I sold a vehicle and new owner says his mechanic has said to scrap it??

[willd]

Hi

 

I'll be brief but I do hope I can get some advice off anyone here!

 

I listed my camper-van on ebay the other week. A guy contacted me outside of ebay and asked to come and inspect it. He came to my house, had a cup of tea etc, seemed a nice guy in all honesty. He did an inspection, liked it, asked me how much I wanted for it, said he had £3k to play with - I (I don't know why I'm so honest) said "I don't think it'll go to £3k on ebay, how about £2.5k". He said yes and left a deposit of 1k.

 

He transferred another £1k on the Monday daytime and paid the balance of £500 in cash when I delivered the van to him on the Monday evening (deposit left on Saturday).

 

Now, I've been driving this camper about all over the UK, with and without the family in it, and yes, it sounds rough around the edges, i.e. it doesn't sound like a brand new engine - it's thirteen years old, but it's been ultra reliable, never had one problem with it, even though it's done 165k.

 

On the Monday evening he texts me to say he drove five miles and the engine cut out, and asked me "had it ever done it before?". I said I stalled it twice when I first got it, getting used to the clutch, but that no, in XXXX miles it hasn't missed a beat.

 

He called me today, a very brief call, and says "My mechanic says the engine isn't worth repairing. I'm not going to say anymore but will leave that with you to think about because I'm at work".

 

Then about an hour later, sends me a text to say he's sorry but he's no option but to take me to the small claims court!!!

 

I ask him if he maybe put some bad fuel in, and said that it's been fine in my whole time of having it, and that if the van was broken before I sold it I wouldn't have been able to drive it the 25 miles to him! And I filled it with half a tank of diesel for him, and delivered for free......(why did I bother).

 

The vehicle really has been utterly great, I even drove it 270 miles each way to Essex non-stop a few weeks ago, of course if I'd had any inkling there were problems I wouldn't even have tried that. I didn't, it was ready to drive around the world as far as I was concerned.

 

Anyway this guy is pretty angry on text, and I do actually feel gutted for him, it must be awful. So I offered him £200 as a gesture, non-fault non-admission of fault or anything, if he sends me a copy of the receipt for the first bill he said he's got.

 

He's since come back and has got a bit sweary on the texts, asking me if I have no shame (?). I said that to be shameful I could only be that if I had known it was going to cut out (or whatever has actually happened, he's been a bit vague).

 

Anyway he's refused the offer, I can't give him all his money back because it's already gone to pay off some of my credit card. Plus, at the back of my mind I can't help think he's trying it on. But he seemed a really nice guy, so....argh.

 

What are my rights, it's a private sale from me to him, I didn't offer any warranty, I'm not sure what the outcome of this is going to be if it goes to court. I've been 100% honest.

 

[GrumpyToSayTheLeast]

Sold as seen. He has no come back to you as far as I am aware. Its buyer beware on private sales but that wont mean he doesn't try small claims but should be easy enough to defend. I'm sure other will be along shortly.

[havinastella]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor

 

This is all you need as long as it was a private sale.

[Conniff]

Don't pay him a penny more, you are being conned.

 

There are a lot of rogues who will take you for every penny you have. As stated above, this is a private sale, (confirm please that you are not a trader).

 

There is no comeback so don't feel for this guy, he has probably done it to half a dozen others. Don't respond to any further text messages.

 

If he was to take you to court, he would have to have an independent examination done, and I mean independent, not his mate who told him to tell you it's only fit for scrap.

 

Please don't feel as if you have done someone wrong, you haven't, and you certainly don't owe him anything. It is up to him to have a full and proper assessment made at his expense before he hands over any money at purchase.

[scaniaman]

The only way this guy can have come back is if you deliberately mis described the vehicle in any way. I think you are too honest for that.

How I cover myself is by writing on the receipt "tried and approved, no warranty given or implied".

[willd]

The only way this guy can have come back is if you deliberately mis described the vehicle in any way. I think you are too honest for that.

How I cover myself is by writing on the receipt "tried and approved, no warranty given or implied".

 

Thanks for all your replies, I REALLY appreciate every one of them.

I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens.... I figured the law was on my side, but, you never know. I've just been honest ....

 

If it does go to small claims court then I'll update this with any outcome. Thanks again everyone who replied.

 

Will

Ps no I'm not a trader in the slightest.... I'm a bit worried that he's angry and knows where I live! Not bothered about me so much but don't want him turning up giving my wife grief (or the kids) when I'm at work! Ah well, would happily do without this upset, but will see what happens. Ce la vie! Thanks again.

[renegadeimp]

It won't go to scc. If it does, you will win. If he's stupid enough to come to your home and harass you, I hope he likes prison food.

[Jamberson]

Why don't you ask him to get a written report on the nature of the fault from a reliable machanic - preferably one of your choice. If he then wants to refer the whole matter to court, he can, and meantime you can get advice on whether such a fault is one which develops over time, or which suddenly goes - and you'd have no pre-warning of.

[Conniff]

Why don't you ask him to get a written report on the nature of the fault from a reliable machanic - preferably one of your choice. If he then wants to refer the whole matter to court, he can, and meantime you can get advice on whether such a fault is one which develops over time, or which suddenly goes - and you'd have no pre-warning of.

 

I wouldn't recommend any response whatsoever. He came, he saw, he tested and has probably done this many times.

 

Don't have any further contact.

[ericsbrother]

I bet he is a dealer and trying to get one over on you. It is unlikely to go anywhere near a court as there is no basis for claim and he knows it. Having offered him £200 he senses that you are good to be mugged again. Just stop any communication with him and if he calls again just report to police for harassment.

[Conniff]

I so agree with the above.

 

Any update for us willd ??