12 replies to this topic

[shadeh]

Hi guys I just got a Fiesta today for my sister to learn in, it seemed ok shoddy paintwork but had a new battery service and clutch. We put £10 in it and we're drive along while it juddered quite badly then came to a stop. I thought the battery was on the way out or lost charge so we tried jump starting it but nothing. Called Aa out and he tried rolling the car in gear and it wouldn't move. Got told the engine siezed after driving it for 20 mins. The guy I got it off admitted he was a trader and had advertised it as private. Got it for £290. Dunno what to do

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[Lenny]

Hi guys I just got a Fiesta today for my sister to learn in, it seemed ok shoddy paintwork but had a new battery service and clutch. We put £10 in it and we're drive along while it juddered quite badly then came to a stop. I thought the battery was on the way out or lost charge so we tried jump starting it but nothing. Called Aa out and he tried rolling the car in gear and it wouldn't move. Got told the engine siezed after driving it for 20 mins. The guy I got it off admitted he was a trader and had advertised it as private. Got it for £290. Dunno what to do

Did you check it for oil prior to driving off from sale,
Or does the service history say it was done recently?
Usual cause of engine sieze is lack of oil but 290pounds for a car that drives is a bit fairytale.
Would have cost around 400pounds for battery,service and clutch to be done.

[shadeh]

Yeah history says done recently. Seemed to be in there too.. Maybe the head gasket I guess.. Well he's not answering now.. Think ill scrap it

[Stoney871]

Sale of goods act should still apply especially if he's admitted he's a trader.
If he gets funny then park it in his drive and take the wheels off it.

[Lenny]

Sale of goods act should still apply especially if he's admitted he's a trader.
If he gets funny then park it in his drive and take the wheels off it.

Being a trader he would get 4wheels easily,
So do as stoney says but also put the car in to gear and take a dump on the drivers seat,
He wont be able to sit on the drivers seat and put his foot on the clutch to get it out of gear and roll it
After putting the wheels on

[gregers]

as above ,THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE.

[Stoney871]

If he takes the wheels off and the car's sitting on it's belly then it's much harder for him to move it.
I've even seen ones with the car filled with farm slurry, concrete, food waste and rotten offal from an abbatoir.
TBH, most of these were the result of husbands cheating and being found out but still very effective ways to cause an annoyance.
Not that i'm condoning any form of retribution or anything that may be considered breaking the law.

[jeebowhite]

lol, some good answers above...

Did you pay via credit card? you should have some protection? I anticipate though that it was a cash purchase...

If it was, I would suggest that you do go back to him and demand that as he admitted he is a dealer, that he refunds you the money, or resolves the issue, otherwise you have every intention of reporting him to [Autotrader?] for breach of agreement with them...

[shadeh]

Hi it was cash. It's hard to get hold of him but I have a reciept of where the garage work was done and a phone number. Gonna give it a go n see if I can track him down

[jeebowhite]

good luck mate, its a shame that you paid cash, I know £300 is a lot, but it could have been hundreds or thousands worse!

Still I would contact the site you bought the car through and advise of the situation, let them know all the details, they might be able to help!

[shadeh]

Gumtree told me to contact the police and they said contact trading standards and when I did they said u need to find out if he's a trader.. So trail gone a bit cold now

[Stoney871]

Do a bit of homework on him.
Search the web and if you can find he has a traders site or address them you'll have adequate evidence for a case.
Locating a vat number would be the clincher.
If it was proven he was selling outside his business without telling the IRC then they'd do him for tax avoidance too.

[jeebowhite]

Consumer advice from the pro's :-)