Consumer rights act 2015 - used vehicle

[Kittley]

I bought a used car from a dealership almost 2 hours away about 3 weeks ago. 6 days ago, the display screen of the car completely stopped working (I can't see the petrol levels etc). Since then it's been a nightmare back and forth trying to get a hold of the dealership. They rarely answer their phone and the one of the staff communicates with me by text. Today they sent me a vague response that they'll come back to me within the next couple of days as they're unsure if they should have the car back to fix it. I find this worrying as we're now on day 27 since I got the car. Part of me is worried they're buying time so I'm outside of my 30 days consumer rights.

If I do decide to just return the car, do I contact the dealership directly and can they refuse me a refund?

This is all new to me. Thanks

You need to e mail them straight away and tell them you are rejecting the car as is your right under the Act and ask them to arrange a date of return etc there are template letters on the CAB website.

Drive the car there, and be VERY LOUD in the showroom about it's faults, their poor and delaying response, and how you'd like a full refund thank you very much.

Don't bother ringing, just go.

Saturday morning is best, but you shouldn't wait now it's got to this point.

You should exercise your right to reject your car right now before any more time passes, and claim a full refund. Which? Has a template letter you can use:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-rejecting-a-new-or-used-car-bought-from-a-dealer-aeziX3M7tYNw

Did you borrow money to buy your car under a hire purchase agreement, PCP or similar? In which case let the lender know that you have done this, as they’ll need to be looped into the refund process.

Thanks for the template. I bought the car in cash and paid by the dealership the full amount by bank transfer.

I returned my car under the Act. If you have made them aware of the fault within 30 days then you have followed process. Dealerships do try to delay thinking this takes matters beyond 30 days.

I got my money back but what a battle I had. They even offered me £500 less because I had it a week due to their own delays. I bought in good faith and they sold me a car unfit for purpose. Thats what legislation is in place for.

I took mine back and sat in the dealership til it was resolved. Not recommended!

Thanks for sharing! I emailed them today (day 29) backed with a text message as that's how they've been communicating with me to say I'm rejecting the car using the citizen's advice bureau letter template. Did they respond to you quickly when you notified them you're rejecting the car? The dealership I'm dealing with aren't very responsive at all. CAB said the dealership will have 14 days to respond to my claim?

I exercised my right to reject a car a couple of years ago. You have to physically return the car to them within the timeframe. Have you done that? They won't do anything until you take the car back to them.

@Kittley yes he was responsive but in an aggressive, world has ended manner. When I arrived at the garage, he tried to put me in another car after he had told me he had no courtesy cars available. He wanted me to return my car to a miles away dealership. I refused.

He lost his rag but I just kept calm. He had bought the car from an auction and didnt even check it over prior to sale.

Oh gosh! What a nightmare! I spoke to citizens advice bureau earlier today who has logged a case number for me. I've emailed the dealership and texted them that I'm rejecting the car earlier today. Also going to post a letter! I don't even know if they'll come back to me as they're not responsive but CAB said they have 14 days to respond. :(

Hi, what was the outcome @Kittley ? We bought a car from a vw dealership 2 weeks ago , the car is just 3 years old. Last night the warning light came on and the car went into limp mode whilst I was on a dual carriageway, so dangerous!

Hi! So I took them to high court but the dealership closed down their business but I can see they've opened a new limited company the day after using a different name. The high court is now demanding them to pay me but the dealership aren't responding.

Oh gosh, what a nightmare for you. Fingers x you get somewhere.

We returned a car like this earlier this year. It turned out to be much easier due to taking out finance as the finance company do the leg work for you and are familiar with the process.

Ours was a main dealership car and they asked us to take it to any main dealer to verify it was faulty. They did then accept it back, but were really poor in communicating with us.

Sadly that’s common practice for these bomb site car dealers. Might as well buy privately vs small dealers like this, the law may be on your side but it’s notoriously difficult to actually extract any cash out of them when you win.