NSW Private Car Buyer Wants Refund - What should I Do?

[Ashim Zian]

Hello, I sold my car to a guy and he inspected the car for 2 hours and he gave me advance money of 300 dollars and asked me not to sell the the car to the other party who wanted to buy my car the next morning. So, the next night the guy came and bought my car and checked everything and brought his friend with him. He asked me if I had face any problems before, and I told him that I did not face any problem with the car when I drove it or since I had it. I have the logbooks of the car, and did a minor servicing ( oil change and filter change) from a garage name the auto doc and gave him the receipt. We signed the papers and did every procedure and we shook hands and he left with the car. I have already given the disposal slip to RTA.

Now after 2 days he is telling me that there might be a problem with the car and he wants to refund. I have already told the other buyers that the car is sold and now he is telling me this. He said either I have to refund or share the cost. He also mentioned that if he goes to the court he will win for sure because I told him I did not face any problems with the car. I have checked the rules and regulations, and it is written on the website of NSW Fair Trading that once the car is sold and is a private dealing, there should be no problem for the seller. That guy is calling me over and over again and as an international student this is hampering my studies.

Should I be worried? What should I do? When I had the car I faced no problems and now he is telling me this. What if he did some crime with the car or he changed some parts from that car and now trying to take advantage? I am not obliged to anything right?

Please tell me what I should do.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Sophea]

Hi Ashim Zian,

Yes that's correct. Once you have sold a vehicle privately the buyer cannot come back to you and demand a refund or that you pay for anything that goes wrong with the vehicle after he purchased it. That is unless you misled or deceived the buyer with regard to some aspect of the car - for example its service history or any mechanical issues with the car. If you were found to deceive or mislead the buyer can sue you at common law.

Misleading conduct occurs when someone makes a pre-contractual 'false representation' about some fact relating to the sale (orally, in writing or by conduct) in order to induce the contract. If the buyer is successful they can rescind the contract or in some cases be awarded damages.

Provided you were completely honest with the buyer, then you don't have anything to worry about. He has no right to demand any money from you.