Sold a dangerous horse trailer!!!

[jo_pearl]

Hi all,

I've recently purchased a trailer from a local trailer dealership.

It was a 1997 505.

I was told it had been checked over in the workshop and all was ok.

So I bought it at £1850.

Today I got a local NTTA qualified mechanic out to check it off and I was towing a death trap! It should have never been on the road!!

The front damper was completely gone and needed replacing, all bump stops were missing, two of the front wheel including the spare the rim is corroded, a front panel is loose and the ramp is soft in the corners!

I paid £469 for most the work but the ramp, panel and wheels I haven't done.

I have contacted where I bought it off and they had such an attitude!

I've informed them I'm going to get trading standards involved!

Is it wrong for me to ask for them to pay for the repairs and also to replace the ramp, panel and wheels??

I feel like I have been mugged off and also ripped off by this company.

Any help be great!!

I bought the trailer 2 weeks ago and it's not moved since I bought it.

I know it's an old trailer and the odd mark and rust don't bother me but the fact my horse could have gone in it scares me!

 

[sport horse]

I think you should not have had the work done but returned the trailer as 'not fit for purpose' and asked for your money back.

 

[Apercrumbie]

I think you should not have had the work done but returned the trailer as 'not fit for purpose' and asked for your money back.

This. Has the work been completed yet?

 

[PorkChop]

I think you should not have had the work done but returned the trailer as 'not fit for purpose' and asked for your money back.

This tbh - no harm in trying to get some money out of them, but I wouldn't hold your breath unless you have some sort of warranty.

 

[jo_pearl]

Yes work has been done.

I asked for the NTTA mechanic to come out and service then he told me what needed to be done. I couldn't take it back as it was too dangerous to put on the road I had no choice

i did call them and they said they would send out an engineer to look at it .

Is it worth me contacting trading standards and explaining?

 

[bonny]

I think that once you had the work done you were accepting ownership, plus it's too late now to prove what it was like when you bought it.

 

[ester]

If claiming 'not fit for purpose' you usually have to give the seller a chance to rectify the situation themselves.

 

[jo_pearl]

I contacted the dealership before the work was done and explained to them and emailed them pictures.

They offered to repair it but I had to get the work done as I couldn't get it there as couldn't get it on the road.

The work that wasn't essential I left and have informed the dealership of this

But after them telling me it has been checked over and is 100% and I have this in an email it is not so I have been mis-led

 

[Tiddlypom]

They offered to repair it but I had to get the work done as I couldn't get it there as couldn't get it on the road

I'm sorry you are in this position, but you should have insisted that the vendors collect the trailer to do the work or give you a full refund. The trailer could have been transported back to them on board a vehicle trailer.

 

[bonny]

If it is so dangerous that you couldn't take it back surely you would have noticed before purchase ? You must have checked it out beforehand ?

 

[jo_pearl]

There would have been no way me knowing. The ramp is damaged under the number plate and the panel was noticed damaged after I removed one of their stickers.

The other parts where mechanically and you wouldn't have known without taking the trailer apart.

I bought it from them as they are a massive trailer organisation not an individual person.

I trusted them when they said it was safe for me to use and put my horse in when in fact it wasn't.

All they said was its an 18 year old trailer and it will have wear and tear and I agree with that but it was not safe to be on the road let alone put a horse in.

The director called me and stated they wish to resolve this away from trading standards.

I asked them to collect it and they stated I would have to take it myself as they don't have time to come and get it.

 

[Equi]

Sorry you haven't got a leg to stand on. You should have taken It straight back. You've done work on it so now they won't accept it back and are not likely to pay for it either.

 

[chocolategirl]

I think you should not have had the work done but returned the trailer as 'not fit for purpose' and asked for your money back.

Yep totally agree with this. Hope you get some recompense.

 

[SusieT]

I would ask them to do the remaining work free of charge or take back the trailer at the price you paid for it - these are likely to be your best outcomes. And I certainly would make them aware I'd be informing all legal bodies possible if they didn't rectify their situation.

 

[bonny]

If they are now saying they want to resolve it then you need to talk to them about what it is you want from them ....

 

[WelshD]

Now the trailer is at least safe I would return it to them so they can carry out the remaining works

 

[Tnavas]

Do trailers in the UK not have to have an MOT like vehicles do - here in NZ they have to have a twice yearly WOF (Warrent of fitness),no vehicle here can be sold without a new WOF. Its frustrating at times but means that at least the vehicle/trailer is fit to be used.

Hope you are able to get some compensation from the dealer, make sure you get a very detailed receipt from the repair people.

 

[Fools Motto]

I agree with the majority of others, but you could also try putting them in touch with the mechanic who did the work on it. They might be able to resolve it without your clearly distraught input. Man to man talk! Good luck.

 

[jo_pearl]

Yes I have informed them that if the situation is resolved between us then I will be taking the matter further.

I have asked them to cover the cost of repairs and to do the rest of the work free of charge.

When I sent them pictures of the work that needed to be done the director called me back instantly and stated that they wanted to resolve the matter.

I have sent them the invoice as requested and I list of work that needs to be done.

I won't back down to them as when I called the guy I spoke to was extremely rude and hung up the phone on me infront of others as I put him on speaker phone so they could hear and I pointed this out to the director and stated I have tried to resolve this.

I think they know that they have made an error.

I'm not asking for anything to be done that doesn't need to be done.

I have the originally ad that states the trailer is in full working order and it was not.

 

[bonny]

I'm not sure what you are asking us ? if they have said they will put things right then what's the problem....they can't do anymore than offer ?

 

[jo_pearl]

I just want to know where I stand if they back out of resolving the issue.

It had to take a threat of trading standards just to speak to a manager so I'm not really getting my hopes up.

Just need some advice on what I would do if they refuse to pay or fix after the engineer has been but if he's honest he will agree with me

 

[bonny]

The problem is that you have done all of this the wrong way round ....you should have got an inspection done before purchase, not after, although a bit pointless saying that now ! I would try and negotiate with them, I can't see them paying for the work you've had done elsewhere but maybe they will put the other things right ? I doubt it's worth going to trading standards now that you've had the main issues fixed.

 

[jo_pearl]

I thought buying from a retuable dealership I wouldn't have any issues.

I have asked them to cover the costs and also to replace the other parts so I will see what they say.

I paid decent money for the trailer so expected it to be in full working order.

I will only go to trading standards if I am unable to resolve the issues with them.

I don't expect them to fully pay for the repairs but to at least compensate me a little as at present I've paid £1850 for the trailer, spent £469 on repairs and there is still another £400-£500 worth of repairs before labour. So at this stage if I pay means the trailer has cost me over £2500!!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Did the trailer come with a warranty?

 

[jo_pearl]

It came with a 14 days and today is the 14th day. They avoided the question when I asked what was covered under warranty and just reverted to they will send out an engineer

 

[bonny]

What does the warranty say ? Why not let their engineer see the trailer and take it from there ?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Sorry going to sound harsh here - but I don't care what the garage say I would have got my mechanic to check it over. I would not have brought just on the say so of a garage what ever they say.


Get this NTTA qualified mechanic to write up a report and take it to the garage, if they fail take matters further to get your money back.

Contact Trading Standards

I brought my Nissan Terrano from a reputable garage but still paid the AA to give it a check over - just as well I did and the garage fixed the problems

In future albeit car /. trailer/horsebox get an independent inspector to go over it as after all you get a vet to check our horse.


your horses life would be at risk and for the sake of a few hundred pounds it is worth having it checked.

 

[jo_pearl]

The engineer is coming Monday.

The NTTA mechanic has written a full report and I have emailed it to them.

I only trusted them as they are a specialist trailer organisation and have many many outlets here in Wales.

I will be requested money back and also them to repair the rest of the damage.

I will be contacting trading standards about this as their attitude when I called them to explain stunk and they even hung up the phone on me!!!

 

[Buddy'sMum]

The front damper was completely gone and needed replacing, all bump stops were missing, two of the front wheel including the spare the rim is corroded, a front panel is loose and the ramp is soft in the corners!

I paid £469 for most the work but the ramp, panel and wheels I haven't done.

So if I understand this correctly, you're saying that you paid £469 to have the trailer checked and the damper and bump stops replaced?

 

[jo_pearl]

No no, I had a service, dumper replaced, bump stops fitted and replaced, spare wheel had to be removed and fitted as one of the tyres was flat. The spare wheel bracket had to be cut as the bolts were badly damaged so a new one had to be fitted. I got the latches changed (this was my choice as some where rusted)