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Original poster

Sold car privately now they want their money back

221 replies

Raspberrysins · 14/03/2021 16:19

I sold my car to a lady on Facebook. She test drove it on Monday. Picked it up on Friday. Meanwhile I also found a car and bought it with the proceeds. She turned up on my doorstep yesterday claiming the car is ‘no good’ and wants her money back. She said it smells of fumes and that the engine was smoking. She brought another lady who was pretty bolshy. I didn’t know what to do! She demanded that I go and pick it up from her house and so I did this and also I arranged for the garage who’d recently MOT’d it to take it for a check on Monday. I did this all as a gesture of goodwill. I felt sorry for her as honestly the car had been fine for me and just had some work done. I’m feeling so anxious now about what the outcome might be. What if the garage uncover a problem that I didn’t know about? What’s my responsibility? The car is legally hers and my understanding is that with a private sale it’s ‘sold as seen’. It’s up to her to check it properly. I never set out to scam anyone. I know officially I don’t have to do anything but I feel so very anxious. Her son lives in my village and I am worried they might cause trouble.

OP posts:
FunnyWonder · 14/03/2021 18:58

I wouldn't take the car back to her, OP. It is at the garage and they now have the keys. It is no longer in your possession. The V5 has been completed. As a few other posters have suggested, pass on her contact details to the garage and let them deal with her now. It's really not your problem as you sold it in good faith.

GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 19:00

Its a scam. Next thing, she will have a "friend" who can carry out the "work it needs" for x pounds, if you can just give it to her. 3 months later, same thing.

Roselilly36 · 14/03/2021 19:00

Sounds like you are being scammed to be honest, sold as seen, you should have said this to the buyer. It may be an expensive lesson for you to learn sadly,,OP.

mam0918 · 14/03/2021 19:03

did you list it as sold as seen?

If you lied in the advert she can claim you falsely advertised but its on her to prove the fault was lied about, pre-existing and to legally sue you with that proof.

Easterbunnygettingready · 14/03/2021 19:07

Collect from the garage. Park it at her home. Post keys through her door. Video the dropping off of keys and the car parked up... Do not engage further..

AlessandroVasectomi · 14/03/2021 19:08

And ignore her friend’s threat of calling the police. No crime has been committed - unless she or her friend threaten violence - so the police won’t be interested.

This entitled woman needs a lesson in private car buying and selling.

Giraffey1 · 14/03/2021 19:09

You shouldn’t be engaging with her, you sold the car as seen and she is now the owner. I would it have entertained taking it to the garage or any of that palaver. Do t engage any further.

Sadsiblingatsea · 14/03/2021 19:11

Caveat emptor. She bought it and it was her responsibility to check it out. what a cheek!

Theunamedcat · 14/03/2021 19:18

Once you transfer the ownership its her car not yours so it was kind of you to drop it to the garage that's all it is a kindness

Was it smoking when you drove it to the garage?

Essentialgarage · 14/03/2021 19:18

@FunnyWonder

I wouldn't take the car back to her, OP. It is at the garage and they now have the keys. It is no longer in your possession. The V5 has been completed. As a few other posters have suggested, pass on her contact details to the garage and let them deal with her now. It's really not your problem as you sold it in good faith.
Why should the garage deal with her? They are a business not CAB/mediation

What have the garage said to you op?

ChameleonClara · 14/03/2021 19:18

@Raspberrysins

To those saying she is probably trying to scam me I genuinely think she isn’t. She wanted the car. She thinks I’m the scammer!
If she was scamming you, she wouldn't turn up and say 'I don't really want a car, I am.planning to bring it back in a few days'!

I hope this isn't a scam but you are sounding a bit too trusting. Hope it gets resolved.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 14/03/2021 19:19

What work did the garage actually do? An MoT is basically checking that the essentials are minimally OK - not 'doing work' as such to make any repairs or improvements.

iklboo · 14/03/2021 19:19

Her friend threatened to call the police? I'd have handed her my phone and told her to get on with it.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 14/03/2021 19:28

I think it's fair enough to get the garage to check their work, and if they have done something wrong then they ought to fix it without further charge. If a new fault has developed that you couldn't possibly have known about before selling, then this is for the new owner to deal with, not you. Definitely talk to the garage first thing and tell them your position before they start work.
You don't know what she's done to the car which she is now attempting to blame you for so be careful with totally trusting her and don't accept any liability. My brother sold a car once and the new owner called him, ranting and raving. It turned out she'd put the wrong fuel in it!

HalzTangz · 14/03/2021 19:34

@RedRiverShore

Most insurance allow you to drive any car not owned by you but I think it is only 3rd party cover and you generally have to be over a certain age, 21 or 25 something like that
That's not correct, even with fully comp you need to be a named driver to drive the vehicle
KettleWentBang · 14/03/2021 19:35

My friend had similar. Said the radiator was leaking and wanted x amount of money refunded. Was very convincing.
However my Friend had forgot that when she got the car less than 1 year prior my dh himself put a new rad and mot for her.
Thankfully i reminded her.
She didn't give any money back.

sold as seen is the key here

saleorbouy · 14/03/2021 19:44

Buyer beware.... it's up to the buyer to check the condition of the vehicle. They could have sought the advice of an independent vehicle inspector if they wanted. If you have not deliberately withheld any know defects and it has an MOT then i can't see how its your fault or liability.
Keep your new car and she has to keep her purchase.
Maybe contact Citizens advice for help.

Thebookswereherfriends · 14/03/2021 19:45

Just phone the garage in the morning to tell them that you’re calling the owner to collect. Text the woman and say the garage have checked it over and it’s fine and ready for her to collect, then don’t engage any further.

Diamondella · 14/03/2021 19:45

If she starts turning up at your house advise her any threatening or intimidating behavior and you will call the police , if it continues then call the police. You sold it in good faith. If you live on your own maybe you could have a friend to call on to be with you if they turn up again, I definitely would not allow her in your house.

imalmostthere · 14/03/2021 19:45

Well now you've taken the car back it's your responsibility. She can refuse to have it back and therefore you'd need to refund her as she's no longer in ownership of the car - you were once you picked it up.

activitythree · 14/03/2021 19:47

@HalzTangz

That's not correct, even with fully comp you need to be a named driver to drive the vehicle

You have your wires crossed.

If OP has 'drive other cars' cover on her policy she will be covered, third party, to drive the 'sold' vehicle, so long as the new owner has insurance.

You do not need to be named on a policy to drive a car.

Original poster
Raspberrysins · 14/03/2021 19:53

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll they replaced a valve in the engine and n order to pass the MOT which we discussed at point of sale. She knew it had just had the work done so is thinking it might be related to this. I’m hoping it is so that it’s remedied by the garage. I’ve a good relationship with the garage and they know the situation. They will just check their work and that the car is safe etc. I think that’s the right thing to do. It doesn’t mean I’m saying I’m responsible. She test drove it and never bothered to get it fully inspected. As far as I was concerned it was totally fine and ready to go.

OP posts:
AWhisperWillDoIfThatsAllYouCan · 14/03/2021 19:53

@HalzTangz

Nope. You can have 3rd part insurance to drive other cars. Your own insurance covers you on the other cars; you dont need to be named on the owner's policy.

Original poster
Raspberrysins · 14/03/2021 19:55

@imalmostthere I don’t think she can refuse to have it back? It’s in her name. It’s legally her car.

OP posts:
Thisgirlcando · 14/03/2021 19:57

Well now you've taken the car back it's your responsibility. She can refuse to have it back

This is not true and therefore unhelpful. The v5 has already been done and the new owner will receive it within two weeks, it has been done online so will already be recognised as their car. I’m insured to drive any car and drove my Dads car when mine broke, it doesn’t mean I have taken it off him and own it.

It most likely won’t go to court because it was sold as seen - it didn’t need to say that in the advert, that is the case with private sales. If it did go to court it would reflect well on OP as her trying to help proves she was acting in good faith.