Wight festival in September
Email advice@ advice.scot
THE Isle of Wight Festival has been moved to September. The event was due to take place days before the Government’s June 21 target date to remove legal limits on social contact.
MISSING Jackson Mason
POLICE have confirmed that a body found on the outskirts of Kilmarnock is that of missing Jackson Mason.
The Fenwick dad’s death is currently being treated as unexplained with a post mortem due to be carried out.
The 31-year-old’s body was discovered at West Tannacrieff on Sunday afternoon.
He had been missing from the village of Fenwick since December 19 last year.
with all your consumer queries
I RECENTLY passed my driving test, and I am considering buying a used car, but I don’t know where to start. THE first thing you should do when buying a used car is look for a reputable car dealer.
Some car dealers will advertise as being part of a trade organisation who may offer help if something goes wrong (e.g. the Retail Motor Industry Federation or the Scottish Motor Trade Association).
Alternatively, some traders may offer to have their cars inspected by an independent engineer or motoring organisation before sale to offer extra reassurance.
If you decide to buy from a private individual, or at an auction, you will generally have fewer rights if something does go wrong.
As you do not have any experience buying vehicles, you should perhaps avoid these avenues of purchase, as you will not have the same level of consumer protection as buying from a car dealer.
Once you have identified a car that you are interested in, you should arrange to test drive it, ensuring you have insurance to cover you for this.
You should also inspect the car for any damage, and it is usually best to do this during the day, and when it is dry, as any damage will be easier to see.
The AA have a handy checklist of things to look out for when buying a used car which you can find on their website.
The Motor Ombudsman can provide you with details of where to go if you wish to have a car independently inspected, however there is a charge for this service.
Before agreeing to buy a car, you should check the car’s history.
Look out for a record of regular MoTs and question any gaps if a document cannot be produced, or if you have concerns about advisories and mileage discrepancies.
A car’s MoT history can also be checked free of charge at www.gov.uk/ check-mot-history.
There are other checks that you can also do, including; If the car has been reported stolen; whether there is unpaid finance attached to the car; whether the car has been in a serious accident, written off and then repaired; and whether the mileage on the car is correct.
There are various organisations, such as the AA and the RAC, who have websites where this can be checked.
You should note that there might be a small charge to use these services.
When you buy a used car there are certain documents that must be provided to you.
These include the logbook (you should never buy a car that does not have one) and current MoT certificate. You must be given the original documents not photocopies.
It is also important to know that car tax can no longer be transferred to another person, and you will have to pay for your own car tax straight away.
And it’s crucial to choose the right method of payment for you and your finances but also to ensure that you are fully protected in case something goes wrong.
You should also check the levels of protection that finance agreements offer you if you are paying by this method.
Be aware of affordability and remember that you can walk away from any deal before purchase is made.
Do not be afraid to haggle if you believe the price is too high.