Problems after selling the TL...

[william]

Ste,

Thre is an Infinity Motorcycles here at F'Boro before that they were known as Motorcycle City.

In all the years I had bikes it was not known as Motorcycle City, instead it was called "Shitty City" and noone in the know bought bikes from them or had servicing / repairs done there.

I guess some things never change.

Top price bad service.

I recently had to telephone their spares dept but could only get thru to sales. Isnt this the same with all big companies very quick to sell but shit for backup. Its the same with insurance, phone for a policy instant service, phone with a claim and you are on hold forever.

Infinity you are still Shitty City to me

[Ste]

Well, it was the Farnborough branch where I had the work done on the TL, and the service was all fine until there was a problem with the work that they had done. They did see sense after I had to send them a couple of carefully phrased letters, and then they did repair their errors fully, which was good really.

The service and parts department is on a different number which I can't remember at all now other than it starts 01252 but I never had a problem getting through on the phone, unless I was needing to speak with their managing director who I did get hold of after much trying, and he was the one I think who told the idiots downstairs to sort themselves out and to fix my bike. He also said they were doing it as they're trying to get rid of the Motorcycle Shitty image they have, and want to leave their customers happy. I am pleased that they fixed their errors on my bike, but was very pissed off that they made the errors to start with!

The price they charge would be okay if it wasn't for the fact in my experience I was paying lots of money for a bodge job.

They do not get recommended by me, and they get the opposite I am and will continue to do so, warn people to stay away from them and not to ever give them any of your money as what you get in return is very likely to be bad service.

And now the thread can return to being on topic slightly more than the previous few posts have been .

[william]

Apologies if this has gone off topic but I thought as far as you were concerned it was at an end anyway.

If you ring the spares dept and it is "busy" you end up being transferred to sales whatever number you dial.

Just when I thought a meaningful relationship was developing after a bad start

[Ste]

Well threads do quite often go off topic just like this one has a bit, and it's really a problem as long as it's not going stupidly off topic or being daft. The problems with the TL are not 100% until he has accepted the fact that the bike and anything wrong with it is his problem and not at all mine, and that the bike was sold as seen which means exactly that. Will update on the situation as and when stuff happens, which probably won't be that long as he is very likely to ring up asking me to pay for the engine to be repaired and saying he is going to send me a copy of a quote he has got for it to be done. He can ask for money from me all he wants, as the answer is not going to change, so he'll get more money if he uses the time to go and beg in the nearest town centre.

[william]

OK final question (off topic) do you live near F'Boro?

[Ste]

Yup I do indeed, live down near Hartley Wintney so not that far really.

[Ava_Banana]

Back on topic for a moment if I may

You probably already have done, and just printing out this thread would probably help, but it might be worth just making a few notes about times/dates conversations, and who said what to whom, when.

You may not need it, but things can become blurred over time, and it is better to have the information available and not need it, than for the opposite to happen.

Good luck mate.

[Ste]

Received in the post this morning (sent recorded delivery) a letter from the person who bought the TL.

Dear Mr Okas

RE MOTORCYCLE REG NO V449 EBF

On Tuesday 13th (after collecting the Motorcycle from you), I was riding the bike home when I noticed the alarm on the bike activated (whilst the bike was still in motion). The speedometer and tachometer also ceased to work, along with my lights, so I was forced to pull into a lay-by and stop the bike.

Once off the bike, I realised that there was considerable amount of oil running down the frame, exhaust, seat and my leg! Also the faulty alarm had now locked me out of the bike, therefore resulting in my being stranded at Silver Stone for 2hrs 30mins.

I finally got home that night at 00.30 which is not what I had expected given your description of a bike for sale 'that is in very good condition'!

I have enclosed a quote from the nearest reputable bike dealership for the supply and fitment of a replacement alarm and immobilisers that I need, to comply with the terms and conditions of my insurance company. The alarm & immobiliser unit fitted to the bike is faulty and since this was not disclosed in your advert, I request that you refund me the money for a replacement unit.

I am not unable to use the bike until a serviceable replacement is fitted.

I trust that you will now keep to your word and supply me with the pillion seat asap. When you send the seat, I would also expect to receive reimbursement for the replacement alarm system, as some measure of compensation for the inconvenience you have caused me in this manner.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Barber

Any suggestions as to what to do now? I don't believe this letter for a few reasons. Firstly the timing, he says he was stranded at Silver Stone for 2 and a half hours and did not get home until 00:30. He left here at 08:30 that evening, and rung me saying he had just broken down and was at the side of the road at 10:30. So it doesn't seem possible to be there for two and a half hours and for him to then be able to get the remaining 20 miles home (from AA route planner). Doesn't quite add up, and when he rung me that evening he said he was just a few miles from home and was about to be picked up by a friend with a van.

He is saying that it was not disclosed in the advert that the alarm was faulty, but it was not faulty when I had the bike, as anyone can work out by the fact he managed to disarm the alarm and ride the bike home which he wouldn't have been able to do if the alarm was faulty. Faulty or not he still choose to buy the bike!

Pillion seat, I told him I would send it to him as soon as I find it, so I haven't found it yet which is why it has not been sent to him, and it will be sent as soon as I find it.

He says he needs the alarm to comply with his insurance. That's interesting as he had not got insurance when it came to riding the bike home when he bought it, so what is there to make me believe he has it now?

Anyone got any suggestions as to what I should do now?

Thanks

Ste

[andrew]

Tell him to go away, honestly I don't know why you're still being so nice to the bloke, tell him you don't believe him and there was nothing wrong with the bike when you gave it to him. Simple as that, tell him you don't intend on paying for anything and if he had done the sensible thing and had a test ride he would have seen the bike was fine before he got on it and bodged it up.

Honestly Ste don't take his rubbish, tell him where to get off. In my opinion he is trying to take you for a ride and get the most out of the situation. He has probably found out what alrarm gets him the biggest insurance discount and is getting it fitted and trying to charge you for it.

[dainesefreak]

Sold as seen. Bollocks to him.

If the wording of the letter is the same as you have typed it he says "I am not unable to use the bike until a serviceable replacement is fitted." Surely that means he is able to use the bike so what's his problem?

[sv_cath]

I'd write back to him and say that as the bike was 'sold as seen' and he's signed something to this effect, then you don't intend to give him any money.

Actually, it might be worth having a chat with a solicitor first - have a look in MCN for one that specialises in bikes and even if it costs you a few quid for advice, you might be saving yourself a fortune in the long run, as if he gets nasty and starts threatening you, you'll know exactly where you stand legally.

Good luck and hope the silly git leaves you alone!

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

[Danny]

Tell him where to go and what to do with himself.

[MarJay]

Or alternatively, PM SteveH.
He seems to know a lot about the whole consumer rights law type stuff!
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ste]

I might just ignore any letters which he sends, and if he phones up explain to him where to go.

The wording of the letter he send is exactly the same as I typed on my previous post, I don't even believe that it is broken.

[byke95]

You sound like you've tried to be as nice as you can. Might be worth continuing in the same vein explaining that you are sorry he has been unlucky but that has nothing to do with you, the bike was sold as described to him and that you are not obliged to do anything further.

[Zero-G]

Maybe get him to send you some pictures of the bike in its current state, if he hasnt already. Maybe he stacked it on the way home and is trying to get you to pay for his mess!

Just a thought.

[G]

[TheBoyChris]

Ste, I imagine at this point you've been given the seed of doubt by this person. Was the bike in good nick? Could he be telling the truth and thus am I ripping him off?

The answer is, unless he can provide definative proof then no. I imagine you had a damn good idea what condition that bike was in therefore how can *so much* go *so wrong* in one trip? I think you hit the nail on the head with a previous comment, he probably thrashed it within an inch of it's life not knowing how the bike handled, felt or where it's limits were. I can see it now, some geezer without insurance redlining the entire way home on a bike that hasn't been used for a few months.

Pfft.

In my head you did everything possible, you've done nothing illegal and the only thing you could possibly conceed to is the pillion seat. Don't let him take your honourable nature for a ride, ask him to provide proof, I know that if I were in your position I'd ask him to take the bike to a neutral/trusted garage and have it inspected for damage, I'm pretty sure a mechanic would be able to tell what had happened and whether or not it had happened recently, ergo: after a damn good thrashing by a newbie TL rider.

Anyhow, that's my 2C. Don't budge until he provides proof. You know that bike worked and it worked well. This stuff doesn't just *happen*, there is always a reason and sometimes its a redline reason.

Chris
____________________
Last bike - 2004 CBR 125 - Gone but not forgotten
Scottish Piper on a Wednesday people, you know it makes sense.

[Fallen Angel]

I can't give you any advice personally Ste, but perhaps a chat with someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau re. the agreement you have that is alredy signed by him!

Sorry not much help, just a thought!

Hope you don't stress too much over it mate! It does sound like this geezer is chancing his luck!
____________________
I have an asshole tolerance level of -10
www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk
www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

[Mr Pants!]

This may interest you:

https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nm/private_sales_and_car_boot_sales.pdf
____________________
Mr Pants! (Alex or Al)
Its better to burn out, than to fade away....

[Jimmy]

You gave him the opportunity to test the alarm when he came to buy it, he should therefore have satisfied himself that the alarm was OK. If he didn't then it's his mis-fortune.
____________________
I've confused my intentions with my abilities

[Zimma]

Tell him where to go Ste, he signed a piece of paper to say that he agreed the bike was fine.... It's all his own shit now. Simple. You don't have to do anything now. The bike is his.

Just a thought, have you spoke to T.C.? He may know a bit more about this sort of thing?

Either way, you don't have to give him shit.. tell him to piss off... and if you don't wanna do it. I will do it for you.
____________________
-Zimma

[MarJay]

Zimma,
T.C is more traffic law afaik,
However, SteveH seems to be more of an expert in consumer matters.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ava_Banana]

As someone said above, give the Citizens Advice Bureau a call, I have used them before and they have been quite helpful.

Good Luck.