Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 16:43
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - Freya jesty

I recently sold my Berlingo van, in a private sale and the buyer paid in cash,which came with an 11 month mot (with 2 minor advisories) I also provided all receipts of all work I had done to the vehicle whilst in my possession. The buyer has recently contacted me stating that the vehicle had been written off whilst in my care, which is not true, not even been in an accident with it. I did a hpi check on the vehicle (which admittedly I should have done when I purchased it) and it turned out to have been written off before I purchased it and salvaged by the previous owner. When I looked on the front of the v5 it clearly states that the vehicle has been previously salvaged and the buyer has signed this document (the buyer read the whole document and didn't question me on it at all, which is why I didn't realise and didn't mention it). The buyer is threatening to take me to court and demanding a refund, where do I stand on this matter? As far as I was aware I sold the vehicle in a road worthy state with all the correct documentation and relevant mot certificates etc and the buyer is insisting that I have mislead him when I was not even aware of this issue.

Edited by Freya jesty on 29/09/2018 at 17:14

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 18:20
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - focussed

If you can prove that it was declared written off before your ownership, via the V5 but the buyer is accusing you of writing it off during your ownership and he signed the V5 - what chance does he have of a successful court action? Not much I reckon.

I reckon he's just after some money back not to take you to court, and he keeps the van

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 18:29
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - Freya jesty

If you can prove that it was declared written off before your ownership, via the V5 but the buyer is accusing you of writing it off during your ownership and he signed the V5 - what chance does he have of a successful court action? Not much I reckon.

I reckon he's just after some money back not to take you to court, and he keeps the van

thanks for the response, i can prove it, i still have the v5 doc that he signed and it states that i puchased the van on 01/10/2016 and i have done a hpi check on the van just now and it states that it was written off on 28/072016, i had reduced the price of the van because there was a dent in the back door which meant you had to slam it slightly, all of which he was made aware of and so he ended up with a cheap van (£700) which (when i sold it) was road worthy and had no mechanical issues and was up to date with mot etc, hes been asking for a large chunk of the money back even though there is nothing actually wrong with the van, can he do that? thanks for your help

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 23:07
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - SLO76
Ignore them. It’s a private sale and the £700 value is so low that its status as a write-off makes absolutely no difference what so ever. You sold it in good faith and it’s down to them to prove otherwise.

Plus it was written off when it was old and low in value which means it could’ve been a very minor accident which is all it would take to be written off by an insurer. Had it been more valuable I’d see their point but as it is they got a £700 van for £700.

Edited by SLO76 on 29/09/2018 at 23:09

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 18:52
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - Andrew-T

Your buyer is trying it on. If you have enough documents to show when and what has taken place, and the buyer has seen them in your presence, and the car is roadworthy (current MoT), he(she) is wasting their time. Sales of Goods rules don't apply to private sales, and any accusations made will amount to his word or yours - if it ever comes to that. Unless there is something wrong with the vehicle, when you might just be prepared to consider a goodwill payment to sweeten the deal a bit.

I hope the buyer signed something saying it was sold 'as seen' and without warranty ?

Don't lose too much sleep over it.

Edited by Andrew-T on 29/09/2018 at 18:53

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Sun 30 Sep 2018 00:09
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - bathtub tom

I had a car buyer who reckoned I'd ripped them off. I offered to take the car back and refund them what they'd payed for it, less my subsequent advertising costs.

Never heard another word.

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Sun 30 Sep 2018 11:05
Help! Unknowingly Sold a car that was previously written off - craig-pd130

I had a car buyer who reckoned I'd ripped them off. I offered to take the car back and refund them what they'd payed for it, less my subsequent advertising costs.

Never heard another word.

Heh, that's a good way of calling the buyer's bluff.

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