Advice on problems with new taxi

Q. I am a taxi driver within Glasgow City Council and I bought a used car from a trader in London last month. I drove the car from London to Glasgow and it started to develop mechanical problems when I got the taxi home. There was an air bag light fault and also problem with the seals around the car door/windows.

I got in touch with the garage and they stated that the faults were because I had driven the car from London to Glasgow! I got the car fixed by the garage but more problems have arisen and I would like my money back as the car has failed a taxi inspection. The garage are refusing to take the car back and give me my money back. I paid the car by debit card and I would like some advice on where I stand.

A. The consumer credit act 2015 states that The car should be of a satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. You have accepted a repair but you do not need to accept a second repair as you are allowed your money back. If the garage has been unwilling to do this you have a number of options available to you.

Because you have had the car for such a short period of time then it is the garage’s responsibility to prove that it is not faulty. Because the client has had the car for less than six months the car must have been sold with the fault.

You have a few options

1) Make a formal complaint

2) Take the complaint to a trade association

3) See if your card provider or Paypal can help.

4) See if the garage is part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and try and resolve the complaint without going to court.

5) Start a simple procedure.

You are also advised to raise a Chargeback claim for a full refund. Your bank will have an online form that can be filled in and they will investigate your claim. It would be best to have as much evidence and give as much detail as possible i.e. reports and emails.

Q. I live in private let property and moved in last month. The flat was painted and new carpets had been fitted but there is bad mould in the window cavities, wood frames and mould in the panel frames. I have contacted the landlord who is aware of the problem.

My landlord suggested using a mould spray and I have used three different products. The kitchen and two bedrooms are the worse affected and other rooms have a milder problem. The dampness is not caused by condensation as the windows are opened and the house is well ventilated. My landlord has suggested that I buy an industrial dehumidifier at my own expense which I do not think will solve the mould problem but will dry the air and could worsen my asthma. I am concerned about the health of my children. The windows need to be replaced and the landlord is unwilling to do this due to the costs involved.

A. The property should met the repair standard and the tolerable standard, it would be advised that the request for the repair should be in writing and or be sent electronically. It would be acceptable to use text or WhatsApp as there would be an electronic record of the message.

Have you checked that your landlord is registered as you have stated that the name on your tenancy agreement differed to the name on the rent paid from your bank statements?

If the property was let through a letting agent and is registered to the person named on your tenancy agreement you would have to check with the letting agent as the money may be paid to them and passed on to your landlord.

If you want to leave the property you would be advised to check the notice period required and to check the tenancy agreement for the correct procedure.

This works both ways and your landlord would need to follow the correct procedure if he wanted to evict you and explain the grounds for eviction.

You have the option of going to the First Tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) to enforce the landlord to carry out the repairs and the local authority can enforce repairs to be made in certain circumstances.

There is an option to pay for the repairs yourself and then bill the landlord but the costs of replacing the windows would be expensive and you are not guaranteed to get the money back from the landlord. Withholding the rent is an option but risky as you would need to hold the money in another account and pay your landlord once repairs had been carried out but you could risk eviction if rent arrears breach your tenancy agreement.

Q. I am looking for advice on how to obtain a death certificate from England as my aunt passed away in April although

I only found out recently when I sent my Aunt her usual birthday card and it was returned by post with a sticker showing deceased. I called my aunt’s landlord who told me that she had passed in April.

A. The general register of England will be able to send you a copy of the death certificate. Their details are as follows:

General Register Office (England and Wales) PO Box 2

Southport

Merseyside

PR8 2JD

Tel: 0300 123 1837 (Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm; Saturday from 9.00am to 4.00pm)

Typetalk: text 18001 followed by 0300 123 1837

Website: www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ certificates

Q. I wish to find out whether there is any tax relief that my wife could claim as I have been made redundant and I was in receipt of contribution based jobseekers allowance which has recently ended. A. Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1260 of your personal allowance to your civil partner, wife or husband. It reduces their tax by up to £252 in the tax year. To benefit as a couple you (as the lower earner) must normally have an income below your personal allowance - this is usually £12570.

If you are not sure who should apply you can call the Income Tax helpline. You can apply for marriage allowance online at Gov.uk it can normally take up to two months for the tax code to be changed.

PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone / e-mail advice on Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.