'Our wedding present ruined us': Couple join dozens in car seller dispute

'Our wedding present ruined us': Couple join dozens in car seller dispute

Just two weeks after getting married, Amber and Nathan Cooper were left facing a nightmare

Newlyweds Amber and Nathan Cooper spent all of their wedding gift money on a £7,000 Citroen C4, hoping it would carry them on their dream honeymoon.

But on the way to Cornwall in August 2025, the car lost power and started rolling backwards, leaving them stranded on the A30 near the Jamaica Inn in Bodmin Moor, they told the BBC.

When they took it back to Trade Centre UK two weeks later, they found it needed a new engine, clutch and gearbox.

A year later, they are still seeking both an apology and their money back.

The used car dealership said it "works hard to resolve problems when they arise"

They are among 34 customers who told the BBC they also bought cars from Trade Centre UK branches in Coventry, Rochdale, Rotherham and Wales, but are still stuck in disputes over refunds.

Customers say they have been left dealing with engine noise, suspension faults and clutch problems. The company says such problems are "rare".

They said that when they rejected the vehicle under the Consumer Rights Act, the process through Trade Centre UK was complicated, slow and their claims were often turned down.

Amber said: "It's gutted us mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, I don't know what we can do apart from get this story out and have people learn from our mistake."

Trade Centre UK said it takes concerns raised "very seriously" and recognises that "problems can sometimes occur".

A statement from the company said: "On these rare occasions, our teams work with customers to investigate the issue and identify an appropriate resolution, which can include repairs, replacement vehicles or, where appropriate, accepting rejection of a vehicle."

Amber Cooper says she and her husband are still in debt

The Wolverhampton couple said they have been left in debt and emotional distress after spending a year hiring and borrowing cars before taking out a loan to replace what they lost.

The newlywed added: "People are coming to us and asking are you enjoying your wedding present?

"We have to say, no, it's sitting in the Trade Centre's car park. We're having to apologise to people who turned up to our wedding and kindly gave us money.

"My husband works in Telford, which is a 60-mile round trip every day, without a car he has had to miss work which means we've lost even more money.

"We're still in debt, trying to pay off this loan and now I can't save for a house, start a family and move on with my life."

Connor and Danielle Johnson-Bray say their car ended up back on the forecourt for sale despite the plethora of problems they experienced

Connor and Danielle Johnson-Bray from Stoke-on-Trent also bought their car from the Wednesbury branch last September.

They say it broke down within two days, so the couple were offered another one, which then broke down three times in eight months.

Connor said: "We spent £2,200 on repairs, courtesy cars, and just the initial getting the car, trying to get it back on the road."

After being refused a refund, they took their case to the small claims court against the finance company they had bought the car through, and the company agreed to settle.

His wife Danielle added: "We did accept that [settlement], and it meant that we did lose a lot of money as well. We didn't have any more fight left in us.

"It had drained us, we were very stressed, we were tired, I wasn't sleeping."

Michelle Chancellor, whose new car broke down two weeks after she bought it has since recieved a refund

As part of a BBC Investigation in July, Michelle Chancellor, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, said she bought her Vauxhall from the Wednesbury branch of The Trade Centre UK but soon heard loud noises from the engine.

After appearing in BBC coverage, she was contacted by the used car dealer, who told her the refund had been accepted.

However, it took weeks to be processed.

She said: "It was another two to three weeks until my refund came through and I was able to buy a new car, which meant I was still losing out on income after signing the rejection papers.

"I think that the financial loss will affect me for a while to come yet especially as I'm a self-employed mature student that lives alone."

Sandwell Council Trading Standards has confirmed it has launched an investigation into the complaints and has urged anyone with issues to report concerns via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.

Consumer expert Stuart Masson said it is worrying when multiple customers feel they have no choice but to pursue disputes because they believe a dealership is not cooperating.

He told the BBC: "It's enormously frustrating, the Consumer Rights Act has to be fair to both parties when it comes to buying used cars.

"It should be easy, especially within the first month. After six months it becomes more complicated. But it sounds like a lot of these problems are happening within the first few weeks."

Trade Centre UK's statement added: "We are committed to meeting our responsibilities to our customers and continue to invest in our vehicle preparation, aftersales and customer service operations.

"We are proud to have been in operation across the UK for over 20 years and to have served hundreds of thousands of customers during that time."