"I think you can report people for false advertising if they have said their car is in decent condition when it isn't. "
I doubt it - define 'decent' in legal terms!
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"Decent" is subjective as is "nice little runner". But "absolutely no rust" is an objective statement and I suspect someone could be done for making that claim on a rust bucket.
I'm not sure what "mint" means from a legal standpoint. To me it means unmarked and indistinguishable from new. To sellers it means "you really can make out the impression of a car if you screw up your eyes and use your imagination".
A report by Jason Dawes and a colleague of his in the Sunday Times motoring section found that of the 5 or so used cars they looked at, several were being sold by dealers claiming to be private sellers, one had definite problems with documents, and one had been written off at some stage. I think that one was okay.
Leif
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Yes Teabelly, we failed, unfortunately. Whatever anyone says that will always be the car that I loved the most.
Agree completely with Leif, where some words can be subjective and others not, however there is no way I would bother contacting trading standards about any of this! I guess after all, these people are just trying to earn a bit of money, or even a living, out of selling cars, and they will do what they can to make that money and good luck to many of them.
I wasn't really questioning the legallity (or not) of these statements, merely why some sellers are so stupid that they actually think buyers are going to take them at their word no matter what they say.
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HF the world is full of people ripe to be conned in one way or another. Many are desperate but whether it be dodgy car dealers, Nigerian scammers or those who sell heather on the streets and prey on the inability of people to say no, there'll always be someone gullible enough to fall for it. Misdescribing cars (even blatantly) is no different really. Most people will walk away and only have wasted their time but sooner or later someone will pay the money and buy a pup.
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It's the old maxim Buyer Beware!
Private sellers are not subjected to the same level of legislation as traders.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Problem is that it makes it difficult for people to believe the genuine adverts.
I sold my last car, which was a Cavalier SRi, in truly immaculate condition and only had one viewer, who was over the moon when he saw the condition and bought it without even road testing it.
He did say that a lot of these vehicles were thrashed by the baseball cap brigade and were not worth viewing, so it was great to see a vehicle that was as good and genuine as claimed in the advert.
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Such private advertising has always gone on. When my daughter passed her test nearly 20 years ago I looked out for a car for her (she gave me a budget to work on) and travelled many, many miles all over Lancashire and Merseyside viewing advertised vehicles.
The vast majority were a heap of rubbish, despite the glowing words in advertisements, and after six weeks I had almost given up.
Then I follow up an ad for a Triumph Dolomite, which proved to be in basically good all round shape and with a sound A-series engine and just within the budget.
Its location? About 150 yards up the road where I live....
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Rings a bell - car I bought in the end was located less than a mile from my house!
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Have I missed something here HF? You've actually bought a car? If so, this begs the question is there enough room in your garage for the Astra plus the old R5. :)
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Hold on a minute - you've STILL got that R5 in your garage ??
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The R5 is the only thing holding the garage up! As for the fate of the rusting hulk AKA Astra....
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Erm....yes. But I am going to get rid of the Astra straight away, it runs fine and can be taken away easily. The Renault is another matter - for a start I have to clear it out, which, being in the garage, is not an easy option as there might be mice dwelling therein. Can't even drive it out of garage and allow sons to deal with it as I am too scared to go in there.
V-Man you seem to be speaking in less than flattering terms about the Astra. I am not easily offended but for heaven's sake... I assume I have got the wrong end of the stick.
But yep, of course the other thread's too long for you to access - bought a new car, picking it up this week. Fiesta Encore 1.25 R reg, and if you say a word against it I really will have your guts for garters.
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less than flattering terms about the Astra
Yes, how could you do that. Its a great car. Of course, rusty, falling apart and has no chance of passing an MOT, but other than that its a great car !
The Fiesta is going to seem like another world.
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If the Astra had been an animal, HF would have been prosecuted for cruelty and neglect :) Let's see if she can be a little kinder to her nice 'new' Fiesta.
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Where did you get the new motor HF.
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Steve
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>>V-Man you seem to be speaking in less than flattering terms about the Astra.
HF you are missing the point and going on about this rustheap will do you no good.Look forward to your next car.forget the Astra as it could have killed you and anyone else in the car..Had I known you was not going to right it off that easily I would have suggested scrap it straight away.From safety point of view it has to be scrapped..No ifs or Butts.Its dangerous full stop..Sorry but its fact.Live with it
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Steve
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HF - glad you got the car sorted out and agree entirely with Steve. The Astra's demise was probably the best thing that could have happened even though it didn't seem that way at the time. Anyway you can fill me in on all the details later on.
BTW - thanks for letting me know so promptly (sarc.), I've been spending ages trawling through car magazines, classified ads. etc. searching for a suitable motor since we last spoke. :)
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First, to Steve - I really do appreciate your concern, and can assure you that from tomorrow the Astra will be completely dead and buried. I respect your views about its safety, and I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear that I was quite attached to it! But honestly, Steve, I know what you're saying and I know it has to go. I might see if anyone wants a freebie for parts, but it's leaving me tomorrow no matter what. (or maybe the next day, but no later than that.)
Secondly, I seem to sense a note of scepticism from the 'other posters', I cannot think why.
I shall deal with you later, once I have a car that enables me to come and kneecap you. In the meantime, V-Man beware. Adverse Fiesta comments will be totted up and put towards your final score in the HF 'nasty comments' ladder.
I will (I hope) be back tomorrow extolling the virtues of my new car!
HF
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Sorry - meant to say, to Steve - new car was bought from Crown Garages, Orpington - the same one that I was really wary about. It has changed hands since the incident in question, and, I hope, is now really reliable and trustworthy!
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HF.I have never had any dealings with this company..But was concerned you may have bought from one closer to you.Cant state the company but very close to you.Too close.
I would suggest though.Astra is cleared. Dont worry about offering it free for parts..And make sure the documents are filled in by you saying its scrapped and signed..Do not let it go without
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Steve
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Quickie. Finally got Fiesta tonight and took me all of 2 minutes to get used to it. To me, it drives like a dream. Would have said this earlier but it seems teenage son's hormones take priority over my car stuff these days.
Think me and car are going to get on very well. Astra is going tomorrow, and Steve I can't even suss out how to get the roof bars off let alone start selling it for parts. It's just going, end of story, and I was very sad about that earlier. I'd be interested, by the way, Steve, if you could email me the name of the garage you referred to earlier? Just so I know?
Since it's mega-late I will spare you all any further details except that the garage blokes all seemed to be laughing when I attempted to drive the Fiesta off for the first time. No idea why.
But so far, so good - don't hold your breath for the first 'Fiesta - help!' questions though!
HF
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