BlkKnight

My brother has just picked up a MY97 JDM type R from a company that specialise in. . . well. . . Sales of Japanese Imported cars.

He picked it up from Hanley in Stoke on Trent and drove it back to High Wycombe without incident.

Then the following day, there was a heavy knocking sound from the engine (just like when my Big End went). So, he stopped immediate & got fat-bedded to Dave West in Risborough (Risborough 4x4 - top bloke) who has confirmed that it is indeed a big end failure.

Now, am I right to assume that as he purchased from a trader that he is covered under the sales of goods act - as the goods have failed within a reasonable time and are thus not suitable for purpose.

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

Yes, it will be covered. The garage has to warranty it for something like 1 month. I'd suggest contacting Trading Standards to get the correct details and then contact the garage armed with this information. Expect them to try and get out of it though.

al02uk

iTrader: (1)

gpssti4 is spot on!

By Law a trader must provid a minimum of a 30 day (1000 mile) warranty on used cars.

But also like he said, you will need to be well armed with info as it is going to cost a fair bit to repair.

Hope you get is sorted, personally I would just get my money back, the repair may be well under par to save money.

Andy

BlkKnight

Just looked at his receipt. . . . There is no mention of the company name on there, yet the trader said he was trading as a company, and the car was listed on his site (still is).


I see trouble ahead. . . . .

al02uk

iTrader: (1)

Mate,

get as much details of his site as possible, address, contacts etc incase it vanishes after you start the ball rolling with your issue.

It might be worth contacting them first to see if they are willing to resolve it.

remember you can issue a civil writ for up to £5000 if all else fails and a Judge will determine the outcome for you.

WRX_Dazza

there's his first problem.

was the car sold as seen /tried and tested etc....
Its quite possible for an oil pump to cease etc at no fault of the seller.

wait and see what they say first, and do a few screenshots of the website etc... the usual stuff.

they might offer to get it fixed or refund, you never know.

wish him luck !

BlkKnight

Not looking good at the moment.

Company are:
- Not responding to emails
- Not responding to answer phone messages
- Not answering any of the 3 mobile numbers I have on file.

BlkKnight

Fark, spoke to the seller, claims he's "no longer trading", yet his site is still live & the car is listed on it. The company mobile does not say that the company is no longer trading.

The Company name is also on the v5 (registered on the 20/01/09)

Spoke to CAB, and have sent a recorded delivery letter to his address.

He still claims that the car was a private purchase.


I can see this going to court.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

No longer trading. what a rip off merchant.

Get onto your local rag too, see if they won't help out with a story. amazing what some bad publicity can do.

5t.

Oh and ALT print screen then paste into Paint that copy of his website with the car on it.

Bicco

iTrader: (6)

May not be of much help, but I work for a motor factors in Stoke and we deal with most garages around and about Hanley, if you PM me with the name and/or where he is located, I can forward you any contact details we have, and at least find out if the place is still up and trading.

BlkKnight

It's now gone past the no name etc. Does this look like someone who is not trading?

:: Welcome to Japanese Import Sales ::

RS2 JIM

iTrader: (5)

BlkKnight,

I would agree that he looks to be a very current trader.

A quick whois check turns up this:
Jap-sport.co.uk - Ja p Sport

Looks like it was updated last in Sept 08. Not sure if that includes addition of the stock or not. If so then he's clearly had stuff sitting a while so little wonder he's gone out of business if that's the case.

Best of luck to your brother in getting this resolved. As far as i'm concerned, if i was buying a car advertised on a traders website and collecting the vehicle from the same location then i'm dealing with a trader for the purchase and therefore paying a dealer price for 'peace of mind' rather than a driveway price for a private sale where any warranty ends the moment the wheels leave the drive.

James

BlkKnight

I must be blind, how did you get the last updated date of sept 08?


Relevant dates etc:
Exported from Jap 31/10/08 (UK company on the import documents)
1st UK MOT 09/01/09
Registered to the DVLA on 20/01/09
Pretty sure the V5 showed the owner as the UK company.

RS2 JIM

iTrader: (5)

Doh! blooming US style dates!!

Its in the registry data section but i've just seen it says the 9th Jan 08 (2008/01/09). Sorry!

BlkKnight

That date does not accurately show when the contents were updated. It only shows when the code was.

al02uk

iTrader: (1)

I'd wait for his response first then issue a court summons on the HMRC website.

I printed a screen on his site, is your Type R the Blue one @ £5995? if so I'll email it to you as evidence.

At the end of the day though, if he advertised it on his site then it is not a private sale.

I had this a while back about a 6 speed gearbox i had bought from a breakers, they sent me half of what i paid for then claimed they were selling it for a mate, i took them to court and won the money it would cost to buy the rest from Subaru.

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

Even tho the website is up and running, his stock section is empty

al02uk

iTrader: (1)

Yer they have gone now, sneaky git eh?

nevermind heres one I copied earlier. pic is small but I do have a big version on word, i just dont know how to post it.

Hope this is your car that was advertised

BlkKnight

I captured the website as well as taking pictures.

Sneaky bugger

I'll publish the site when I get to work.

scotty44

iTrader: (12)

BlkKnight, If im thinking of the right car, it's been parked on the main road - Leek road ( some new buildings there ) with a for sale in the window.... Im only 5 mins away from there and did mean to stop and have a quick look the other day,
To be honest mate Iv never heard of this company and I used to live a few streets away ( 18 month ago ) from there so it is pritty new, If I can help in anyway mate just shout...
If you need to come back over here and your after a few more faces well... I now a few other fellow scooby owners around here that will come a run over with you

BlkKnight

Thanks for the offer, but in this case I don't think it's the right approach.

The seller works as a bouncer during the evenings and will probably have some hefty friends.

Courts are much more fun.

I don't think it was a full on company. It was a couple of people importing & selling on JDM cars at a profit working out of home & using the web as an advertisement media.

BlkKnight

No response from the recorded delivery letter or emails.

Will send a final one on Monday.