There’s so much to read and take in. I’m doing my best to understand it all. It’s not easy being 32 weeks pregnant and coping with all this.

Thank you so much BF, very helpful information. I will print these off for reference. I believe I have to wait a certain period before I can take it to court. I’ve asked them numerous times which trade association they’re registered with but they don’t seem to want to answer this question. Not sure why? Can you shed some light on this please?

I’m not very tech savvy. Not sure how to even attach photo from my library. It’s not letting me. I haven’t got any links only photos of reviews that people have sent me

Yes I have permission to use this. I’ve also sent these reviews to the garage so I’ve got no hesitation in sharing these on here https://share.icloud.com/photos/0uZvrnIqKaZcM5vJGaF6M7gYw

Hi BF, thank you for helping me to understand this process. I’ve sent the right to reject letter already. You say to talk to them and negotiate something but how can I when the salesman refuses any form of communication with the owner? You say you only found 1 review however I have more reviews after requesting help from Facebook. People guessed the garage without me having to mention them. I have forwarded to them three reviews via email after they sent me an email stating that they’re there to help customers. If they have been informed by any other motor trade than that’s a good thing. In my opinion, they should not be in business for treating people like they do.

Thank you for the awareness. I understand what you are saying however this is something I want publicised. I don’t want this happening to anyone. This whole car buying experience has been an extreme nightmare. I want people to be aware of what could happen when buying from a registered dealer. I went believing and trusting that I’ll have a reliable car for my growing family. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’ve been naive and stupidly bought a car without any background knowledge of the company itself. I will advise anyone that is buying a car from a dealer to do background check on the company and it’s owner. Martindef is allowed to comment and have his opinions. It doesn’t change anything for me at all. I still have no car and no money due to this and this experience has made me much wiser if nothing else.

Whatever the case faulty car or not, surely the owner should be communicating with me as a dissatisfied customer. So why is he refusing to communicate if he is within his rights? His attitude clearly says he knowingly sold me a faulty car and that’s why the avoidance. It’s not that I’m not liking your comments it’s just that you’re commenting without knowing the full facts of what happened before and after the sales. T he company itself is dodgy. I hadn’t known this prior to my visit to them as I was so desperate for a car. After it all happened I found out a lot of things about the owner himself. He is a criminal convict and was named in our local newspaper. The salesman is a liar. T hey say they had 3 witnesses in their office that day when we bought the vehicle but the only people present that day was myself, husband and the salesman. I wanted to speak to the owner but the salesman refused whilst he was on the phone to him and made excuses. 24th his mother was unwell in hospital and then when I went back on the 27th it was his sons birthday. I only wonder why he refused to speak to me? I have requested call backs by phone but still nothing, the conversations so far via emails have clearly been from the salesman obviously I addressed to the owner. So I hope you can understand why I am frustrated and upset with all this. Just to add about the “kid mechanic” when I spoke to him he said he’s just there for the day helping out his friend. I’m sure it doesn’t take a professional mechanic to plug a diagnostic machine into a car and read off it.

I think maybe I didn’t explain the situation properly. I bought the car with 3mths warranty but no paperwork was given to me. The car already had faults therefore it was already booked in for repairs the following week. I took the car back on the 27th without contacting them so that I could confront them in their office. Straight away some kid mechanic came out with a diagnostic machine to check what the fault is. The initial repair would’ve taken an hour to fix as I was told however due to this new fault the car would be in for repairs for more than half a day. I did not buy this car with this new fault. Had I have known this car had EML on dashboard and it would take that long to repair I would’ve kept my hired vehicle which I was driving for 2 weeks prior to purchasing this car. You’re saying it’s a minor issue but how do you know? Engine fault could become serious in the near future so I had to think about the maintenance of this. I decided it was not the right car for us as a family. Anything could go wrong with it now that the EML is present. I have a right to take it back if not happy with purchase. I didn’t drive the car at all with the EML because I didn’t want to be accused of causing the fault. I even asked before I bought the car if it is mechanically sound and was told that it definitely is. Now the owner is refusing to communicate so what does that tell you?

How do you know I have not communicated? I went to the garage in person and wanted to speak to the owner but was refused any form of communication. What would you have done if you were me? Holidays were ruined, kids upset, hubby can’t get to work with no car. Anyone in my position would demand a full refund. I didn’t even drive the car. I lost a month on road tax, £30 on petrol... .it’s like saying it’s ok for a dealer to sell dodgy car but it’s not ok for me to dump it back to them and demand my money back . I would say it was very foolish of me not to have done any research on the company before hand.

Warning light came on about an hour after purchasing the car. I put £30 petrol and taxed the car straight away from the garage. It was Xmas eve so garage closed early. The car was sat on my drive for the following 2 days. 27th morning I took the car back. The diagnostic machine was plugged in to check the fault there and then. I was told that it would take more than half a day to fix all issues. I was not happy with this so decided that I wasn’t willing to risk taking this car incase the EML comes back with a different issue in future. I hadn’t signed any paperwork neither did I receive any warranty on the day of purchase. I feel as though I’ve been scammed.

I didn’t drive the car for the short time it was in my possession (Xmas day and Boxing Day) Was due to spend that time in London with my family but all plans changed due to this light. I have been stuck on a motorway before with my 6mth old baby few years ago. There was no way I was gonna risk driving this car down the motorway with my kids. The tyres were not bald, and the suspension was just a little squeaky(nothing major) parking aid was not working(no big deal) The engine light could’ve come on for numerous reasons, we just don’t know until we took the car back. the car was not fit for purpose for the time it was in my possession neither did they tell me of any other issues. I have since found out that they have sold many dodgy cars and so many people have been scammed by them.

Are you telling me that the amount of people I’ve spoken to so far are all wrong? I don’t have right to reject? So a dealer can sell me a faulty car and I have no choice but to accept it?

I agreed to buy the car with certain faults already e.g parking aid, tyres, and the suspension. Had I have seen the EML before the sale there is no way I would’ve agreed. I’ve had a very bad experience few years ago with this engine light so therefore this is a massive cause for concern for me. I have children to think about. Although the garage mechanic diagnosed the issue they are now denying there’s anything wrong at all, telling me there is no EML even though I have photographic evidence. Would you trust this garage and ANY of their cars?

I paid for it via bank transfer. Yes I transferred the vehicle back to them online. I had to otherwise I would lose another month of Road tax. They received the V5 and said I fraudulently transferred it without permission. I asked to speak to the owner numerous times before and after sales but was refused any contact. How was I meant to seek permission? Instead I informed them of what I was doing on a phone call. Now they are saying that I have devalued the vehicle by adding 2 owners. There is no way I would take this car back out of fear.

The car is no longer registered to me, I can’t take it back.... The Road tax doesn’t stay with the vehicle. As soon as I transferred ownership the tax gets refunded automatically. I am having difficulty navigating through this site. There’s so much information I can’t get my head round it. So many words I don’t understand. Is it possible to get legal assistance from here?

Yes you have identified the garage correctly. Also I have sent the letters stating my rights as advised by trading standards. They have sent me responses via email. I have incurred other losses such as £110 for 6mth Road tax but after I transferred the vehicle back I am assuming I will receive a refund for 5months at least. I’m not sure how I can accept the £2000 after I declined requesting a full refund?

Thank you for those links. After I took the car back their own garage mechanic plugged in a diagnostic machine and told us that there was an air flow problem to the the engine. It requires a certain part to be fixed. They offered to fix this issue but the 2 days (Xmas and Boxing Day) of being in possession of this car I fell into a state of shock and fear. It ruined all our plans. Therefore it was not fit for purpose. Now they are denying there was any issue with the vehicle at all. I am a mother of 2 young girls and also pregnant. I wasn’t gonna risk driving or keeping this vehicle so I returned it without hesitation. I didn’t even bother to call anyone for inspection as it doesn’t take a genius to know that the EML means there’s an engine fault. This light was not present at the time of sale. Hope that made sense. I’m absolutely devastated. I had no idea that a registered dealer is able to do this....

I have sent them letters and got email responses from them. They are denying any issues, they have offered me £2000 as a good will gesture, but I refused it. Why should they keep £500 for selling me a faulty car? I am new on this forum and just trying to navigate around this site to see if I can get some information on how to take it to small claims court.

Hi, thank you for reading my post and replying to me. Name of garage is Strattons of Bournemouth. I returned the car back on 27th with all documents and both keys. I am no longer is possession of the vehicle. Mercedes Benz, 2006, mileage: 68000, paid £2500 car reg: ……. My only option now is to take it to small claims court but I have no idea about all this and need some assistance.

I am absolutely devastated. I have lost £2500 to a garage who are refusing to refund me. I bought a vehicle on 24th December and returned it back with all documents on 27th December after the Engine Management Light came on dashboard. The garage is refusing to accept this fault. I have lost all confidence in this car and don’t want it anymore. I have sent numerous letters and emails stating my consumer rights but still no luck. The only way forward is to take it to small claims court. Is there anyone here that can assist me? I am currently 31wks pregnant and this situation is really stressing me out. I have already contacted Motor Ombudsman, CAB, trading standards who have only advised me what letters to send. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!