Dozens of used-car buyers dispute Trade Centre UK refunds
At least 34 customers have told the BBC they remain in disputes with used-car dealer Trade Centre UK over vehicles they say developed serious faults soon after purchase. The company says problems are rare and that it investigates complaints, while Sandwell Council Trading Standards has opened an investigation.
At least 34 customers have told the BBC they remain locked in disputes with used-car dealer Trade Centre UK over vehicles they say developed serious faults soon after purchase. Among them are newlyweds Amber and Nathan Cooper, who spent £7,000 of their wedding gifts on a Citroen C4. They said the car lost power and rolled backwards during a journey to Cornwall in August 2025, leaving them stranded on the A30 near Bodmin Moor.
When the couple returned the vehicle to the dealer two weeks later, they said they were told it needed a new engine, clutch and gearbox. A year later, they said they were still seeking an apology and a refund, and had taken out a loan to replace the car. Amber said the dispute had left the couple in debt and had affected their work and plans to save for a house and start a family.
Her husband, who works in Telford, had missed work because he did not have a car, she said. Another couple, Connor and Danielle Johnson-Bray, said a vehicle bought from the company’s Wednesbury branch broke down within two days. They were offered another car, but said it subsequently broke down three times in eight months.
They estimated their spending on repairs, courtesy cars and other costs at £2,200. The couple took their case to the small claims court against the finance company through which they bought the vehicle. The finance company agreed to settle, but they said the settlement did not cover all their losses.
Trade Centre UK said it took customer concerns seriously and that problems could sometimes occur. It said its teams investigated complaints and could offer repairs, replacement vehicles or, where appropriate, accept a vehicle rejection. Sandwell Council Trading Standards has confirmed an investigation into the complaints and urged affected consumers to report concerns through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Consumer expert Stuart Masson said multiple customers pursuing disputes was concerning, particularly where faults appeared within the first few weeks.
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