due a service but had been serviced every year up until now but looking at the logbook there’s no evedence of any services in the past 3 years (books not stamped and no paper work). All MOT paper work was there or so I thought but now looking online she had not supplied me with any MOT’s that it didn’t pass (doesn’t make much difference as there are receipts for all work done).

I know I probably don’t have a leg to stand on as it was sold as seen, it was advertised on eBay but I didn’t buy through eBay. I just thought I would ask on here in case I could do anything.

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 17/05/2018 20:13

The seller was a ‘she’, she seemed genuine, it’s quite likely that she just didn’t realise there was something wrong with it, the only visible sign was the temperature gage was stuck on cool (engine not warming up) which she should have noticed. If she was just using it on short journeys then the warning light probably wouldn’t have come on.

OP posts:
ferrier · 17/05/2018 20:16

If you can find evidence that she lied to you then you have a case. For example if the eBay advert says full service history and there isn't one.

Lovemusic33 · 17/05/2018 20:17

Payment was through bank transfer.

Honestly don’t think it was a skammer, she was just a mum, she had the car for 3 years, log books in her name, all MOT’s done at her local garage. I have been in contact with her through text and she has said that the car was fine but she was only driving it to work and back (20 miles each way). She seemed honest and genuine.

I think I will just have to put it down to bad luck and me being stupid for not getting the AA to check it over.

OP posts:
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