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I bought a car that was possibly written off - where do I stand legally?
I've just bought a car on finance. When the company went to change the logbook online, the system wouldn't work. We filled out a form for a new logbook and I was told by the finance company that the car had been through a HPI check. But I've now discovered that the car has been heavily repaired, with a new back bumper, bonnet, engine, etc. I've also found out that the car was purchased by the garage from a salvage merchant. Where do I stand in regards to this vehicle being purchased on a high interest loan? I believe I was mis-sold the vehicle.
Asked on 12 August 2017 by niomi macmillan
Answered by
Honest John
You can reject the car. This is the specific law: The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations May 2008 (CPRs) contains a general prohibition against unfair commercial practices and, in particular prohibitions against misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive commercial practices. The Regulations are enforceable through the civil and criminal courts. This creates an offence of misleading omissions which would not previously have been an offence if the consumer had not asked the right questions. So if a salesman knows a car has, for example, been badly damaged and repaired and does not tell the customer, he could later be held liable if the customer subsequently discovered that the car had been damaged and repaired. A recent case precedent over Misleading Omissions under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008/1378 was Regina (House of Cars) v Derby Car and Van Contacts Ltd, Derby Crown Court before HHJ Burgess on 12-6-2012, covered here: Regina (House of Cars) v Derby Car and Van Contacts Ltd. More information on rejection here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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