Category C Cars

[KatySteptoe]

Hi!

 

I recently bought a car I saw advertised on Gumtree by a 'private seller'. After test driving the car, and asking about its previous history, I noticed a section of poor paintwork on the front passenger side of the car. However was reassured the car had not had a serious accident and that it was in very good condition.

 

Less than two months after purchasing the car it fell to pieces, with over ten faults. After having it valued it appeared to be over worth £1000 less than I paid for it, and I discovered it was a category C car. The log book I was shown when I purchased the car had no record of previous damage to the car, and also said the number of previous owners was half of how many the car actually has.

 

After talking to the man who sold it to me it was obvious this situation could not be solved amicably no matter how hard I tried. After more research into the seller I have discovered he is actually a trader who buys cars from auctions, fixes them up himself poorly, and sells them on as private, lying about the history and denying that these were in fact written off cars. When confronted about being a trader he claimed 'I have many cars I keep at different peoples houses and that I get them to sell for me' therefore admitting he is in fact a trader. However he is claiming my car is the only car that wasn't a trader car. The situation has lead to a court case as the seller would not agree to discuss, nor attempt to resolve the situation, and I plan on reporting him to consumer direct. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or new anything about these kind of situations?

 

Thank you all for your help!

[oddjobbob]

hi

IF you can show in a county court that he IS a trader... btw, do a google search of his nobile number, try it 'whole' eg 0786070883x AND separate ie 07860 70883x. If he's selling lots of cars then lots of ads should come up.

 

If they do, good, print them... and keep them to yourself till you get to court, just state in your summons that you believe he is a car dealer... then let him deny it in court (ask him several times, let him dig a nice big hole for himself) then pull the ads out of your handbag. You'll win.

 

IF he is a trader (and it seems he is) then he is compelled by law to inform yuo that thecar is a Cat C write off.. this never used to be the cae until about 5 or so years ago.

 

However.. winning in court is not the same as getting paid.

 

If i won and didin't get paid I'd get a relative to deliberately ring him up about one of his cars and then 'accidentally' bump it into a wall on test drive.

 

Then tell him when he pays you,. you'll pay him