Evie

AVOID

AVOID!!! I drove 2hours to view a car here, met a lovely salesman, had a good test drive in the car so I went ahead with the purchase. The petrol light was flashing even on the test drive so I went to the nearest station to fill up only it clicked off at 1/3rd full.. As I drove off within 10mins the car had warning lights flashing up, it started losing power on the A12 so I had to pull over next to the grass verge, I managed to judder the car back to the garage only to be ignored for 45mins in a freezing cold office and ignored for a refund until a team member had looked over the car - despite me having photographic evidence of the warning lights etc. I repeatedly said that I don't care what the issue is - minor or major I cannot take a risk with any car and I just want a refund. Two men had looked at the car for about 30mins, and when they finally came in to talk to me they turned their back to me and directly spoke to my dad NOT ME! (Because God forbid a young female could buy their own car or understand manly mechanic talk!!) I interrupted and said that I am the person has has bought the car. I explained the situation AGAIN, and only when I was at breaking point of tears did they go ahead and give me the refund. I asked for the petrol money back, to which they denied, I persisted as it was flashing from the very start of the test drive, then he extremely loudly huffed "fine then" and stormed off to the back. They came back out, gave me the money at which point I was desperate to leave after having my ENTIRE day undervalued, my time completely wasted, so I got in the car, counted the petrol money to realise they hadn't even bothered to give me the full amount. Determined to shake this experience off I headed home with my parents looking forward to put it all behind me. But. OH... NO! I cancel my insurance and lose £65 total in admin and cancellation fees due to this scam of a car. I then try to claim back my car tax but find I have no confirmation email / text / proof to show for it. The man who sold the car to me said he would sort the tax on his laptop and I (in hindsight stupidly) handed over my payment details and let him at the same time of purchasing the car. I have rung my bank re fraud and am waiting to hear back. As it is a Sunday the garage will not answer my calls so I can't even get hold of them to ask for any help before it it Christmas. I am currently £255.04 down, plus a tank of petrol from driving 2 hours away and back, PLUS my time which truthfully means more to me than any of the money any way. It's been beyond stressful, an absolute slap in the face, insult to my intelligence, and I'm left without a car, without a weeks worth of my wages as a self employed person, and feeling utterly embarrassed, RIGHT before Christmas. PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED by their "lovely gentleman like" exterior. I am disgusted that I kept my cool, remained calm and tried to laugh it off with them. I wish I knew what was ahead when I was still there, as I would not have been so calm and laughy with their blatant disrespect and scam-like procedures.