Dealers - words fail me!

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Happytohack

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5 weeks ago I bought a pony from a dealer. The pony has proved to be unsuitable and I would not say he is as described. After many attempted phone calls to the dealer, texts, emails etc., I have at last had a reply saying that they will sell the pony for me but will charge 30% commission. I honestly thought this person was reputable - just shows how wrong you can be
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Just shows how careful you should be - very much a case of buyer beware. I can't believe that after all these years, I have been so stupid.
 
I was conned by a dealer last year and she wouldn't even sell the horse on for me at any cost. I think she was glad to get rid of a dangerous horse to a mug like me. I had him re-schooled twice and still he was unrideable. I ended up losing thousands of pounds on him and I would never buy from a dealer again. I am sure that there are some honest ones out there but how do you tell them apart from the dishonest ones?

I hope you fare a bit better than I did.
 
What is wrong with the pony and how was he decribed .Was he advertised and do you have a copy of the advert - you might have some redress on the seller .
 
I had this problem with my horse last year. He wasn't as described and was (and still is to an extent) unable to d what I want to do with him. And at the time, for a 15 year old girl, he was downright dangerous. Fortuantely i've stuck with him and he's coming on, if a bit slowly! Since it was a dealer, you have some power and if you can prove the pony was not as descibed then you may get somewhere, although it is likely it may end up in court, which isn't ideal. Its best to cut your losses and sell back to her, if your not losing too much, but if you are try selling on privately? Depends on the problem though. If it's dangerous then you could struggle selling it on.

x
 
Agree with gigs....as you bought from a dealer, you are covered under the Sale of Goods Act. This means that the dealer must have sold you a horse that is in suitable condition and fit for purpose. Under these grounds, you are entitled to a refund of the money you paid and in some cases, payment for any costs incurred as a result of the purchase.
You haven't said in what way the pony was unsuitable but you may not have to just let this go...
 
The dealer is evading his responsibilities. Providing you can prove he is a dealer you can report him to Trading Standards as the horse is not fit for the purpose you bought him for & therefore you are entitled to your money back. Trading Standards may be able to assist you in getting your money back or at least get the ball rolling.
 
Go to trading standards they are helping my friend with a horse that was advertised as 10 yrs old and is actually more like 20 years.Even if you dont have any luck trading standards will be aware of them and it might help future horse owners.
 
As I had given up on the dealer ever getting back in touch with me, I have arranged for the pony to go on loan to a local lady with a view to her buying him after 3 months. The dealer has only just replied to my numerous emails/texts/calls etc.
The pony is due to go to this lady this weekend, so at least I hope there will be a happy ending - but I will obviously lose a lot of money, but that is not really the point. The point is that I feel that I was misled about the pony and then had no comeback on the dealer despite their assurances.
 
Personaly would go through small claims and take them to court if you feel they knew that this horse was not suitable or they dishonestly sold him. First you need to decide whether theres chance the dealer was unaware of they problems which is making him unsuitable. The trouble is dealers might not have the horse very long or put him in the situtation and could honestly not have known of the problem and often quite have good horse skills - horses can act very differently with different peope is what I'm trying to say. If you believe they knew and were dishonest then, yes nothing but your money has been lost, the next buyers of that dealer might not be so lucky. I think it would be dangerous to let dealer carry on selling unsuitable horse. Hopefully by taking them to count and denting their reputation they will think twice before treating more customers like they have you. You win back the money you have lost on the horse and expensives.

Things that would be helpful are adverts, vetting, statements from some one, trainer maybe this lady saying how this horse is which is not as described.
 
Trading standards are a definite place to call ... they may already be aware of the dealer but if not they can certainly help you. Also you do have a claim against the dealer - its worth going to the small claims court. As i understand it the dealer must at least offer to swap the horse.
 
Does anyone know how you can actually define a dealer?? and if so how long would you have any comeback under the sale of goods act?
 
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