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I sold a part exchange 2005/05 mini cooper 1.6 manual that had 100,044 miles on it. It was extremely clean and had excellent service history. I explained to the customer that we give a 3 month breakdown mechanical warranty for the major mechanical items. 4 month's and 3700 miles later the gearbox has broken and the customer limped it into her local garage. She then phoned us up hysterically "ranting on" that we had sold her a faulty car and demanded that we speak to her garage and pay for the repair. I spoke to that garage and the gearbox casing was smashed with oil leaking and it needed a replacement. I told her that she's unfortunatley out of warranty but she then started ranting her 6 month's "fit for purpose" statutory rights as a consumer and said that unless we collect, repair and return it to her at no cost to herself then she will go to trading standards. Where do I stand because if it goes to court as we all know that I will be judged as one of those foul cheating car dealers that we are percieved as and I will obviously lose. I have suggested that she could contributr something and she basically spat in my face. Shall I just tell her to "bring it on" ??

I've always tried to do the right thing when it comes to customers coming back to me with complaints and issues regarding vehicles they have bought from me, sometimes I've probably been too generous, but in a small community it helps to have a good reputation. Today however I have had a lady contact me 29 days after purchase to say that she wants to return the vehicle as it has a faulty bonnet catch and she can't open the bonnet. I have offered to repair the catch, but she is very aggressively pursuing the line of 'I can reject the car and get a full refund if it's less than 30 days post sale'. My question is - is this a valid reason for returning the car? Some pieces of advice I have read suggest that no, it isn't a valid reason and it should be dealt with under warranty, which is my stance. Other advice to the consumer suggests that they don't need a valid reason and can ask for a full refund if it is within the 30 day period. Advice welcome.....and finally, how do people generally deal with situations in which you take a car back inside a 30 day period, only to find that it is in a poor condition or damaged? Thanks in advance for any advice!

I sold a part exchange 2005/05 mini cooper 1.6 manual that had 100,044 miles on it. It was extremely clean and had excellent service history. I explained to the customer that we give a 3 month breakdown mechanical warranty for the major mechanical items. 4 month's and 3700 miles later the gearbox has broken and the customer limped it into her local garage. She then phoned us up hysterically "ranting on" that we had sold her a faulty car and demanded that we speak to her garage and pay for the repair. I spoke to that garage and the gearbox casing was smashed with oil leaking and it needed a replacement. I told her that she's unfortunatley out of warranty but she then started ranting her 6 month's "fit for purpose" statutory rights as a consumer and said that unless we collect, repair and return it to her at no cost to herself then she will go to trading standards. Where do I stand because if it goes to court as we all know that I will be judged as one of those foul cheating car dealers that we are percieved as and I will obviously lose. I have suggested that she could contributr something and she basically spat in my face. Shall I just tell her to "bring it on" ??