http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_10060000/newsid_10063000/10063038.stm
'One in five' has problem with used car dealers
Page last updated at 11:56 GMT, Thursday, 18 March 2010
One in five people buying a used car from a dealer suffers a problem with their new motor, according to a consumer report.
Nearly 70% of the problems come up during the first month, according to the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) study.
It also found that 30% of those who contacted their dealer weren't able to get the glitch sorted out for free and ended up shelling out an average of £425 of their own cash.
ADVICE ON BUYING CARS
- Ask what mechanical, history and mileage checks the dealer has done on the car.
- Get important information put into writing. Don't rely on verbal guarantees.
- Ask about the dealer's complaints procedure and if they're signed up to a Code of Conduct.
- Remember you have fewer legal rights if buying from a private seller or auction.
- Beware of traders posing as private sellers. (e.g. same phone number in several different adverts; the seller wants to meet you somewhere instead of going to his house; the seller's name isn't the last keeper in the logbook).
- If you have a problem contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or via their website.
However, the OFT says buyers should know that the Sale of Goods Act will often be able to help.
This law means that car dealers must resolve the problem with a refund, repair or replacement if the vehicle was faulty when sold. Overall, the vehicle must be of "satisfactory quality".
Car mileage "clocking" is one of the other problems identified in the report.
That's where a car's milometer is turned back to a lower figure so it can be sold for more money.
It's estimated that one in eight cars has been clocked and that buyers pay an extra £580m each year because of it.
Used car problems are the most complained about purchase to the OFT's Consumer Direct helpline, above TVs, mobile phones and laptops.
