Sold my car privately, buyer wants full refund or pay for repaire

[Dann87]

Hi all please advise me, I have recently sold my car privately. I had the car listed for 3.8k and sold it to a distant family relative for 3.3k. The car passed an m.o.t the week before and we have never had a problem with it with my wife using it as a run around for the children.only selling as needed a bigger car as new addition to the family. the buyer test drove it looked under the hood and purchased the car a few days later. Clearly stating it was sold as seen but I didn't think or no bout signing a contract.

Another few days later he messaged saying have we had problems starting the car. Which I replied no and as it was the coldest day of the year I gathered the battery was faulty and mayb the frost had got to it and offered to pay half for a new battery which he was Happy with.

Another few days later he has messaged me again with a list of problem with the car saying the starter motor is on its way out and the "seal on the head" is leaking anti freeze. He this time is claiming that although he appreciates I sold him the car with no knowledge of faults he is unprepared to pay for repairs and that he wants me to give him a full refund or pay for full repaires (according to him 500£ ish).
I have obviously refused as I don't have that money (as it's gone on new car) and he is claiming by law I have to cover it.

Could anyone advise where he/ I stand on this as I don't want it to get messy with the family and don't want my wife having the stress. Many thanks

[R0b]

Re: Sold my car privately, buyer wants full refund or pay for repaire

Private buyers have little to no rights when it comes to buying cars. Unless you did one or more of the following then it's tough luck.

- falsely advertised / given wrong information which he relied on when purchasing the car
- pretending to sell it as a private seller when you were really selling it for business

I think he may be getting his facts wrong, as the law only applies in that instance when it is a business to consumer transaction, not consumer to consumer, and in fact the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (which I suspect he may be alluding to) does not apply to private transactions.

[Dann87]

Re: Sold my car privately, buyer wants full refund or pay for repaire

Many thanks for fast reply.