car change

[Lottiegirl]

My friend bought car from a car dealer. Son went with her to check. After 4 days oil leak took to garage . big oil leak and lots of other things wrong. Said old trick of steam cleaning engine from underneath so leak cannot be detected. Is there any recourse she can take, Think it stinks as on fixed income. Her garage said dealer must have seen her coming ! not very nice.

[autobagger]

how long have you had the car !!! you have your rights

[d9f1c7]

Although the seller has a duty to supply the car as fit for purpose and it could also be deemed that they should take the car back and refund. The basic problem is that it's almost impossible to actually get a refund if they are unwilling. In cases of buying second hand cars the general advice has always been caveat Emptor I'm afraid.

You can take direct action like walking up and down outside with a sandwich board exclaiming the merchadise is faulty but that requires effort and they may refund to get rid or they may just send out some heavies!

very little you can do but for the future, take someone who knows what they are doing and also get a car buying advice/check list from the net . Cold comfort I'm afraid.

On the bright side an oil leak is not the end of the world some engines leak oil through a seal that may be easy to replace. What's the car?

[tonywiltshire]

As d9 says the vehicle bought from a dealer must be fit for purpose, it must also match the description given (i.e. 1 careful owner when there have been 4) it must be of satisfactory quality (considering its age, history and price paid). The dealer is unable to evade responsibility for mechanical defects even if they were not obvious unless the defects were pointed out and accepted by you. If you had a guarantee, extended warranty, or paid by credit card you may have other additional rights.

First contact the dealer with as much proof as possible, be calm but firm and ask for a refund, repair or replacement and set a time limit, if you are dissatisfied after your visit write and give them 14 days or you will take action in the courts, send you letter by recorded delivery and keep a copy. If the dealer takes no notice write again and head your letter “letter before court action” ask again for a refund, repair or replacement referring to your visit and previous letter.

If you are again ignored commence action in the county court, do not just accept the situation.

[NOX]

I think we need more info to be honest. Okay it's got an oil leak, that may not be the end of the world, what else is wrong with it, how old is it and how much did she pay? Some people are indeed ripped off by garages but equally some people want a rolls royce for £500, we need to know more about the car etc.