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#Post#: 72889--------------------------------------------------
Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: robbieuk
Date: May 23, 2025, 3:16 am
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Hi All,
I have started a thread with Legal Beagles forum however so far
has been a very minimal engagement and hopefully something more
or ideas, opinions will be possible to be found here please.
My friend's son has gotten into trouble with a private car sale
even though he was advised by his parents not to buy the car.
The car purchase took on 4th May. The advert said the car was
fully serviced just 4 months ago and MOT history shows car
passed MOT on 23 April. Parents had serious questions about the
car and took the car to independent garage for a detailed
overview. The results came back shocking as amount of major and
minor faults clearly indicate the car is not roadworthy and
should not be on the road. The garage says there is no way the
car would have passed MOT unless they were paid some money to
close their eyes.
Friend's son has tried speaking to the seller but was told that
it was sold as seen and to leave seller alone. The son sent a
message to the seller yesterday pointing out issues with the
sale stating that if no car return will take place then matter
will be taken to court. The seller replied with a long message
stating there innocence and willingness to fully defned this
even if it goes to court.
We do understand that private car sales are can be dangerous but
I don't think son expected such a fraudulent sale where the car
is not roadworthy but was presented as a good car. The sale
advert is cleverly written and the only way maybe to get this is
to push on the full service / MOT issue where it is clear that
car is not roadworthy and seller would have known this?
We know that normally private car sale is as good as seen but
there are completely different matters when the car is not
roadworthy and all minor/major faults would have been there when
the car was purchased. Also MOT historic mileage looks raises
some questions.
Any additional ideas please? I attach the pictures of two
adverts (later one was slightly adjusted to remove the paintwork
required bit), MOT history, independent car garage fault list,
communication with the seller and their response.
HTML https://imgur.com/a/c326HHi
#Post#: 72891--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: robbieuk
Date: May 23, 2025, 3:19 am
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Someone from Legal Beagles were quick to point out that it
sounds that this probably was not a private car sale as things
seemed to be quite out of place. So I have done a little bit
more digging into seller Facebook market place.
Ok, so far I have managed to find that he had some cars and some
car parts for sale on Facebook market over last few years . I
personally think he buys cars on auction in his spare time and
tries to re-sell them as a private trader. Especially the way
some of them were described on his adverts. Also, he has and had
few listings of spare car parts such as BMW 6 series F11 F12
steering wheel, BMW M6 rear diffuser carbon fibre, BMW 6 series
tail rear lights, Nissan Juke bumper, Mercedes C class bonnet,
4x wheels from BMW X5. BMW M6 diffuser, steering wheel and rear
lights are in simple packaging which means they were used and
taken off the car rather than sold in an original packaging.
A little bit more about those car adverts.
Mercedes that my friends son purchased was listed 22 days ago
and original advert was listed 4 months ago.
Listed 2 months ago- 2018 Peugeot expert van which he claims had
it for over a year now as an electrician but is selling it as
purchased a new one.
Listed 3 months ago - 2016 Ford C-Max (CAT N) Sold now
Listed 4 months ago - original advert for Mercedes that my
friends son purchased.
Listed over a year ago - 2012 Toyota Aygo . Very interesting as
he says the following on the advert: ''selling it because this
is my first car and I have purchased another one''. Sold
Listed over a year ago - 2020Peugot 308. Mot until March 2025, 1
owner. Sold
Listed over a year ago - 2017 Fiat 500X. The description says:
''You are looking at my Fiat which I am selling as I have
purchased a new car. 2 keys and 3 owners inc me''. Probably
forgot in above Toyota listing where he said that 2012 Toyota
was his first car.
Listed over a year ago - 2011 BMW 640i - sold, CAT C. The advert
stated ''Time for me to move on to better things. A lot of
passion and money went into building this car.'' Sold
I am not sure if moving from BMW 640 into Fiat 500X could be
considered moving onto better things.
Listed 2 years ago - 2012 BMW 320d. Advert states the following:
''It's my personal car. I’ve had it for almost 4 years now.
Never had a single mechanical problem as it's been looked after
very well.'' Sold
Listed 2 years ago - 2008 Honda Civic, 1 owner. Sold
Listed 2 years ago - 2010 Toyota Avensis, Sold.
Listed 5 years ago - 2011 Ford Fiesta (only added this to the
list as claimed Toyota Aygo was his first car)
This is only what I found on Facebook market. Who knows if he
used any other website like autotrader or gumtree or ebay....
Here is the link for a quick overview of his listings on
Facebook market -
HTML https://imgur.com/a/5mUGmTD
Now taking all this into consideration should my friends son
contact him with relevant information and request a refund once
again, or would it better to report all of this to relevant
parties like police, trading standards, dvla (false mot), etc
Any opinion or input would be greatly appreciated.
#Post#: 72919--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: Southpaw82
Date: May 23, 2025, 6:24 am
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Trading standards?
#Post#: 73016--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: Korting
Date: May 23, 2025, 3:31 pm
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Definitely go to trading standards, he appears to be a dealer
masquerading as a Private seller. A call to HMRC would not go
amiss.
If it was me, I'd be inclined to write to him, stating that as
far as you can see, he is a dealer, that you are reporting this
to both the trading Standards and HMRC and demanding your money
back. Also report the garage who carried out the MOT to VOSA.
If he doesn't give your son his money back then take him to the
small claims court.
#Post#: 73179--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: mickR
Date: May 25, 2025, 6:57 am
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yep agree with all of the above. make sure you document all the
evidence properly.
I would approach the seller with the ultimatum of a full refund
or you will do the above. first consideration is to back the car
and get the money.
#Post#: 75818--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: The Slithy Tove
Date: June 10, 2025, 10:31 am
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--- Quote from: mickR link ---
> ... a full refund or you will do the above...
>
--- End Quote ---
Whether the OP gets their money back or not, they should still
actually do the above (reporting to the various bodies) anyway,
so there's at least a faint chance the dodgy dealer might be
stopped from this behaviour.
#Post#: 76710--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: H C Andersen
Date: June 16, 2025, 8:13 am
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OP, how much are we talking about £££ wise?
How old was the buyer when the vehicle was purchased?
The sale advert is cleverly written and the only way maybe to
get this is to push on the full service / MOT issue where it is
clear that car is not roadworthy and seller would have known
this?
Why? Bought as is with the seller affirming that the car had a
valid MOT.
According to you, this is correct. IMO, you are not in a
position to ascribe knowledge to the seller regarding the car's
condition on the day of sale.
The rest is the buyer's risk IMO unless you can show that the
MOT was obtained fraudulently or even not issued at all. VOSA
should be contacted (as already advised y another poster) with
a copy of the subsequent inspection report. IMO, keep this
simple: car bought *** with a valid MOT which VOSA's records
show was issued by **** on ****. The vehicle was subsequently
inspected by ****(their credentials??) and a copy of their
report is included as is their opinion as to whether the evident
damage which falls within the scope of an MOT test could have
been occasioned in the period of *** weeks since its MOT. You
have reason to believe that the MOT certificate was issued
improperly and possibly fraudulently. Would they please
investigate.
IMO, as regards the seller the buyer shouldn't make idle threats
about engaging with the civil court procedures until you have
clear and provable(on the balance of probabilities) particulars
of claim.
#Post#: 76714--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: 666
Date: June 16, 2025, 8:28 am
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--- Quote from: Korting link ---
>
> Also report the garage who carried out the MOT to VOSA.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
VOSA is no more. It was absorbed into DVSA many years ago.
#Post#: 80808--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: roythebus
Date: July 13, 2025, 9:07 am
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From personal experience o buying a used car from an online
seller last year, I've found a number of them are traders who
masquerade as private sellers. One of those I had the misfortune
to do a deal with last year was almost begging me not to get
trading standards involved. I got most of my money back within a
short spce of time.
The car I eventually settled on, quite a distance from the above
dealer, another one masquerading as a private seller on a flashy
legit-looking website. The sales invoice which he wanted me to
sign was cleverly worded. I was aware that although the car had
a very recent MoT, there would be things that are known to wear
out after a certain mileage and was prepared for those expenses.
But the MoT is only valid until the car emerges from the test
lane at the testing garage.
County Courts take a dim view of such activities.
#Post#: 80813--------------------------------------------------
Re: Private (?) car sale gone wrong
DIR By: sparx
Date: July 13, 2025, 10:44 am
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A local firm does this. "Selling cars on behalf of their
customers".
Right...
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