Hi I recently purchased a 2003 Fiat Stilo
The advert stated 'recent new tyres' and air conditioning, I was only able to take the car on a limited test drive as it had hardly any petrol in it, it seemed reasonable for the age, price etc so I purchased it, I am naive when it comes to cars and although I looked at everything I don't actually know what I'm looking for !
The next day my husband took the car out and when it warmed up the clutch started slipping quite badly, I immediately booked it in with my Local garage to do a 'health check'
The car needs 4 new tyres, a new clutch and there are various other problems, in addition the air conditioning does not work, I contacted the Trader who became quite nasty, I then sent him a letter as instructed detailing the problems and asking him to carry out the repairs, he has refused.
My problem is that he never gave me a receipt for the car I witnessed him writing one, saw what he wrote and saw him pop it in with the rest of the paperwork, but at some stage when I wasn't looking he removed it, he now says his copy of the receipt details all of the faults and that I knew about them when I purchased the car - a blatant lie. It has since transpired that he has been in prison for tax fraud and has also been taken to court and successfully prosecuted by somebody else who bought a car off him.
Help - what are my chances?, also does anyone know how I can find out if there have been any other trading standards cases against him?
Sorry about the length of this !
The advert stated 'recent new tyres' and air conditioning, I was only able to take the car on a limited test drive as it had hardly any petrol in it, it seemed reasonable for the age, price etc so I purchased it, I am naive when it comes to cars and although I looked at everything I don't actually know what I'm looking for !
The next day my husband took the car out and when it warmed up the clutch started slipping quite badly, I immediately booked it in with my Local garage to do a 'health check'
The car needs 4 new tyres, a new clutch and there are various other problems, in addition the air conditioning does not work, I contacted the Trader who became quite nasty, I then sent him a letter as instructed detailing the problems and asking him to carry out the repairs, he has refused.
My problem is that he never gave me a receipt for the car I witnessed him writing one, saw what he wrote and saw him pop it in with the rest of the paperwork, but at some stage when I wasn't looking he removed it, he now says his copy of the receipt details all of the faults and that I knew about them when I purchased the car - a blatant lie. It has since transpired that he has been in prison for tax fraud and has also been taken to court and successfully prosecuted by somebody else who bought a car off him.
Help - what are my chances?, also does anyone know how I can find out if there have been any other trading standards cases against him?
Sorry about the length of this !