Vehicle rejection issues within 30 days

[Elnino984]

So long story short, I bought a vehicle from a certain dealership on 06/10/2024, I part exchanged my car, paid a £200 deposit on my credit card, and agreed on a finance deal with a finance company for the rest. On driving the vehicle away on the 6th I did notice the vehicle was a bit loud, but I put it down to the fact that it was given to me with pretty much an empty tank, I had to limp it to a petrol station to get me home, my mind also thought the dealership have told me it’s had a 99 point check and I’d expect it to be in good condition buying from a dealer anyway!! I am not car savvy as an fyi! I then didn’t drive the car until Tuesday 8th October, to which again I noted it was loud and seemed to be eating fuel and had no oomph when accelerating! People at work mentioned it shouldn’t sound how it did and that it sounds like a motorbike dragging a lawnmower! I called the dealership and after a million attempts to get through I was finally given a date for after sales to see me and discuss my options! The date was a week later Wednesday 16/10. I arrived at the place and the person behind the desk was a little rude, I showed them a video I had taken of the noise and he called a mechanic over who stated the exhaust was blowing, my options were a temporary fix on the day to enable me to drive and then they would have to order a part and take the car, they advised this could take a few weeks!! Now I had been doing some research on the company and it’s Trustpilot and believe me there are plenty of horror stories!! So my confidence in the company was already at a low! I then asked about withdrawing from the agreement as the car was faulty! The mechanic had just confirmed that in front of me just from watching the video! Well the guy at the desks immediately changed and became smirky and cocky, he told me that I knew about the fault when I took the car!! (I did not and at no point was I offered a test drive) he then said they would have to take the car, I would be without it for weeks, it would go to management and the may still refuse my rejection of the car!! So by this point I’ve read a million 1 star review horror stories about this company and the guy is being rather shitty with me so I had completely lost confidence in the dealership! I stated consumer rights to which he laughed and said we can still refuse the rejection! I then left and drove home. Friday 18th of October I took the car to an independent garage for a diagnostic, they advised that the flexi pipe is blowing and that it would need a replacement exhaust, I asked how that could have happened as the car allegedly passed an MOT check and the dealers “99 point check” the mechanic advised that there was no way the car should have passed an MOT based on its emissions alone!! The dealership actually called me the same day asking me to take down my trust pilot review, I informed them of the diagnostic I had done and what the mechanic had said, and reiterated my desire to reject the vehicle, to which they still stated they would have to inspect the car, take it to management and I could still be refused my rejection of the vehicle!!! So now the car is sat on the drive, I’m unable to use it because of the fault! It’s causing me unnecessary stress as I’m now without a vehicle which will affect my work and life! Please can someone tell me where I stand because I’m clueless and stressed out!!

[echat11]

Hi ELNINO984

Welcome to LB

Don't want to stress you, but paragraphs would be good.

You've paid your deposit by Credit Card, so make a Section 75 claim, send the following letter with the independant garage report to your Credit Card company and the Finance company. Make sure you get Proof of Postage.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rig...d-aXguF1H5XZVH

(concentrate on getting the refund, don't mention how awful they are or their reviews etc.

Update the thread.

[Elnino984]

Hi ECHAT11,

Thank you for the reply.

Apologies for the lack of paragraphs, my anxiety has gotten the better of me with this whole farce.

Is it not worth pursuing things under the short term right to reject? An exhaust fault for me seems more than grounds to claim the vehicle unsatisfactory.

I’m happy to pursue any avenue, if I was making claim back under section 75 would I put the amount as what the current settlement figure on the finance is? Sorry I’m new to all of this and it’s just my luck I bought a dud!

many thanks in advance.

[echat11]

Hi ECHAT11,

Thank you for the reply.

Apologies for the lack of paragraphs, my anxiety has gotten the better of me with this whole farce.

Is it not worth pursuing things under the short term right to reject? An exhaust fault for me seems more than grounds to claim the vehicle unsatisfactory.

I’m happy to pursue any avenue, if I was making claim back under section 75 would I put the amount as what the current settlement figure on the finance is? Sorry I’m new to all of this and it’s just my luck I bought a dud!

many thanks in advance.

a) Is it not worth pursuing things under the short term right to reject? An exhaust fault for me seems more than grounds to claim the vehicle unsatisfactory.

It's up to you, but hopefully the end result will be the same, with the Credit Card company dealing with the Section 75 refund, it will stop the Finance company dragging their feet.

b) I’m happy to pursue any avenue, if I was making claim back under section 75 would I put the amount as what the current settlement figure on the finance is?

You're putting the total value of the vehicle, as the finance needs to be cancelled, vehicle returned. A refund under Section 75 also helps if there are 'consequential losses'.

[Pezza54]

If I wasn't offered or the dealer refused my request for a test drive at my first viewing of the car, I would be suspicious and not buy it. Did you ask for a test drive?
You shouldn't drive the car for any distance with a blowing exhaust. Harmful gases may be entering the passenger compartment. Keep the car windows open when driving it to the garage
If you decide to ask to reject the car and the dealer and finance company refuse your request (the dealer has already refused), your dispute may take months to sort out.
During this time you should not drive the car, because you have rejected the car and because of gasses affecting your health.
My advice is to obtain a garage quote and timescale to fix the exhaust. Then put this quote and timescale to the garage and fc. State following your conversation at the garage about the exhaust, you are not agreeing to a temporary fix and a long wait for a replacement exhaust or flexi pipe. If you do not receive a refund (reduction in price) to cover the cost you will start a money claim for the cost of repair plus damages

[echat11]

What's the value of the car?

[Elnino984]

The actual value is around £4750 the dealer price of the car was £7000. The finance company haven’t refused they are now dealing with the rejection for me, I’m just hoping a blowing exhaust is enough grounds to reject, I feel like it should be as the vehicle was not of satisfactory quality when sold to me and as PEZZA54 has stated, could of affected my health!

I was told the vehicle had, had a 99 point check and there is a sticker on the windscreen stating a vehicle inspection was done, however I find it a bit suspect that the inspection sticker is for a date that predates its MOT.