Ebay seller wants revised feedback
August 4th, 2016
Anyway the car was listed as new tyres, genuine mileage, no mechanical issues etc. On our way to collect the car, he phoned to say he had an issue as the speedo had stopped working and he had it in a garage and they were trying to sort it out. He phoned back later and said it was going to take a while and if I wanted to take the car then he would supply the piece I needed (a 5 min job by all accounts).
I agreed to this as it was a 60 mile drive wasted otherwise.
He took me and the missus out for a quick spin and it seemed to drive ok so I bought the car.
He also described it as new tyres all round but they were actually part worns.
After a couple of days I noticed a grinding noise when I full locked the steering and I thought the tyres might be rubbing, then I also noticed a clanging sound like the exhaust was rattling.
Amongst this I discovered the rear window and wiper not working as we’ll.
Yes I know I should have taken it back but I was going to take it to my mechanic as I was happy to pay and sort the jobs out.
However it made a massive clang when I reversed and then the engine made a horrendous tapping sound.
I got a mechanic to check it out and he said that x2 engine mount bolts missing, handbrake seized, gearbox knackered and possible head gasket gone. I spoke to VOSA and they confirmed the MOT was legit but I suspected it was a backhander job as it was only issued 3 weeks prior to me getting the car. My mechanic said it was unlikely with the handbrake it wouldn’t have got through the MOT.
Anyway I left negative feedback as less than 4 weeks after buying a car described as ‘no mechanical issues’ was sold for scrap.
Now I’m getting EBay messages saying he wants me to revise my feedback and he’s making out he sold it in good faith, it was my fault I didn’t report the issues etc.
He never offered a refund and simply just tried to ‘sympathise’ but that wouldn’t bring my �1k back.
How can I leave feedback for a car that was described as no mechanical issues yet only lasted 3 and a bit weeks. Should I purely base it on my dealings with him himself or the purchase itself? He was fine when I met him but the I think he may have been aware of issues and just kept quiet, I just don’t know. Surely he shouldn’t have described the car like he did.
I don’t want to change the feedback and I’ve heard EBay will keep the negative score but will remove the comment which kinda defeats the object as I want to warn other potential buyers and removing the comment will defeat that.
Anyone any suggestions on how I should deal with EBay on this?
Thanks all:)
don’t change the score at all, you were unhappy with the product and it was false advertised. Also false advertising is illegal and against ebays T&C’s so you can contact them and see what they can do to help you, but only if you paid for the car through their website official channels, which is PayPal.
Hope you get it sorted
I would try for a refund under the DSR (Distance Selling Regulations) you have 7 days to do that.
I take it you paid cash though – so you are basically stuck.
Ring E-bay and have a chat to them
020 8605 3000 It’s the same number as Paypal UK
You might be better off suing the guy in the Count Court for the money back, but when buying a car like this you need to take someone with you who is a fairly competent mechanic to check it over properly.
Thanks for the help and replies but to be honest once the car had the major issues, I’d pretty much wrote it off in my head. I’ve spoken to VOSA and Trading Standards and haven’t really got anywhere. They seem to be tied up in red tape. It’s a painful lesson but I hope EBay leave the comments as it will warn future buyers. I suspect this individual buys auction cars, gives them a clean and sells them on but again just like the backhander MOT, it’s purely suspicion on my part. I will refute the option to change my feedback and leave it at that. The cheeky bugger wants a report from the mechanic and VOSA yet I still haven’t received any reciepts for alleged work he had done and that was over 4 weeks ago and I’ve now sold the car as spares as well.
I had to chase him for the speedo part and log book as well.
Thanks for the help and replies but to be honest once the car had the major issues, I'd pretty much wrote it off in my head. I've spoken to VOSA and Trading Standards and haven't really got anywhere. They seem to be tied up in red tape. It's a painful lesson but I hope EBay leave the comments as it will warn future buyers. I suspect this individual buys auction cars, gives them a clean and sells them on but again just like the backhander MOT, it's purely suspicion on my part. I will refute the option to change my feedback and leave it at that. The cheeky bugger wants a report from the mechanic and VOSA yet I still haven't received any reciepts for alleged work he had done and that was over 4 weeks ago and I've now sold the car as spares as well.
I had to chase him for the speedo part and log book as well.
We all learn by mistakes, this one was costly for you though.
Don’t give up – make a stand. You will always come across tossers like this in life.
I’m not sure if the AA and RAC still do it, but if you are a member they used to make a small charge for checking out second hand cars you are going to buy. On ebay and similar places you should make an offer based on the fact that the car will either be checked by a mechanic before money is handed over, or it passes a fresh MOT at a garage of your choice (only �54.85, some places only charge half this) no matter how old the MOT is on the car.
The MOT could have been done by backhander as you say, but the guy could have done anything to the car after the MOT was done.
Best of luck – but make a stand with ebay, do it by phone, not email, and then get them to email you a record of what was discussed and agreed upon.
I think you’re FUBAR as far as money back or whatever..
Under NO circumstances should you revise your feedback.
EBay won’t remove negative comments (so long as there’s no swearing in them) – I can guarantee you, if they did they would start to lose a lot of business.
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He fully deserves his negative. Just right it off as a bad deal and ignore his emails and crapola.
Thanks for all your replies, yes it’s a painful lesson learned but a valuable one. I never had an issue with a car I’ve bought in the past and it was a mistake on my part for not being more thorough. If my feedback makes one person doubt about buying a car from him then im happy. Thanks to everyone for their advice:-)
For a grand you should be able to do a lot better – a 2002 Skoda Fabia is only about �1500 or so.. often less.
He fully deserves his negative. Just right it off as a bad deal and ignore his emails and crapola.
Yup, and if he does keep contacting you, then notify ebay, and depending on the context of any mails/calls possibly the police.
Good point – tell EBay he’s trying to force you to remove the neg – they’ll ban his arse off ebay!
I would try for a refund under the DSR (Distance Selling Regulations) you have 7 days to do that.
I take it you paid cash though - so you are basically stuck.
Ring E-bay and have a chat to them
020 8605 3000 It's the same number as Paypal UK
You might be better off suing the guy in the Count Court for the money back, but when buying a car like this you need to take someone with you who is a fairly competent mechanic to check it over properly.
Distance Selling Regulations only apply if you order something over the phone/email/text and it comes to your house unseen by you until it arrives. In this case the OP went to see and collect and pay for the car in person.
You might be better off suing the guy in the Count Court for the money back, but when buying a car like this you need to take someone with you who is a fairly competent mechanic to check it over properly.
Distance Selling Regulations only apply if you order something over the phone/email/text and it comes to your house unseen by you until it arrives. In this case the OP went to see and collect and pay for the car in person.
Yup you are right, I wasn’t thinking straight when I posted – he can use the second option which is cheap to do and sue him in the small claims court for selling him a piece of crap – but I think it would be a difficult case to win.
Probably better to go around and beat the crap out of him
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Probably better to go around and beat the crap out of him
Hell YES – but after you’ve cleared all the neg, and his trying to force it’s removal, with EBay.. then go and smack him one!
I would not remove the feedback, unless he recertifies the situation.
By either fixing the car, or a refund