Derek R

Rogue Trader

My 77 year old mother wanted to buy a second hand car so went to TG Autos in St Helens. She selected a Fiat Punto and agreed an asking price of £4800, leaving £2000 as part payment in advance with the owner, Tim Grensinger , stating that he would arrange the remainder to be paid on finance at £95 per month. My mother later discovered that she did not have as much money in the bank that she initially thought. The £2000 was almost everything she had. She thought there was at least twice this. She discovered that she would struggle to afford to get by each month financially and became ill with worry having agreed to buy a car that she couldn’t afford. I went to the garage and spoke to the general manager, Neil, explaining the problem and asking if the deal could be cancelled and a refund given. I even made the generous offer of allowing the garage to keep £500 for their trouble. Not bad for a few days for nothing and still with a car to sell at the same price! He wasn’t interested, stating that it had nothing to do with him and advised that I sent Tim an email. He provided me with his personal email address. I did as requested, explaining everything fully but got no reply. I therefore sent the same email to the TG Autos email address. Still no reply. I started to sense deliberate avoidance. I know for a fact that these emails get through because somebody else I know has recently had replies from both addresses. I have sent several emails to him now and he has not replied once. I eventually decided to fund the remainder (£2800) myself so went to TG Autos to facilitate this only to discover the same car was back on the forecourt for sale. It had previously had a “sold” sign on it. I was shocked. They had obviously taken it on themselves to decide that my mother was not buying the car and therefore put it back on the market. I was shocked at the audacity and dishonesty so left to decide how to handle it. When I returned I was approached on the forecourt by Neil who, not recognising me, actually tried to sell me the same car. I was incensed. I played along and asked questions as if I was a customer. He lied about virtually everything. I eventually confronted him in the office about it, explaining who I was and asking why he was selling my mum’s car. Embarrassingly, he mumbled something about me telling him that I said that my mum wouldn’t be buying the car and that they could re-sell it. What utter nonsense. I pointed out that I wasn’t the buyer so had no authority to this this and asked who in their right mind would pay £2000 towards a car only to say that they didn’t want it and agree that the seller could also keep the cash. He told me to take it up with Tim. I did, by email. Guess what - no reply. I suspect that Tim Grensinger is hoping that I go away and give up pursuing this so that he can keep the cash but he is badly mistaken. The man is behaving like a crook. What kind of cowardly, despicable individual, knowing the circumstances, tries to steal £2000 from a vulnerable old woman. I would advise everybody to avoid the tin pot back street operation that is TG Autos when wanting to buy a second hand car. Yim Gresinger is the epitome of everything you will have read about second hand car salesman. There are plenty of other honest dealers out there. It would appear from other reviews that this isn’t a one off occurrence. AVOID THIS ROGUE TRADER AT ALL COST.