Thread: Used car advice please?

Hi. I'm new to this as I don't usually use forums, but I find myself in a situation which calls for expert advice. I am hoping someone out there can point me in the right direction.

On 17th July I bought a used Y-reg Ford Galaxy 2.3 automatic from a dealer 50 miles away. I used a debit card for the £200 deposit and a credit card for the balance. I had previously been to test drive the car, and had notice and mentioned to him few minor irritations (glove box door was broken, crack in window) but he was reluctant to mend them. In the end he knocked £95 off. Not enough in my opinion, but I needed a large car urgently and this one was within my budget.

The 50 mile drive home was the furthest I have travelled in it, as I am a new mum and only go 3 miles into town and back a couple of times a week. On 29th July, I was going into town when the car wouldn't change gear and the rev's got 'stuck' at something like 6500. Needless to say I was not going any further and called the Breakdown people to tow me to my local (and usual) garage. The car still remains at the garage - having been looked over and being found to need a new gearbox (I don't know the actual fault with it - just that it needs a new one). Aside from this, there is also a problem with the alternator.

Now, the sticky bit. Some of the paperwork (the dealers invoice) had additional information added onto it after I had signed it. I didn't recognise this until the car was at my garage last week and I was looking for something else. It now says 'car needs mechanical attention' though at no time was I informed this - or was given any indication as to the severity of the problems the car had. Also, I thought the advert said FSH on it, but I have no service book with it (and I haven't got the advert any more). He has also written 'sold as seen, without warranty and with all faults' on it (I didn't want to pay for additional warranty for it - but I am led to believe from a friend that there should have been at least some warranty included in the price?)

I am certain that he knew the nature of the faults before he sold me that car, and believe that the sale of it contravenes the Sale of Goods Act. I have written to them informing them of the problems, but I am not hopefull that they will care or be helpful.

What I would like to know is where I stand with the issues, whether the credit card offers any protection when purchasing faulty goods, and what I can do next.

Obviously at the moment I do not have a car, which is a nightmare. I don't want this one back really (even if it gets fixed), but I can't afford to buy anything new.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks