Bought car not as described, Need advice.

[Robbo87]

I've just spent £2500 on a vauxhall corsa this afternoon.

 

First of all i will start by posting a photo of the advert which I viewed.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/Robbo1987/Untitled_zpsf9efc101.jpg

 

Before taking the car away I did see some scratches on the drivers side but I liked the car so I took it anyway. It was only on closer inspection when I got home when i discovered that the bumper is loose and in particular over one wheel arch at the rear the plastic above the wheel where the bumper joins another section is completely loose and a bit flappy.

 

The car is fully HPI clear and I've verified this with a friend who works in insurance.

 

 

here is a picture of the rear wheel arch http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/Robbo1987/1_zps6216cfce.png

Now going of the description I think im fair in saying it hasn't been sold fairly and isn't as described. He's basically offered to have someone look at it and "fix it up" but who knows what he means by that.

 

I actually said I want a refund on numerous occasions and that it's not as described, My sister was a bit more abrupt with him saying how is that"excellent" body condition, he just kept saying he thinks it is for the year etc etc and that its a 10 year old car blah blah blah. and that the only way he'll refund is if a court says so. and that he's registered with the FSB who will give him legal advice if we want to go down that route. I think i'm being reasonable, I even offered to lose my deposit but he's not having it. I said i'll take it to a body repair and see what they say for a quote but i think he just expects to pay £10 for some bolts and stick it on.

 

Can anyone help with me rights here? will it cost me to go to court and do i have a good enough case? My sister laid the law down with him but he just kept saying i don't want to refund it but im prepared to secure it which he says he doesn't even have to do.

 

Maybe my own naivety hasn't helped as I should have inspected more closely before driving away. He told me that someone was driving down from carlisle who had told him he definitely wants it which obviously made me act a bit more quickly than I should have.

 

Sorry to be rambling on, any help is appreciated.

 

 

Edit, just to add a few more things that I've remembered now I'm starting to calm down a bit. I part exed my old car with him for £180 if that makes any difference, I paid cash but do have a receipt although it may be worthless. and one of his excuses for not giving a refund was "i've already spent the money on other cars". In all honesty I think offering to lose my £200 deposit for a car ive had 4 hours is more than reasonable. I said I'll take it somewhere to be looked at tomorrow and give him the quote to be fixed and then see what he says. but I know they are going to say it's not going to be a dirt cheap fix which I know he won't just accept. He seems to be thinking of just putting a bolt on to tighten it up which still wont make it as it should be imo.

 

 

I feel really naive and stupid right now.

 

Here is the original advert (if he hasn't yet removed it) http://http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201401120982177/sort/default/usedcars/quicksearch/true/postcode/wn36sa/radius/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/3000/page/4?logcode=p, on one of the pictures it does actually show where the wheel arch is loose over one of the wheels if that makes sense, So I'm not sure where that actually leaves me because there is a picture but that doesn't exactly tie up with the written description.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Robbo87

[oddjobbob]

I think it's up to you to spot obvious things like that to be quite honest, and at that age it's bound to have bits and pieces of bodywork not quite right.

 

 

Sorry

[f16]

Think about it logically. You have said that you are "prepared to lose £200 deposit". There is no way the repair is more then that.

Your happy with the rest of the car..... and 6 month warranty, I don't think its that bad a deal.

I would also agree with #2

 

 

sorry

[Robbo87]

In all honesty I don't think I've exactly been ripped off or anything, It seems to drive fine and has a decent mileage etc the brakes have a bit of a slight squeak but that's all i can think of. and from what I can find I've paid somewhere around the right sort of value. I Just felt a bit pressured into buying it and if anything I think I'm more annoyed with myself for just not taking a step back and assessing the situation enough to notice that the car isn't "pristine" and looking like new like the advert said. I'll see what some local body repair places say tomorrow. I'm very much a worst case scenario kind of person. If the damage is easily and cheaply fixed then It won't be the end of the world.

[f16]

To be honest with you I've done the same in my younger days, but " I've been around the block a few times " since then. The brake squeak is probably the pads running low or dust in the rear drums ( if drum brakes). It's bound to have the odd super market dink it's 10 years old.

I think you did OK. Reasonable price.

[f16]

You should also check MOT history on line to check the mileage.

Good luck I will be watching

[Robbo87]

How would I go about checking the mot history? I guess it would help put my mind at rest to check it out fully. On the mot I have it has the past few years mileage which looks to check out when comparing it with reciepts from halfords that I found in the dash for odd bits done on the car over the last few years.

 

 

Like you I don't really feel I got a raw deal. just the wheel arch being really loose as it is has annoyed me, but I guess I'd take cosmetic damage over anything mechanical. I've got a few places lined up tomorrow to get quotes and opinions from so hopefully it won't be as major as my sister is making out.

 

 

Edit, I've checked the mot history on the .gov website, all seems to check out as far as mot records and mileage are concerned. Didn't realise it was so easy to get that info,

Edited January 22, 2014 by Robbo87

[f16]

Hi Robbo87, Go google check MOT on line, Enter the Reg and latest MOT cert. no and Bingo.......

I know this because I got a 1990 merc with 147000 on clock but checked and it had done 247000 ....but runs sweeeeet . So I kept her Bullet proof engine

[f16]

Even an "old man" gets caught now and again!!!!!!!!

[Robbo87]

Yeah thanks, I've just had a look, all seems to check out as far as mileage is concerned so thats some good news I guess. Also a nice insight into what it has previously failed on.

[f16]

There you go.... 44000 miles, Its hardly run in. The damage is no more than £130--£180

[Robbo87]

we will see, would I be within my rights to expect a repair if say its more than just a cosmetic scuff? I've just been out to have a closer look and the whole bumper across is loose too, I'm pretty sure a bumper shouldnt just be moved by a push of my hand. the description states "looks and drives like new" which is what has my back up,

[Robbo87]

Went to a bodyshop this morning, the trim basically seems to have broken clips so I need a new trim and that should atleast get it fixed correctly, it was broken and they've literally used double sided sticky tape to stick it back on. I also noticed today that the washer motor for the front and back isn't working, and that the interior light switch doesn't work, Not exactly major issue's but faults all the same and it wouldn't shock to me find more things like this. I phoned the warranty company and those would be covered if they went after buying the car, but as I only got it yesterday they said it's a pre existing thing and it's upto the dealer to sort, I've phoned trading standards and they've told me to send letters via recorded delivery stating the SOGA and so forth. I just feel utterly deflated right now.

 

Edit,

 

 

I'll edit rather than adding another comment, I phoned the trader this afternoon and he seemed a bit more willing to help, I told him about the washers pump being broken and the trim being broken, He sent me to a garage round the corner as he happens to know the owner and agreed to pick up the bill, They ordered a new pump for the washer and fitted that within 20 minutes and then he did a bit of a fix on the trim, It's still not great and has a screw going through it to the underside to help secure it aswell but it's atleast secure compared to what it was and looks more like it should. My sister is still peeved with me because she expects me to either get a full refund or have a new bumper and trim fitted and have all the scratches removed but I'm trying to be a bit more realistic.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Robbo87

[f16]

Well at least the trader is correcting the minor faults. What about the interior light?

I think you are correct taking the "realistic" route....... you don't want to "burn the bridges" with the trader, you have a 6 month warranty with him.

[Robbo87]

Yeh, Well the warranty is actually with a separate company and he made that pretty clear when I bought it, Don't really know if that is a good or bad thing to be honest.

 

They couldn't really do anything about the interior light, It works when the door is open, just that when i push in the headlamp switch to activate it, it doesn't work, According to google it's common and I can buy a new switch for about £5 on ebay so I can cope for now.

 

I'd forgotten how stressful buying a car is but I'll be making sure in future that I don't let my heart rule my head. although I said that after my last car!

[f16]

Good for you. Now enjoy driving the car.

The warranty is with an insurance co. I had one on a car years ago. The fuel pump went down .... sorted for free

Take care.... Glad it's sorted

[f16]

Sorry for added post. Cam belt change at 40000 miles (google it). Make sure it has been changed, because it will trash the engine and may not be covered on warranty.

Check service history and ring trader to check. If not changed then best advice, Do it.

[Robbo87]

Thanks for the tip, and all your previous responses for that matter. I've just been doing some googling and from what I can gather It would seem that my car is chain driven as opposed to a belt which seem to last longer. Although I'd need to get that double checked.

 

after just buying the car I need to wait a few weeks before I can afford anything big but my girlfriend did mention an AA car check that was about £140, I'm going to look into that or something similar because I guess then I'll know one way or another. although with half a brain I would have tried to do something like that before buying it.

[f16]

At this point I would not waste £140 on AA check.... It's got an MOT and you checked on line and all is in order.

Any garage worth it's salt will advise free of charge on the cam belt. No point wasting money on you all ready know. Put it towards a cam belt, if indeed it needs one

[f16]

You could take it for another MOT for£45.... That would tell you more than an AA check.. and save you £95

[Robbo87]

well after I've had the car a bit longer i've noticed a pretty major thing after a bit of rain which is that the car is leaking water, the floor on both sides of the car is literally soaking after the last few days rain and from speaking to someone at vauxhall they are talking about £600 to repair so I need to know what my options are. I'm feeling really down now as I could live with a few of the smaller issues but not this.

[f16]

Where is the water getting in? Around the screen? Might be a build up of debris in drainage channels below wipers

[Robbo87]

I can't tell where it's getting in, there's no obvious signs but the drivers side is soaked, also looked where I can under the bonnest and everything looks clear.

[f16]

With the bonnrt shut. Below the windscreen the is a plastic cover with drainage holes in. Below that there is a "Gutter" for want of the correct word,. If the drain holes at both ends are blocked it could get into the car.

What did Vauxhall say they were going to do?