Vehicle rejection

UNDER the Consumer Rights Act (2015), new car buyers have 30 days in which to receive a full refund if the vehicle is “not of satisfactory quality, or fit for its general purpose, or was misadvertised”, says consumer lawyer Joanne Lezemore. Within that period, the “right to reject is outright and the dealer cannot refuse”, she adds.

Once past 30 days, but within six months, the dealer has to be given at least a chance to fix the fault. Lezemore adds that if the fix isn’t successful, “then, within the first six months after delivery of the car you can still reject it but you will not get a full refund. The dealer can make a deduction for the use you have had of the car, including the mileage you have put on the car and the total time that has passed”.

And while the Consumer Rights Act is often used for new cars, it also applies to used motors bought from 2015 on.

Lezemore advises: “Always consider paying a small amount on a credit card. That way, if you have any issues and the retailer refuses to help (or goes bust), any claim you could make against it you can make against the provider under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (if the car cost between £100 and £30,000).”