Point of View: How do you get a refund from a car dealership?

Kaya 959 Reporter

What happens when you wake up after purchasing a car and realised that you don’t like the car you bought.

You shouldn’t be trapped with a car that has been causing you difficulties from the beginning, or one that you bought on the spur of the moment.

If you decide to return a vehicle to the seller after rejecting it, there are legal ways that are at your disposal to get a refund back should you be unhappy.

Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Lucious Bodibe, the manager of public affairs at Motor Industry Ombud SA on a few things to put into consideration when you return your car for a refund to a car dealership.

LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:

In instances where a consumer wakes up and changes their mind for whatever reason about a car purchase, Bodibe outline what steps to follow.

He also stated that in terms of instances where consumers were directly contacted by salespeople (direct marketing), there is an act that says you can rescind the purchase within 5 business days.

“We have what we call direct marketing, which is section 16 of the Consumer Protection Act 68/2008 which works as follows. Let us say I happen to grow up with you, and I see you prospering and I am a salesperson and all of a sudden I have this 10-seater which I feel will suit your lifestyle, I give you a call or an e-mail and say listen I have this car that suits your lifestyle, can I com and display it for you?

“I come to you display the car and you buy it on the spot, we say that is direct marketing. If I approached you in person or any other form of communication and incited you into buying this vehicle that is direct marketing,” says Bodibe.

Section 55, of the Consumer Protection Act, applies when you hopped from dealership to dealership and made a purchase on your own accord.

Refunds on vehicles sold “voetstoots” or ‘as is’

Bodibe, also gave an overview of what it means when a vehicle is sold a “voetstoots”, a clause in effect that stipulates that the vehicle will be sold ‘as is’ and shared how consumers are protected from this form of car sales.

He says consumers have the right to receive a list of all the defects that are in the car and must declare that they have been informed of all the defects.

He outlined that should a car break down after you bought it, you have the right to take the dealer to the motor industry ombudsman or the local consumer office.

Bodibe also touched on effective ways to protect yourself against warranties and the correct steps to take when the agreement is not honoured.

Written by: Zuko

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