Thread: Have i been had?

Hello all,
I bought a Rover 416 from a trader 5 weeks ago.
I checked the water, oil, etc at the time, and went for a spin. all seemed well.
One thing i didn't check was the heater- didn't need to at the time!
A week on, i turned the heater on, and there was no heat.
Took the car to the local garage and asked them to have a look at the heater.
Reply was that the head gasket had gone and would cost £550 to put right.
The car only cost me £490.
They filled up the water for me as they said there was none.
It boiled for the rest of the day, due to air blockage, but a friend who is a mechanic looked at it the same evening, got the heater working (involved waggling a switch)and stopped the water boiling, and i have not had to add any water since(checked every other day). He said that head gasket might be starting to go, but could last quite some time yet.
Saturday, coming home from work, the car just stopped while i was driving along a busy bypass.
I called the rac, who informed me the engine had seized.
I've e-mailed the trader, who had also given me a months warrenty of up to £100 (worth Jackxxxx).
I've explained under SOGA that i would like a full refund of monies paid for the car.
He has e-mailed back to say it's my problem, and that if the engine has seized, then i obviously hadn't kept an eye on my oil and water.
His words are, ' I'm sorry i can't help you in this matter'.
Where next, do you reckon?

One more thing- i looked him up on the internet to find contact phone number for him (not on any of his paperwork), and found that 4 years ago he was prosocuted by TS for 'clocking'.
I'm worried that my car might be clocked, as it's a p reg and only shows 65000 on the clock- if i knew where i could get this checked, the car doesn't even go any more, so i couldn't get it checked anyway.

hope someone can't point me in the right direction,
Many thanks
Redsetter x

You can check previous MOTs on the VOSA website, which will have the recorded milages at each test.
Also when first problem with water was detected you should of taken it straight back to dealer to deal with. however I would reject car in writing to dealer explaining why, with details etc. not fit for purpose, faulty etc. under SOGA and you want full refund; he can collect car from? and give him 7 days to respond or you take him to small claims court.( send by special delivery to signature and proof delivered )
dont speak to them on phone just by letter or email.

I had exactly the same thing with a Rover I bought. It overheated on the motorway on the way home.
After a lengthy battle, which involved giving the dealer a chance to repair the vehicle, he had to give me my money back. (He put sold as seen on the bill)
Don't bother with the CAB - they gave me totally false info. I got my help through the RAC legal dept so if you have legal cover (i.e with car insurance) then ask them.
Good Luck