A customer is not a car expert.

If you knew it was a damaged /repair & did not say when asked you have a problem.

If you knew it was a damage / repair and signed it was ok on the P/Ex the car you have a problem

If you were completely unaware of any damage / repair THE GARAGE have a problem.

Hi,

I was not made aware of the CAT S from the original seller, nothing was on the V5 document when I received the new version with my new keeper details on.

I was only aware of this when I saw the dealership I'd part ex'd it to advertise on AutoTrader as CAT S 1 week after the deal was done.

Fast forward 6 weeks later they call me to demand 3 grand due to the vehicle not selling, I questioned them the fact it had been advertised by them as CAT C and why was it not brought to my attention on the day? To which they had no answer for?

They key to all of this is timing. Also some pertinent Qs.

1. Did the OP do his due diligence on the car - HPI check - or rely on dealer's say so?

2. At some point post sale, this vehicle has gained a Cat S marker. When? That could explain why OP was unaware and nothing on V5.

3. Did garage making part-ex not undertake HPI check before making offer? Where is the paper trail....? Surely you cant make a proper off having not done so. Again, timing of Cat S marker crucial. If dealer buying p/ex did not do check, hardly the OPs problem.

Seems the marker was added post the OP first acquiring the car as surely the Ins Co would have raised it, as some wont insure. The situation also raises questions on how long markers take to get added, and appears to left a loophole.

Garage demanding £3k needs to be told to back off as investigations are needed to create a timeline so a sound judgement can be made. Garage also needs to show how they account for the £3k demanded.

If it gets nasty and goes to court, this info will be needed in any event. It may also be a case of fat fingers..... what is the ball ache is that someone will need to spend time and money to obtain the facts.

The dealer is most certainly better equipped to find out if the condition of the car and if it has been scrapped and the category it was given, they have failed to check the vehicle properly which is not your fault, the onus is on them to do their job and not on you to offer instruction on how they should do it. All 2nd hand cars are bought as seen and this is accepted in the courts.

I would tell them to go swivel, and tell them if they continue to bother you then you will make a complaint of harassment with the police, and that you will see them in court.

I doubt it will get that far, they are as someone said hoping you will pay up without a fuss.

Finally how the ell can a car dealership spend all that time checking a vehicle and not even find out that much, sound like cowboys to me.

Edited by A Driver since 1988, HGV 2006 on 08/03/2020 at 15:47