Should I take a trader to court over a faulty car?
I have recently brought a car from a trader without a warranty. I bought the car two and a half months ago, but have had nothing but problems with it. To be honest, I wasn’t aware the trader was liable for the repairs and I have sent it to a couple of garages to have it repaired.
The garage advised that there were severe electrical issues and also a fuelling issue and the cost of repair would be far more than the car is worth. I told the trader and they repaired the car, which took three weeks. They tried to charge me for the costs, due to the fact the car was taken to another garage, but eventually agreed to cover the costs.
A week later the car broke down at the side of a motorway and I had to have the car recovered. I had told the recovery guy the story about this car and he had pointed out that the trader had put in an electrical fuel pump to help the main fuel pump. I simply don't trust the trader anymore, but they won’t give me a refund and want to fix the car again. What are my chances of winning should it need to go to court?
The garage advised that there were severe electrical issues and also a fuelling issue and the cost of repair would be far more than the car is worth. I told the trader and they repaired the car, which took three weeks. They tried to charge me for the costs, due to the fact the car was taken to another garage, but eventually agreed to cover the costs.
A week later the car broke down at the side of a motorway and I had to have the car recovered. I had told the recovery guy the story about this car and he had pointed out that the trader had put in an electrical fuel pump to help the main fuel pump. I simply don't trust the trader anymore, but they won’t give me a refund and want to fix the car again. What are my chances of winning should it need to go to court?
Asked on 9 September 2014 by ahenson
Answered by
Honest John
If you take this co court, despite the mess you have created by not following the correct procedures, you may still win. But it depends how much is involved. If this is a cheap car, then even a court will rule that you should expect problems. And you haven't been clear about the fault. A fuel injected car will normally have a low pressure pump to send fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump to force fuel at high pressure through the injectors into the engine. Law here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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