DS bought car from scamner

[MiddleOfThePack]

DS19 has just got home from uni to tell us he's bought a car which promptly broke down. He thought he'd bought from a garage with a warranty etc. It turns out that the chap he bought it from doesn't work for the garage. What are his rights re getting his money back and what can he do?

There is a page on CAB.
If you scroll down and press start it takes you to a page to fill the date in & some details. I’m assuming he paid cash? There are some unscrupulous people about -why did he think he worked at the garage? He must be gutted
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-or-repairing-a-car/problems-with-a-used-car/

Looks like first stop is his bank tomorrow to ask if they can do a charge back & a section 75. They might say no but gotta try.

TBH I think he's probably learned his first 'let the buyer beware' lesson the hard way. He paid the money 'willingly', if naively, and he can't return it as he had no contact details for the seller. The car was brought down from Newcastle on a low loader and they drove off the second he got in the car and started it! It did drive OK for the first drive or 2, but then broke down with a multitude of electrical issues [he took it to a garage for a diagnosis].

However, we did search for the guy's name online and he's got form! I don't think he's getting any money back on this one.

The best we can do is get the car fixed up and through it's MOT [due next month - and yes we did say he should never have bought a car with a month's MOT left!]. Then he either keeps the car and writes off his life savings, which he used to buy it, or sells it on again to buy a cheaper car which might cost just as much.

At the end of the day "it's only money" and we are more upset that he didn't call us first to discuss it before he went off and bought it by himself. We'd have said to at least go to the car and drive it first.

It's a classic case of 'how NOT to buy a used car' - maybe there's a youtube video in it - he could always monetise that!