27 replies to this topic

[tomsbluemini]

Evening Gang

Jus wondering what people's experience of the Mini Parts Centre in Sunderland is like???

some of you may know he's where i bought my MPi from, i was assured by him that it would come with 12 months MoT and that the front discs and pads had been replaced for the MoT.

i've had it about 6-8 weeks now, and so far i've changed the front suspension, and the rear suspension needs doing, tie rods are bent, the discs are warped, and i need to do a ball joint and wheel bearing...

I wouldn't have minded if he'd have admitted that these needed doing...

Any feedback greatfully appreciated...

Cheers

Tom

[Jordie]

Wouldnt let them do any work to my car.

He seems canny, but he never as any new parts in stock, the ones he has are overpriced and the cars are just quickly checked over, some chrome added and then sold on.

[tomsbluemini]

looks like i've learned my lesson the hard way then...

does anyone know where i might stand legally on this? if I can reclaim the cost of anything from him? bearing in mind he's put it through an illegal MoT??

Tom

Wouldnt let them do any work to my car.

He seems canny, but he never as any new parts in stock, the ones he has are overpriced and the cars are just quickly checked over, some chrome added and then sold on.

[Jammy]

Contact him, see if he's willing to compensate you for the work you've done. Maybe mention that the other path you have open to you is Trading Standards and contacting VOSA about a shifty MOT.

[tomsbluemini]

My E-mail to him:

Hi

A little while ago, I came up from London to collect the blue R reg MPi that you sold me with full MoT.

The car has been fantastically reliable, however, in my opinion, was issued with an MoT although the car was not checked properly when the car had specific (and common) failure points.

All round the suspension should have failed, and there is a very serious knocking noise coming from the Off Side front wheel.

The bill to fix these problems is increasing rapidly. The bit which I find most offensive is that you specifically said that the car had front discs and pads changed for the MoT, but yet the ones that are on the car at the moment are warped. How can this be?

So far, the list is:

N/S/F cone O/S/F cone, N/S/R cone, O/S/R cone, tie bars bent, warped discs, and either a ball joint or wheel bearing, O/S/F Brake Disc warped, N/S/F brake disc warped.

I cannot argue that it was a bargain of a car. The money I paid was well worth the value of the car. Because of this, I would have been quite happy to have paid for the work to be done, or would have bought the car if I’d have known from the outset that the work had to be done.

Having worked in the car trade, I am fully aware of the MoT procedure, and that the car has passed an MoT when it certainly should not have done.

I would ideally expect some sort of reimbursement for the cost of the parts that I have had to buy in rectifying these problems. Ideally 100%, but I could come to an amicable figure near there. If not, I feel that I should report you and the MoT centre to VOSA for knowingly issuing a car with an MoT certificate when it was not in a roadworthy condition.

I look forward to a response, and your co-operation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

his reply...

"sorry you are not happy but the sale was 3 months ago the discs had been changed if fauly take it up with the suppler andrew page ltd even with all the faults it was a cheap car sorry"

[karli_boy]

hi there, i work as a mechanic and also sell cars and yes there is a strange law about claming your money back or getting some compensation, but andrew page will be able to let you know if they have sold the parts but the mian thing is, as jammy basturd said, get in touch wth VOSA and complian the may even come and inspect the car and if they feel negativly about it he will lose his license.
if all else fails am sure you can get a group of mini fans to go there and give him "what for"

[Jordie]

Was the kind of reply i would expect from him.

We did say look around the car in daylight before you set off to buy it.

[yorkshirechris]

I had a similar situation with a Mini Dealer in Scarborough.

Regarding the MOT, you can contact VOSA who will arrange for a local inspector to come out and inspect the car for you. They will check to see if the MOT is valid. If they find that it should've failed, they will actually void the MOT certificate, and take action against the MOT tester who passed it. However bear in mind that if they revoke the MOT then you will not be able to drive the car legally back to Sunderland!

As far as getting your money back is concerned, that's a completely different story. VOSA cannot help you with that, you will need to contact Trading Standards. If the guy advised you that it came with 12 months MOT, whether he tested it not in-house is irrelevant; it is an "implied term" that the car is safe and that the MOT is proper and legitimate. Whether this was written down contractually or just verbally advised is irrelevant, it is still an "implied term" and on that basis you have a strong case to get your money back. A car has to be in a roadworthy condition when it's sold by a dealer under the Sale of Goods act ("fit for purpose" etc). If it is not you can also use that as part of your case to try get your money back - try to prove, with the VOSA evidence, that the car is, and was, unroadworthy and dangerous when you purchased it.

He sounds like he might be funny about getting your money back - especially after 3 months. If you can get a local, independent reputable Mini Specialist to pen you a vehicle inspection (they'll probably charge you) detailing exactly why the car shouldn't have passed the MOT, then that will do you a massive favour.

In your email to him, I know it's too late now, but you seem to have been a bit light on him, by saying you are more than happy with the car, etc. If I was him, I'd now be thinking "if he's more than happy, why's he bothering to write to me?" and he WILL use your words against you if it is taken to a legal dispute. But like I say it is too late now. You could always pretend you've had an inspection done by a local specialist and change your tune.

It's your choice how to pursue it. By the sounds of it it's a bit of a shed, and if VOSA fail the car on, say, 15 points - and you don't get your money/part of your money back, you'll end up with a car which has no MOT, and a repair bill as long as your arm. If you're going to try negotiate some cash back, then start at a high figure because he will barter with you.

Hope that helps and good luck with it. Keep us updated!

[Ethel]

You really don't have much room to manoeuvre. He can just claim that he sold the car in good faith and any issue over the MoT is down to the test station, not him. A Mini could pass a test with bent tie rods and tired suspension cones and if it has been 3 months since the test, and you've had work done, it would be hard to prove the car wasn't up to MoT standard when the cert was issued. He has repeated his claim to have replaced the discs though, ask him for the receipt so you can take it up with Pages as he suggests. Of course, that would really be his responsibility but as discs can warp due to overheating or rapid cooling he could have claimed that it must have happened after the car was sold. I'd keep digging at him and hope he makes some claims that can be disproved. An independent opinion on the car's likely condition 3 months ago would help. For example, is the condition of the pads and discs compatible with the mileage you've done. Do contact VOSA, you never know they may have had other complaints about the testing station.

Having seen Chris's reply, he's right about the MoT not effecting the seller's responsibilities, but you'd have a problem as you've had the car 3 months 'n said you were happy with the purchase. My point is that he hasn't obviously committed an offence so has little to fear that might make him more amicable.

Edited by Ethel, 09 March 2008 - 10:17 PM.

[tomsbluemini]

An update:

changed my brake discs yesterday. the castle nut on the driver's side was only done up finger tight.

I guess that the up and down movement that the wheel had was caused by this and also the reason for the discs warping perhaps???

just a warning to anyone buying a car from him i suppose his mechanic appears to cut safety critical corners :S

you'll all be pleased to know that the wobbling has all stopped now though

Tom

[ourkid]

An update:

changed my brake discs yesterday. the castle nut on the driver's side was only done up finger tight.

I guess that the up and down movement that the wheel had was caused by this and also the reason for the discs warping perhaps???

just a warning to anyone buying a car from him i suppose his mechanic appears to cut safety critical corners :S

you'll all be pleased to know that the wobbling has all stopped now though

Tom

[ourkid]

Is the the same place as THE MINI PLACE, also in Sunderland?.Hope not as i'm picking up a car from him soon!

[tomsbluemini]

Is the the same place as THE MINI PLACE, also in Sunderland?.Hope not as i'm picking up a car from him soon!

There are 2 mini places on the same industrial estate quite close to each other.

the Mini Parts Centre is owned by a guy called Alan...

that the one?

Tom

[ourkid]

The guy i spoke to i called jon - It's a clubman - done 13,000 miles from new so I'm not expecting any worn out parts,maybe just some perished rubbers and a very small amount of rust.Hopefully,it'll get me the 4 hr journey home!

Jon seemed very helpful and knowledgeable - He has a different phone no. to the parts centre but the address appears to be next door.I'm still a little worried.

[Jordie]

Jon is next door.

The shops are side by side. From what i can gather, they worked together and split up years ago.

Hence been next door to each other.

The mini place seems to do alot more restoration work etc but still, if i had the choice of the two to buy a car, id choose neither.