Advice needed - Ford used car sale - where do we stand?

PrincessP · 10th June 2009, 19:19

hi all,
looking for some advice with regards to a ford focus we purchased on 23rd May 2009.
We originally had a ford KA on finance with the same garage (finance through santander) however the garage called us up and offered us a deal to trade in the Ka for a bigger car as my husband and I are expecting a baby and need a family car.
We agreed and chose (with their guidance) a 2006 ford focus tdi. On the 23rd we arrived at the garage to pick up our car and as soon as we turned the corner out of the forecourt, the engine warning light came on.
Straight back into the garage we went, explained the situation and the salesman was very rude and abrupt, told us there was nothing that could be done, it was 'probably nothing' but he would see if he could book us into the service department the following monday. My husband asked if it was safe for us to be driving around in, more specifically me at 7.5 months pregnant and the salesman told us it would be fine, nothing to worry about. Not knowing anything about cars, we took his word and went home.

We returned the car to them on monday 25th and received a phonecall that evening to say an EGR valve had gone and needed replacing. The part had to be ordered from Germany and would be there within 1-2 days.
To cut a long story short, it is now the 10th june and we've only just returned to the garage to pick the car back up!!!
They have fobbed us off with every excuse in the book in this time. We have been asking why mainly...why 2 minutes after we leave the forecourt has this light come in, and why wasnt it picked up before being sold to us?!

My husband arrived at the garage this morning to pick up our car, got in to drive home and as soon as he turned the engine on - lo and behold the engine warning light came back on!!!
He was told a 'pinpoint test' would need to be performed to establish the problem - they said it would take 2 hours max. 6 hours later and a sheepish mechanic appeared and told us yet ANOTHER part has gone - but wouldnt tell my husband what part it was

:conf used:
This again, has to be ordered from Germany and we were given the stock response, should take 1-2 days to be delivered. Not likely as the previous part took so long.

This is our only car and we have been left with nothing. We refused a courtesy car because they wanted to give us a brand new fiesta out of the showroom - but wanted us to use OUR insurance to cover it, thus meaning we'd have to pay an admin autolinker.com autolinking image

fee to our insurer for changing over the insurance (we checked this first)

My husband went to speak to the used car sales manager who we have dealt with all along and explained the situation and how unhappy we are...his tone has completely changed and ot be honest he has spoken to us both like cr@p.
We want to return the car as it is not fit for purpose...if there was a further fault, why wasn't this picked up when they run the tests for the first fault?!
and why have we been sold a car that has had two faults within a few weeks and has been stuck in a garage for the majority of that!?

All i need to know is where we stand legally? Do we have the right to return the car and be given another of a similar spec that is suitable ?

My husband mentioned something about trading standards and sale of goods act but would it apply in this situation? In my opinion, this car is not fit for purpose...but the car dealer said we havent got a leg to stand on.

HELP!!

raydetinu · 11th June 2009, 13:07

IMHO you would definitely be entitled to all your monies back in these circumsatnces as you have had no 'pleasure of the use of your purchase' at all; technical term! under SOGA. You need to write to them, copy to FC if under finance, and ask for total refund etc. out of pocket expenses etc.

10th June 2009, 19:19	#1 (permalink)
PrincessP Basic Account Holder Try our new digital signature service Cagger since : Jun 2009 Posts: 1	Advice needed - Ford used car sale - where do we stand? hi all, looking for some advice with regards to a ford focus we purchased on 23rd May 2009. We originally had a ford KA on finance with the same garage (finance through santander) however the garage called us up and offered us a deal to trade in the Ka for a bigger car as my husband and I are expecting a baby and need a family car. We agreed and chose (with their guidance) a 2006 ford focus tdi. On the 23rd we arrived at the garage to pick up our car and as soon as we turned the corner out of the forecourt, the engine warning light came on. Straight back into the garage we went, explained the situation and the salesman was very rude and abrupt, told us there was nothing that could be done, it was 'probably nothing' but he would see if he could book us into the service department the following monday. My husband asked if it was safe for us to be driving around in, more specifically me at 7.5 months pregnant and the salesman told us it would be fine, nothing to worry about. Not knowing anything about cars, we took his word and went home. We returned the car to them on monday 25th and received a phonecall that evening to say an EGR valve had gone and needed replacing. The part had to be ordered from Germany and would be there within 1-2 days. To cut a long story short, it is now the 10th june and we've only just returned to the garage to pick the car back up!!! They have fobbed us off with every excuse in the book in this time. We have been asking why mainly...why 2 minutes after we leave the forecourt has this light come in, and why wasnt it picked up before being sold to us?! My husband arrived at the garage this morning to pick up our car, got in to drive home and as soon as he turned the engine on - lo and behold the engine warning light came back on!!! He was told a 'pinpoint test' would need to be performed to establish the problem - they said it would take 2 hours max. 6 hours later and a sheepish mechanic appeared and told us yet ANOTHER part has gone - but wouldnt tell my husband what part it was :conf used: This again, has to be ordered from Germany and we were given the stock response, should take 1-2 days to be delivered. Not likely as the previous part took so long. This is our only car and we have been left with nothing. We refused a courtesy car because they wanted to give us a brand new fiesta out of the showroom - but wanted us to use OUR insurance to cover it, thus meaning we'd have to pay an admin fee to our insurer for changing over the insurance (we checked this first) My husband went to speak to the used car sales manager who we have dealt with all along and explained the situation and how unhappy we are...his tone has completely changed and ot be honest he has spoken to us both like cr@p. We want to return the car as it is not fit for purpose...if there was a further fault, why wasn't this picked up when they run the tests for the first fault?! and why have we been sold a car that has had two faults within a few weeks and has been stuck in a garage for the majority of that!? All i need to know is where we stand legally? Do we have the right to return the car and be given another of a similar spec that is suitable ? My husband mentioned something about trading standards and sale of goods act but would it apply in this situation? In my opinion, this car is not fit for purpose...but the car dealer said we havent got a leg to stand on. HELP!!

11th June 2009, 13:07	#2 (permalink)
raydetinu Classic Account Holder Watch out, there are Claims Touts about! Cagger since : Mar 2008 I am in: camborne Posts: 1,683	Re: Advice needed - Ford used car sale - where do we stand? IMHO you would definitely be entitled to all your monies back in these circumsatnces as you have had no 'pleasure of the use of your purchase' at all; technical term! under SOGA. You need to write to them, copy to FC if under finance, and ask for total refund etc. out of pocket expenses etc.