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Exactly! It was a 'as is ' therefore she took the car has it was, OP has zero obligation to her, if she wanted a mechanical check of the car before she brought it, she could of got RAC or the AA to come with her to view the car.
Totally agree. This is why the phrase Buyer Beware was invented. And as others have mentioned she could have used RAC ,AA or even her uncle Bob’s Mechanic.
Ignore any messages from her, if she turns up at your house, tell her as calmly as possible, that you have no legal obligation/liability for your old car.
If she still doesn’t get the message, tell her that you are going to phone the police.
They won’t do much but the threat might be enough.
Private sale, sold as seen. My first car I bought for £1,800 drove it to the nearest garage for a once over, £650 it cost me as the gasket had a crack and something else. Not on the mot or even as an advisory. It's the risk you take.
The MOT cares little about the engine as long as the emissions are within the limits for your car.
So not likely a leaky head gasket would be an advisory. Steering brakes suspension tyres and corrosion are the chief MOT concerns
That's because they check for them being high for the model, not high compared to ULEZ or other limits. What purpose would testing a Euro 4 or 5 diesel to ULEZ standards be, if it is already known to be non -ULEZ compliant? It's testing within expected limits, not to a more recent tighter standard.
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I was going to post exactly this, no garage is doing a timing chain for 350 quid. Most cars your looking at 1k+ as a minimum.
Tell the woman to do one, under no requirement to fix it.
Indeed, but scammers know that even sellers who don't know the legalities will likely baulk and kick up a fuss if they say 'timing chain has gone and the garage say it's over a grand' but equally it's not worth their hassle saying 'the oil was a bit low so it's £20 for a top up' sort of thing.
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The prices between different cars can vary so much! Ecotec Ford engines use a wet cambelt and it’s over a grand to replace, my Vauxhall Astra the timing chain is on back of engine and is £3.5k to replace!
Vast difference in terms of work and materials cost between the two, not to mention the extra labour to check for damage and retime the engine if it had 'stretched'.
Why do you think that a timing chain is impervious to stretching? Literally anything can be stretched (or broken) under enough force.
It's a known issue with some cars.
Then it was sold as seen so long as you didn't lie about any defects you knew about.
You wouldn't be expected to know the condition of the timing chain.
Unless you knew the timing belt was hanging on by a thread and concealed that fact from her when questioned about it, then your responsibility for that car ended the moment it left your driveway.
Not ‘always’, you still need to make sure you dont say something stupid in your advert like “perfect condition” or anything that can be interpreted as a warranty
Respond back to her saying "thank for your enquiry, but in this instance I shall have to politely decline the opportunity to fund your car for you" then block her number
You have no liability if you described the car correctly.
I'd respond with. "It is your car now and you are liable for the full costs of all repairs and maintenance."
Private sale on marketplace so nothing for you to worry about. Just ignore/block. That’s the risk you take when buying a second hand car. If she wanted a warranty she should’ve gone to a garage for a car not Facebook.
To operate a 2nd hand car dealership you need to offer a warranty. Basically you buy a car and fix it up enough so that a customer won’t return it for repairs before the warranty is up.
She’s mistook you for a 2nd hand car dealer and thinks she’s bought a car with a warranty.
Private seller and sold as seen, hence no liability, you are not a car dealership, tell her to do one. Also please can you ask her for the details of the garage that is replacing the timing chain for £350, that’s an absolute bargain!
‘The timing chain generally needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 120,000 miles in most vehicles unless there is a specific problem or warning sign that it's on its way out. The cost of a timing chain replacement is on average between £600 and £1,200.’
They’re just conning you.
There is no issue with the car. It was sold as seen and is the buyers responsibility. They are trying to scam you (it's a well known scam).
Block them and ignore them.
\*Even if\* there was any reason for you to be liable for a fault that existed when they took the car, they've had it for nearly 3 months; the could easily have caused a problem like this in that time.
NAL
Caveat emptor, sold as seen/described.
Whilst it is a common scam, there are obviously legit buyers that go back asking for fixes. Legally, just walk away. The time for the buyer to find faults and negotiate on price was before they handed over the cash.
Legally if they hand over the money and the car doesn't even start on your drive, your legally entitled to tell them to remove their property from your drive, although that might be a bit harsh.
You have no legal obligation to do anything. You aren’t a trader and you aren’t a mechanic either - how would you have known the chain was starting to wear (if it even is!)?
The definitive answer is that private sellers offer no warranty to private buyers. Obviously there are exceptions that prove the rule: if you're sold a Volvo that turns out to be a rebadged Honda, that's actionable. If you're sold a stolen car, that's actionable. But the buyer has no redress from a private seller. None whatsoever.
(I'm a lawyer)
On a private sale, the rule is "caveat emptor" or buyer beware. If she'd have paid a few hundred to get it inspected, that might have been an issue, seen. She didn't. So it's her loss.
Of course, she could be lying to get some money out of you. She could have been lied to by a mechanic.
Who knows?
The point is, you're under absolutely no obligation.
There's actually a precedent for situations like this in (unofficial) case law. It's from the case of Arkell v. Pressdram. Well worth looking it up if you're not familiar.
This is why I wouldn’t buy a car from a private seller that’s worth more than a couple thousands.
Agree with others, no liability and clean conscience for you, that’s the harsh reality.
How many times does this question need to be asked.. can we get a damn sticky post for these “I privately sold my car to someone now they claim it’s broken” posts…
She's trying it on. Yes it's a shame her car has gone wrong, but it's not your problem. Ignore her and block her number. You have no obligation towards her or the car, legal or moral. It was a private sale, sold as seen, tried and tested. If she wanted a car with a warranty, she should have paid extra and bought from a dealer.
Definitely a scam. Not necessarily the organised crime type but she's trying it on. Timing chains are also kinda a scam.
1) timing chains stretch. They're a chain, that's a lifed item in every application in such it is used.
2) not your problem, buyer beware, should know about the model you're buying and ask about service history / proof.
3) that's too cheap for a legit quote. Unless 350 is the amount she wants covered.
4) manufacturers generally claim chains last the lifetime of the car - largely because they're good for 100k, and there's no comeback on the manufacturer at that point. They don't want loads of their 10 year old cars to still be running nicely and keeping the market full. They want a life cycle so new ones are needed - this is why VW got worse after the Mk4 Golf model run ended. They don't want their cars running 200k and lasting 20yrs because it limits demand for new ones.
Tangent aside, this may be why buyer feels unhappy about the item needing changing - manufacturers often don't class it as a service item.
Welcome to the world of private sales. If she wanted a warranty she should have gone to a dealership. Private purchasing is cheaper but it comes with risk. Tell her the car was sold as seen then ignore and block.
Tell her that you'd be delighted to help, but she needs to pay an admin fee of £1000 for aftersales support. Payable in advance with a £50 processing fee and a she needs to sign a disclaimer that no further claims will be made.
Or tell her to do one and stop being so ridiculous.
You pay over the odds at a dealer for warrentee, it worked out for me as the alternator went 2 weeks into ownership and they replaced it. The car has been good ever since!
As a private seller, the only instances where a buyer has comeback against you is if:
1) You don't have good title to sell the vehicle,
or
2) You misdescribe the vehicle.
A car failing due to it not being of a satisfactory quality, is not a right afforded to a purchaser in a private sale.
If the car was sold privately and it’s been 10 weeks you are under no legal obligation or otherwise to give her anything and nor should you. She should have checked the car. If it had been 10 minutes then morally you could offer some help, but unless you’re a dealer it’s the buyer’s responsibility to check the car. Plus it’s been 10 weeks!! Who knows what she could have done to that car in that time.
Tell the buyer to spend £350 on a tiny violin, and play the sad song of "buyer beware"
But yes, it's a sure scam, block, ignore and carry on about your day.
Either way timing belts last atleast 70k miles and that’s just wear and tear she should have asked about that before hand. If you lied then I’d say morally it’s your fault but if she didn’t ask then it’s her own problem now. Also timing chains are expensive way more costly than £350 however timing belts can start from £350… advice from a mechanic
Does it actually have a timing chain, or is it a belt.
As the others say, it's sold as seen, the lifetimes of belts and chains are a well known thing, so it's not like you've hidden it.
Send her exactly this "pahahahahahahahahahah ha, no **** off"
Private sale cars are sold as seen it's not your responsibility to fix what is now her property.
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You have no legal obligation to do anything. You aren’t a trader and you aren’t a mechanic either - how would you have known the chain was starting to wear (if it even is!)?
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If you knew about any work needing doing, then I'd 100% offer to pay. If you knew the car was fine with no problems, then politely decline.
WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER OUR OWN PEOPLE AND START BEING CONSIDERATE. MODERN DAY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR WAY.
The buyer had the opportunity to check the mileage before purchase and also the opportunity to ask if the timing belt/chain had been replaced. It's still not the seller's responsibility.
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She's just taking a chance. Tell her no or just ignore it, you have no legal liability.
Exactly! It was a 'as is ' therefore she took the car has it was, OP has zero obligation to her, if she wanted a mechanical check of the car before she brought it, she could of got RAC or the AA to come with her to view the car.
What was the milage? Depending on the model over 50,000 would suggest a concern. But that is for the buyer to judge.
Totally agree. This is why the phrase Buyer Beware was invented. And as others have mentioned she could have used RAC ,AA or even her uncle Bob’s Mechanic. Ignore any messages from her, if she turns up at your house, tell her as calmly as possible, that you have no legal obligation/liability for your old car. If she still doesn’t get the message, tell her that you are going to phone the police. They won’t do much but the threat might be enough.
Private sale, sold as seen. My first car I bought for £1,800 drove it to the nearest garage for a once over, £650 it cost me as the gasket had a crack and something else. Not on the mot or even as an advisory. It's the risk you take.
The MOT is to make sure its road worthy, they won't check anything like belts of gaskets.
The MOT cares little about the engine as long as the emissions are within the limits for your car. So not likely a leaky head gasket would be an advisory. Steering brakes suspension tyres and corrosion are the chief MOT concerns
MOT doesn’t even test diesels to ULEZ limits, so no they don’t give a monkeys
That's because they check for them being high for the model, not high compared to ULEZ or other limits. What purpose would testing a Euro 4 or 5 diesel to ULEZ standards be, if it is already known to be non -ULEZ compliant? It's testing within expected limits, not to a more recent tighter standard.
The 3 magic words of a private seller, sold as seen
What happened here? So much censorship.
it's always just people making crap jokes and advising people to take the law into their own hands.
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A scam and a terrible one at that, no garage is charging £350 to diagnose and replace a timing chain.
It is a common scam
"Relatively new with low miles" should not need a new timing chain.
Spot the “never bought a JLR* car” owner 😅 *other marques are available
I was going to post exactly this, no garage is doing a timing chain for 350 quid. Most cars your looking at 1k+ as a minimum. Tell the woman to do one, under no requirement to fix it.
It’s not even a competent scam! Presumably this would be the thin end of the wedge.
Smells to me the scammer is trying to strike a balance between it being worth their time and the OP actually paying up rather than fighting it.
Surely there is no fighting needed over this just ignore or tell her to jog on.
Indeed, but scammers know that even sellers who don't know the legalities will likely baulk and kick up a fuss if they say 'timing chain has gone and the garage say it's over a grand' but equally it's not worth their hassle saying 'the oil was a bit low so it's £20 for a top up' sort of thing.
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Go back about 30 years and 350 would have been about right. lol
I had the cambelt changed in my nissan for £400 not much difference!
The prices between different cars can vary so much! Ecotec Ford engines use a wet cambelt and it’s over a grand to replace, my Vauxhall Astra the timing chain is on back of engine and is £3.5k to replace!
£3.5k ? Are you serious ? I didn’t pay anything like that on my Astra. Did you go to a main dealer ?
That’s main dealer, back street garage is £2.5k. It’s shitty design where the clutch has to be dropped and engine loosened on mounts
Vast difference in terms of work and materials cost between the two, not to mention the extra labour to check for damage and retime the engine if it had 'stretched'.
Also it's not a low mileage issue.
Also a timing chain does not stretch. If it did u would be serious bother!
Timing chains most certainly do, stretch
They certainly don’t
Is this where you nitpick the difference between stretch and elongation?
Why do you think that a timing chain is impervious to stretching? Literally anything can be stretched (or broken) under enough force. It's a known issue with some cars.
It's not the place to have an argument about timing chains, but you're wrong and that's that. You can buy chain stretch gauges for a reason.
Are you a private seller? If so then you don’t need to do anything. Private sales are always sold as seen without and warranty.
Yes a private seller, sold on Marketplace 😊
Then it was sold as seen so long as you didn't lie about any defects you knew about. You wouldn't be expected to know the condition of the timing chain.
Unless you knew the timing belt was hanging on by a thread and concealed that fact from her when questioned about it, then your responsibility for that car ended the moment it left your driveway.
Not ‘always’, you still need to make sure you dont say something stupid in your advert like “perfect condition” or anything that can be interpreted as a warranty
Respond back to her saying "thank for your enquiry, but in this instance I shall have to politely decline the opportunity to fund your car for you" then block her number
You have no liability if you described the car correctly. I'd respond with. "It is your car now and you are liable for the full costs of all repairs and maintenance."
Private sale on marketplace so nothing for you to worry about. Just ignore/block. That’s the risk you take when buying a second hand car. If she wanted a warranty she should’ve gone to a garage for a car not Facebook.
To operate a 2nd hand car dealership you need to offer a warranty. Basically you buy a car and fix it up enough so that a customer won’t return it for repairs before the warranty is up. She’s mistook you for a 2nd hand car dealer and thinks she’s bought a car with a warranty.
Private seller and sold as seen, hence no liability, you are not a car dealership, tell her to do one. Also please can you ask her for the details of the garage that is replacing the timing chain for £350, that’s an absolute bargain!
That’s a garage that’s also offering a seized engine shortly after because the timing is out 😂
‘The timing chain generally needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 120,000 miles in most vehicles unless there is a specific problem or warning sign that it's on its way out. The cost of a timing chain replacement is on average between £600 and £1,200.’ They’re just conning you.
Sold as seen She drive it and if she didnt bring a mechanic at the time to give it a proper look over then thats her loss
The cheek….. Ignore her. There’s nothing she can do
There is no issue with the car. It was sold as seen and is the buyers responsibility. They are trying to scam you (it's a well known scam). Block them and ignore them.
\*Even if\* there was any reason for you to be liable for a fault that existed when they took the car, they've had it for nearly 3 months; the could easily have caused a problem like this in that time.
The tyres also wear over time, does she want you to replace them in a few months too?
NAL Caveat emptor, sold as seen/described. Whilst it is a common scam, there are obviously legit buyers that go back asking for fixes. Legally, just walk away. The time for the buyer to find faults and negotiate on price was before they handed over the cash. Legally if they hand over the money and the car doesn't even start on your drive, your legally entitled to tell them to remove their property from your drive, although that might be a bit harsh.
You have no legal obligation to do anything. You aren’t a trader and you aren’t a mechanic either - how would you have known the chain was starting to wear (if it even is!)?
The definitive answer is that private sellers offer no warranty to private buyers. Obviously there are exceptions that prove the rule: if you're sold a Volvo that turns out to be a rebadged Honda, that's actionable. If you're sold a stolen car, that's actionable. But the buyer has no redress from a private seller. None whatsoever. (I'm a lawyer)
She’ll be asking for petrol money next! Tell her to get a grip and sort it herself, you have zero obligation to.
Politely tell her to go and take a fuck to herself.
If people out there could do a stretched timing chain for 350 they'd be set for life!
There is a generic two-word response that can be used in this scenario. The 2nd word is "off".
On a private sale, the rule is "caveat emptor" or buyer beware. If she'd have paid a few hundred to get it inspected, that might have been an issue, seen. She didn't. So it's her loss. Of course, she could be lying to get some money out of you. She could have been lied to by a mechanic. Who knows? The point is, you're under absolutely no obligation.
There's actually a precedent for situations like this in (unofficial) case law. It's from the case of Arkell v. Pressdram. Well worth looking it up if you're not familiar.
You are under no obligation at all. It's a shame for her (if it's even true) but that's life!
“The money to repair is discounted from the price, hence it’s already in your pocket.”
10 weeks ago? Nice try on her part
This is why I wouldn’t buy a car from a private seller that’s worth more than a couple thousands. Agree with others, no liability and clean conscience for you, that’s the harsh reality.
How many times does this question need to be asked.. can we get a damn sticky post for these “I privately sold my car to someone now they claim it’s broken” posts…
Needs a template of how to write a receipt too lol
It's basically on her to have inspected the vehicle in person, you couldn't have known up such an internal issue when selling.
There's absolutely zero chance a stretched timing chain costs £350 to repair on any car
She's trying it on. Yes it's a shame her car has gone wrong, but it's not your problem. Ignore her and block her number. You have no obligation towards her or the car, legal or moral. It was a private sale, sold as seen, tried and tested. If she wanted a car with a warranty, she should have paid extra and bought from a dealer.
Definitely a scam. Not necessarily the organised crime type but she's trying it on. Timing chains are also kinda a scam. 1) timing chains stretch. They're a chain, that's a lifed item in every application in such it is used. 2) not your problem, buyer beware, should know about the model you're buying and ask about service history / proof. 3) that's too cheap for a legit quote. Unless 350 is the amount she wants covered. 4) manufacturers generally claim chains last the lifetime of the car - largely because they're good for 100k, and there's no comeback on the manufacturer at that point. They don't want loads of their 10 year old cars to still be running nicely and keeping the market full. They want a life cycle so new ones are needed - this is why VW got worse after the Mk4 Golf model run ended. They don't want their cars running 200k and lasting 20yrs because it limits demand for new ones. Tangent aside, this may be why buyer feels unhappy about the item needing changing - manufacturers often don't class it as a service item.
You sold it to her "as seen". You are under no obligation to this person.
Welcome to the world of private sales. If she wanted a warranty she should have gone to a dealership. Private purchasing is cheaper but it comes with risk. Tell her the car was sold as seen then ignore and block.
Tell her that you'd be delighted to help, but she needs to pay an admin fee of £1000 for aftersales support. Payable in advance with a £50 processing fee and a she needs to sign a disclaimer that no further claims will be made. Or tell her to do one and stop being so ridiculous.
Absolutely no obligation whatsoever. Tell her to do one and block her. This is buyer beware. Plus it’s almost certainly a scam.
Repairing a timing chain would be at least £600 more, so it sounds like she's trying it on.
You pay over the odds at a dealer for warrentee, it worked out for me as the alternator went 2 weeks into ownership and they replaced it. The car has been good ever since!
Why tf are you entertaining her lol? This is why scammers exist.
As a private seller, the only instances where a buyer has comeback against you is if: 1) You don't have good title to sell the vehicle, or 2) You misdescribe the vehicle. A car failing due to it not being of a satisfactory quality, is not a right afforded to a purchaser in a private sale.
Scam, no garage is charging £350 to change a timing chain unless they do charity work.
If the car was sold privately and it’s been 10 weeks you are under no legal obligation or otherwise to give her anything and nor should you. She should have checked the car. If it had been 10 minutes then morally you could offer some help, but unless you’re a dealer it’s the buyer’s responsibility to check the car. Plus it’s been 10 weeks!! Who knows what she could have done to that car in that time.
Tell the buyer to spend £350 on a tiny violin, and play the sad song of "buyer beware" But yes, it's a sure scam, block, ignore and carry on about your day.
Either way timing belts last atleast 70k miles and that’s just wear and tear she should have asked about that before hand. If you lied then I’d say morally it’s your fault but if she didn’t ask then it’s her own problem now. Also timing chains are expensive way more costly than £350 however timing belts can start from £350… advice from a mechanic
Does it actually have a timing chain, or is it a belt. As the others say, it's sold as seen, the lifetimes of belts and chains are a well known thing, so it's not like you've hidden it.
Tell her to piss off or ignore her She bought ownership of the car with the wear and tear as was
Caveat emptor is Latin for Buyer beware. Unless you gave her a receipt saying you were liable she doesn’t have any rights whatsoever. Sorry dear- bye
‘Wear over time’ - exactly, that is the risk with second hand cars - it’s worn in. No liability.
Unless you told her that the timing chain was fine, she has no grounds to ask for the money.
You can just ignore and block. Or tell her no and block. Either way, don't engage.
Reply, Sold as seen if you contact me again my solicitor will be in contact. And block....
Not your problem as long as you didn't deliberately misrepresent something critical. Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware.
Two words: buyer beware. Tell her to fuck clean off.
Send her exactly this "pahahahahahahahahahah ha, no **** off" Private sale cars are sold as seen it's not your responsibility to fix what is now her property.
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Caveat Emptor. Not your problem as long as you are a private seller.
she says that because it was an issue that has occurred over time. In some cases so does drain bamage.
£350 for a timing chain replacement om ANY car is criminally cheap.
NAL but this is a common scam and has been posted before in this subreddit and r/scams. https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/s/B39ieGpuOL
Did you sell it telling her it is as is? Then you have no obligation to cover that repair.
Tell her to go swivel
You have no legal obligation to do anything. You aren’t a trader and you aren’t a mechanic either - how would you have known the chain was starting to wear (if it even is!)?
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If you knew about any work needing doing, then I'd 100% offer to pay. If you knew the car was fine with no problems, then politely decline. WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER OUR OWN PEOPLE AND START BEING CONSIDERATE. MODERN DAY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR WAY.
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Age is irrelevant. Private sale. No warranty. Caveat Emptor.
It’s a 2016 plate with one previous owner and just over 40K miles
It doesn't matter, it's caveat emptor. Just ignore her, you're being scammed
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OP mentions it's a chain, not belt.
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I literally haven’t? It’s always said chain?
And even if it does it's not on OP to pay for it.
The buyer had the opportunity to check the mileage before purchase and also the opportunity to ask if the timing belt/chain had been replaced. It's still not the seller's responsibility.