Is it illegal for a dealer to pretend to be a private seller?

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Is it illegal for a dealer to pretend to be a private seller?

I bought a car from what I thought was a private seller, but have since found out the seller is a dealer. To make matters worse, the car is not fit for purpose and has been deemed to be unroadworthy. Is this a criminal offence? Should I contact the police?

Asked on 15 December 2014 by Lee 123

Answered by Honest John

Yes, it is a criminal offence to sell an unroadworthy car. And yes the trader is liable in civil law both for breach of contract and for retailing a defective car as a trader. law here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ Your problem will probably be that he has no assets in his name, making it difficult or impossible to recover your money even if he is convicted and even if you win a small claims court case against him. And he knows that.

Tags: legal and consumer advice buying and selling

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