buying ebay cars

[lawsanass]

I bought a pink mini for 1000 off ebay for my 17 year old daughter. Described as starting running and driving perfectly, had new MOT, but ticket says car BLUE and its PINK. I parted with the money, drove car 1.5 miles and it died. Carcheckers did 12 page report, vehicle is dangerous and unroadworthy and not financially viable to repair, its a heap. I have been through the civil court and lost the case. He is a private seller, but has bought and sold 11 cars on ebay in 6 months. He claimed his sons had used his ebay account. Should I go down the criminal route and if so how do I go about it

[Ethel]

Try the Trading Standards, Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

As you can prove the seller has handled a few cars in a relatively short time, they will certainly be interested.

[spaced]

I use ebay quite a lot, but one thing I would NEVER buy from there is a vehicle. I hope you get your money back, good luck!

[meglet]

I know nothing about this so won't claim to but wouldn't the taxman be interested? Of course, he may be declaring the income.

[LiverpoolLoo]

Sadly, paying �1,000 for a car off eBay is just so foolish you deserve your problem.

[TEAK36]

Regardless of what LiverpoolLoo says, a majority of Ebay sellers are honest decent people.I bought my �4000 car from Ebay 15 months ago and I have never had a problem with it. I also sold my previous car on Ebay without any problems.

Unfortunately, there are a few 'dodgy' sellers, and I think you have managed to pick one of them.

Sorry I cant offer any legal advice, but I hope you manage to get your money back.

[squarebear]

Anyone who pays that sort of money to someone they don't know for something they haven't seen must have too much money in the first place.

[lawsanass]

thanks liverpoolLoo. I am a single Mum and work really hard to provide for my kids. I think its a little harsh of you to say I deserve it, I was naive maybe but I thought i was protected as i believed you had to be honest in the descriptions given on ebay, obviously you can say what you like and get away with it. thank for taking the time to respond though

[lawsanass]

ETHEL...thanks, took your advice, trading standards very interested, he has commited a criminal offence and the local council will have to decide whether to prosecute, they are investigating. Only problem is length of time as car bought last Aug. Have been waiting all this time for court etc. Lesson learnt the hardway I guess. Just want to stop this bloke selling death traps to young inexperienced drivers

[lawsanass]

MEGLET...thanks, believe it or not, at the court hearing the judge established from him that he does not work and claims sickness benefit as he suffers with epilepsy! A friend of mine suffers with epilepsy and works full time, shes not allowed to drive though ! funny that. The judge also asked him what his previous job was and guess what......he was a VEHICLE RECOVERY DRIVER, I dont think I can feel any more of an idiot than I do already

[meglet]

I really feel for you. For someone in your position �1000 is alot to lose. I wonder how some people sleep at night, what if someone had been killed eh?

[lawsanass]

SQUAREBEAR...thanks for your comment, i can assure you i can not afford to give away this money. I had been saving from my cleaning job for 16 months and had lots of pink vehicles in watching on ebay to choose from. I studied the profiles of the sellers etc etc. the vehicle had an MOT done 8 days before it was sold and based on the description was perfect!, Now it is quite obvious that the MOT was 'paid for' and the seller a conman ! I am stunned at how dishonest people can be, especially when the seller was told it was for my 17 year old learner daughter. She has since passed but has no vehicle to drive as I can not afford another. The car is still on my drive covered in leaves and green tree sap, what can I do now but scrap it, my concience will not allow me to sell it on. MEGLET...ime with your comment, thank god the engine died or my daughter could have been learning in a death trap and not know it. It didnt even have any rear brakes, only fired on 2 cylinders, 1 engine mounting, I could go on and on. All the problems amounted to a death trap but were hidden, unless you are a qualified mechanic, you would not have known, I am just grateful to still have my daughter

[Boogie87]

my cousin had the same problem, not off ebay though.
i would report him to the benefits agency for the income he is receiving, google it, think its a free phone number, and defiently contact trading standards and ebay. see what they say!
if someone else is using his ebay account, that is fraud, even though it is a family member. like when they tell kids to ask the bill payers permission for phone in's!
take him to the cleaners, get his benefits stopped, fined, arested and then get your money back... with interest!!

[lawsanass]

some great points BOOGIE87 thanks very much, will definately look into your suggestions

[pink-kittens]

lawsanass

I would definitely report him to the DSS using the anonymous report option.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefit s/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BenefitFra ud/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money

you have every piece of info they will need to know to report him

[lawsanass]

PINK-KITTENS, thanks for the link, its done, shame I wont get to find out what happens though

[Cakeboy]

Not a huge amount of help, but take the car to an auction - check Google for your local area. At least that way, you can get rid of it, you're under no obligation to make sure it's safe as it's "Buyer Beware". You won't get all your money back, but at least you'll get something - which as we all know is better than nothing.

If you do go down this route, spending a few quid on cleaning it up would be beneficial

[lawsanass]

Hi Cakeboy, the car does not run, just a few points from the report fuel pump hose perished, no stop, number plate,indicator/hazard lights,heater/fan not working temp/fuel gauges broken wipers and washers not working and perished engine underside leakage,excess oil leaks,steering rack gaiter disintegrated and not fitted to rack unit, no lubricant in assembly. left gaiter split and play in steering rack.front suspension lower arm bushes perished. engine mounting is badly worn and detached, engine insecure in engine bay. excessive wear in both rear radius arm mounts. rear brake pipe is heavily corroded. bald spare tyre. Handbrake not effective. excess fumes suggests internal wear in engine, spark plugs heavily oiled.no oil vacuum advance pipe missing, intake hose perished.horn weak. upholstery disintegrated and hidden with fluffy pink covers. drivers window collapsed on opening.service wear in steering/suspension mountings,bushes and ball joints. engine steady bar bushes perished corroded rear sub frame and boot floor exhaust system heavily corroded, water leak in from footwell, hidden. there is more but my fingers are tired now, hope this gives you an idea of how **** the car is ! It looked great on the outside as it had new pink respray!