Car purchase

[gill7596]

We purchased a car, cash on collection. Inspected, test drove and paid. On the journey home the car went into limp mode. Contacted the seller and had no response. He has cancelled the order. We cannot leave feedback, nor open a case or return. In hindsight it seems he may well have known there is a major issue with the car. He tore off the top of the V5 and we met him at his garage block so don't have his address. He told us all the work he had done on the car but then didn't provide us any receipts which we understood were in the service records. We asked him to consider repair or we could return for a refund. We are now left with no car, hefty repair bill and less cash ! We cannot leave feedback or raise a case. There is no one at eBay as there live support is "unavailable ". The autobot just keeps trying to raise a return but because the order was cancelled it's not possible, nor can we raise a case or leave feedback.

[jckl1957]

Ebay don't offer any cover for motor vehicles - they are not covered by the Money Back Guarantee/30 days return policy.

If you are not getting anywhere with the seller, contact Citizens Advice and see if they can suggest useful 'next steps'.

The seller should not have cancelled the sale but, even if they hadn't, Ebay would not help you.

[red_magpie]

He has cancelled the order.

What reason did he give for cancelling it? It sounds as though he may be trying to cheat eBay into reurning their fee for selling the car.

If he has falsely claimed that there was a problem with your address, or that you asked for a cancellation, this is fee evasion and eBay will take it very seriously.

You may not be able to do anything about the car (next time you will read the t&c for buyer protection!) but you can report him for making a false cancellation here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/resolving-issues-sellers/report-issue-seller?id=4022&st=12&pos=1&...

[john1297576]

Was this a classified ad? If not then you can leave feedback.

[gill7596]

No it was private seller. How can I leave feedback when he has cancelled the order?

Sent from my iPhone

[*guinevere*]

Click on your feedback page and your car should  be there and you should be able to leave feedback.

[gill7596]

Thank you but I can’t find an eBay page?

Sent from my iPhone

[*guinevere*]

Just click on the number after your ID. This will take you to your feedback page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and the link is there on your right.

[arkwebus]

As it was a private seller I am afraid that you will have no recourse.  Even a court case will not help.

Business sellers are presumed to be aware of vehicle defects etc but this does not apply to private sellers.

As stated eBay Money Back Guarantee does not cover motors.  It is strange that the autobot does not know that [or "no it is not!"]

I am always amazed by the fact that sellers can cover up a known fault by some means and then it goes wrong on the journey home.

@gill7596  

[gill7596]

Thank you. We know the policy on cars but he has obviously done this with intent and now has placed an out of office until March 2025. For us it is more about routing out a scammer and we wanted to be able to leave feedback but this doesn’t seem possible because he cancelled the order.

We have no proof if he even owned the car as without our knowledge he took service paperwork and the top of the V5. We registered as new owner with him on line, on pick up. It’s been a steep learning curve for us and wanted our comment to act as warning to others.

It’s a sad world where people are so deceitful and calculated. We bought with trust and honesty. Sadly we are not fly enough for todays world!


Sent from my iPad

[*guinevere*]

If you still can't leave feedback it sounds like it must have been a classified ad rather than an auction.

[gill7596]

So he has just been able to avoid paying fee and also we can't leave any feedback. There is no recourse for him, and others like him, which is why they continue to get away with it. His feedback profile looks great and will continue to do so. 

[red_magpie]

So he has just been able to avoid paying fee

As I said, if you report the seller for making a false cancellation eBay will take this seriously. If they determine that this was a seller initiated cancellation the seller will be liable to pay eBay's fees, and to receive a damaging account defect. It doesn't take many defects for a seller to be banned from selling.

You mention that you bought with trust and honesty. Sady there is no place for trust on eBay. eBay even warns buyers in the user agreement that "they do not guarantee the existence, quality, safety or legality of items advertised, or the truth or accuracy of descriptions". They also now specifically warn buyers in every listing for a motor vehcle that it will not be eligible for eBay purchase protection programs.

It's so important to understand the risks of buying from strangers here, especially cars. eBay is a jungle.