Legalsolutions4U

21/05/2026

30/04/2026

Good afternoon everyone,

We have all had that sinking feeling: a customer who bought a car nearly half a year ago suddenly reappears with a repair quote long enough to be a Sunday supplement. While the law famously puts the burden on the dealer to prove a fault wasn't present during those first six months, it doesn't give the customer a free pass to overhaul the entire vehicle at your expense.

It is a common misconception that you have to simply shrug and pay the full invoice to keep the peace. In reality, you have every right to take a magnifying glass to those "essential" repairs.

One of our recent cases involved a vehicle that had been on the road for five months and 4,500 miles. It left the dealership with a fresh 12-month MOT and a full service, but eventually suffered a head gasket failure. Naturally, when the warranty company declined to help, the customer brought a massive itemised bill straight to the dealer.

The quote didn't stop at the gasket; it included a new water pump, oil, filters, and various other bits and pieces.

To get to the bottom of the situation, we spoke with the repairing garage, and they confirmed the actual cause of failure in writing. They stated the fault was actually due to wear and tear, which meant the dealership would not have been liable for the repair at all. This allowed us to conclude exactly where the dealership stood and gave them a very strong position.

However, because this was a finance deal, the dealership decided they wanted to settle the matter quickly to avoid the risk of a rejection. Our strategy was simple: we advised the dealer to offer the cost of the head gasket only as a gesture. Everything else on that list was either consequential or standard maintenance, meaning the dealer was under no obligation to assist with them. The customer accepted the offer, and the matter was closed without the dealer overpaying for unnecessary extras.

The moral of the story is that you should never feel pressured to cover every single item just because a customer presents a list. There is a very clear line between a point-of-sale fault and a garage trying to pad out an invoice with maintenance or consequential parts. Knowing exactly where that line is can save you thousands.

If you are currently sitting with a tricky complaint or a quote that feels a bit padded, we are here to help you find that line in the sand.

Give the team at Legalsolutions4u a call on 0191 481 3992.

Best regards,

The Legalsolutions4u

22/04/2026

Good Afternoon All,

We’ve all been there. You sell a car, it goes out the door with a fresh oil service and a clean 12-month MOT, and you don’t hear a peep from the customer for over half a year. As far as you’re concerned, it’s a successful sale and a happy driver.

Then, out of nowhere, an email lands from the finance house.

The customer has raised a formal complaint. Suddenly, you’re being told you’ve already used your "one opportunity to repair" under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. How? Because the customer used their third-party warranty for a minor issue months ago without even telling you.

It’s a trend we are seeing time and time again. Finance houses are pushing dealerships to the wall, often without providing a shred of evidence regarding the actual fault. They are banking on the idea that you’ll simply roll over to protect your commercial relationship with them.

Take a recent case we handled. A customer bought a car in August, drove it for 5,000 miles, and had a shock absorber replaced under warranty. The finance house tried to claim this was the dealership’s "one chance" to fix the car, and that because a fault appeared within six months, it was legally deemed to be present at the point of sale.

The reality? A shock absorber on a car driven 5,000 miles is wear and tear, especially with a clean MOT at the point of sale.

When the customer later complained about an oil leak from a perished crank seal after driving 8,600 miles, the finance house tried to hold the dealer liable. By digging in our heels, we forced them to realise that a seal perishing after nearly 9,000 miles of driving is not a pre-existing fault. After we reiterated the law, specifically that after six months, the burden of proof shifts to the customer, the finance house closed the case with no further action.

The lesson here is simple: your commercial relationship is important, but it shouldn’t cost you your rights. You don't have to accept every demand just to keep the peace.

If you are currently facing an ongoing dispute with a finance house and aren’t sure where you stand, don’t feel pressured into an unfair settlement.

Give Legalsolutions4u a call today on 0191 481 3992

Best regards,

The Legalsolutions4u

15/04/2026

Imagine a customer driving away in a sleek 17-plate Range Rover Evoque, the engine purring and the leather pristine. Fast forward a few months, and that same customer is handed a repair bill for 5,000 pounds. Instead of reaching out to the warranty provider, they decide to take a shortcut and demand the money directly from the dealership, convinced the law is on their side.

For most dealers, this is the start of a long, expensive headache. But for one dealership, this high-stakes demand turned into a definitive win.

The customer was prepared to insist on full compensation for his repair costs, expecting a straightforward result under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. However, the foundation of his demand was shaky from the start. Our client’s position was built on a firm principle known as Privity of Contract. Because the vehicle had technically been sold to a finance company who then provided it to the customer, the customer actually had no legal standing to seek money from the dealership directly.

When the details were finally scrutinised, the flaws in the customer's position became clear. The repair invoice provided was little more than a receipt; it lacked any professional commentary explaining what had actually caused the mechanical failure. When the customer tried to argue he had been misled by the dealership, it was noted that there was a total absence of evidence to support such a serious allegation.

Perhaps most damaging was the question of why the customer had not even bothered to contact the third-party warranty provider he had signed up for. While a customer is not strictly forced to use a warranty over their statutory rights, it is difficult to justify a £5,000 demand against a dealership when there is no direct contract and zero supporting evidence.

The momentum shifted instantly. Without a contract to stand on or evidence to back the claims, the customer's case crumbled and the demand was dismissed on the spot. The dealership walked away without paying a single penny, all because their legal positioning was airtight from the very beginning.

If you have an ongoing complaint or need advice on a similar matter, please do not hesitate to contact Legalsolutions4u on 01914813992.

05/03/2026

We are seeing a trend that I am sure many of you are feeling: customers returning to the dealership with faults well beyond the 6-month mark—some even after 14 months of ownership.

In the current economic climate, many customers feel that because you sold the car, you should be responsible for repairs for as long as they own it. How nice for them if that were true! But the law says otherwise.

At Legalsolutions4u, we specialise in pushing back against these “optimistic” claims. Here is a look at a real-life scenario we recently handled and how we protected the dealership involved.

Case Study: The 14-Month Engine Failure A customer claimed total engine failure over a year after purchase. Their argument? A fuel injector repair—done via a warranty provider in Month 5—had a “faulty seal” that caused the eventual collapse.

How we assisted the dealership:

The Burden of Proof: Since the vehicle was past the 6-month window, we reminded the customer that the legal burden is on them to prove the fault was present at the point of sale.

Third-Party Repairs: Because the repair was handled by a warranty provider and not the garage, we argued the customer could not claim a “failed repair” against the dealership.

Refusal to Inspect: The customer repaired the car at their own garage without giving the dealership a chance to see it. We put them on notice that, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, they had forfeited their right to claim by bypassing the dealership’s right to inspect.

Our Recommendations for Your Team If a customer contacts you with a major fault after the initial six-month period, we recommend the following immediate steps:

Request Evidence: Remind the customer that after six months, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires them to provide evidence that the fault existed at the time of purchase.

Assert Your Right to Inspect: If a customer refuses to let you see the vehicle, put them on notice immediately. Inform them in writing that you will not be held liable for any costs incurred without your prior authorisation.

Technical Evidence: In cases like the one mentioned above, we recommend getting a report confirming that if a seal were missing, the car would have been juddering or undrivable much sooner. This helps discharge the burden.

We are in your corner navigating the CRA 2015 is a minefield, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you have an ongoing headache or just a general question, Legalsolutions4u is here to ensure you only pay for what you are legally required to.

Get in touch for advice today:

Call us: 0191 481 3992

Best regards,

The Legalsolutions4u Team

24/02/2026

Hi All,

Hope you’re having a fantastic day! We are absolutely thrilled with the wonderful feedback rolling in from our dealerships who are already enjoying the perks of our aftersales service. They’ve been raving about how our seamless customer communication keeps things running smoothly, dealing with each query professionally yet with a delightful touch of friendliness.

Picture this: your team focusing solely on buying and selling, with no interruptions from the typical “I’ve found a chip in the windscreen!” phone call. Imagine the freedom! When these calls come in, our dedicated team swings into action. We immediately verify that the vehicle left the dealership with a full 12-month MOT. We then reassure the customer, calmly explaining that while the vehicle was in perfect order upon purchase, their insurance provider might assist with such repairs—often an easy and cost-effective solution.

If the customer still has concerns, we lay out our legal position with complete transparency, showing that the chip wasn’t present during the sale, and back it all up with a friendly follow-up email. This not only resolves the issue calmly but shows the customer we’re with them every step of the way. What’s more, we thrive on turning any potential grumbles into gleaming smiles, transforming a challenging situation into a positive outcome that often leaves customers leaving rave 5-star reviews.

Don’t let this opportunity roll by. Embrace the ease that so many of our partner dealerships are already loving. With us handling the aftersales scenarios, your focus remains where it should be—on buying, selling, and succeeding, while we transform screamers into satisfied customers.

Give us a call at 0191 4813991 — we’d love to chat!