Gail Frederick, 67, purchased a Mercedes GLA from Trade Centre Wales in January – but problems arose just minutes later - Jay WilliamsIt claims to be Britain's biggest secondhand car supermarket, promising customers the "perfect car without breaking the bank".But Trade Centre Group has been accused of selling customers flawed vehicles alleged to have broken down within hours of driving off the forecourt.Mechanics near to the company's showrooms say they are regularly dealing with Trade Centre customers whose cars have apparently developed faults within days of purchase.AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, drivers in their scores say they are fighting a losing battle for recompense or repairs they believe they are rightfully owed under consumer laws.'Pure misery'Gail Frederick, 67, purchased a Mercedes-Benz GLA from the Trade Centre Wales site near Abercynon in late January. The £14,749 car was meant to be a "treat" in retirement.But just five miles away from the showroom after buying the SUV, Frederick says the engine management warning light came on."I saved continuously to buy that car and what should have been an exciting time turned into pure misery," Ms Frederick said.She is one of hundreds of customers who have come together online to discuss complaints against the company. Users typically claim faults appear shortly after purchase and describe poor communication and issues with lifetime warranties sold by the group.Trade Centre Wales in Abercynon, where Ms Frederick bought her £14,000 Mercedes-Benz - Jay WilliamsFounded in 1999, the Trade Centre Group describes itself as the largest and fastest-growing used car supermarket in the UK.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt claims to provide customers with "probably the UK's cheapest cars". In the last three years, it has sold more than 100,000 cars to British buyers.Frederick's issue was reported immediately but she struggled to secure an appointment with Trade Centre Wales. By the time the vehicle was inspected weeks later, warning lights had appeared repeatedly and she could smell fumes.Matters came to a head during a weekend away in April when she says the car began vibrating at 70mph, warning lights flashed and the brakes failed.An independent diagnostic report confirmed a fault with the brakes' anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensor.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnder the Consumer Rights Act 2015, UK buyers have a 30-day window to return a car for a full refund if it is faulty or not as described. Up to six months, the dealer is allowed one chance to repair the car before a final rejection can be made.Without money and without a carDespite sending multiple emails requesting a rejection of the vehicle, Frederick's refund was refused by Trade Centre Wales, which said it was unable to replicate the same faults."We were then without our money and without a car," Ms Frederick said, adding that she faced sleepless nights because of the stress caused.Eventually, she took matters into her own hands. Ms Frederick sent a letter threatening legal action and even staged a one-woman protest outside the Abercynon showroom, wearing a custom T-shirt that issued a "WARNING" in bright red letters.AdvertisementAdvertisementWithin minutes, a senior manager emerged. It was agreed that the car would be rejected and she would receive a full refund, although she says the firm attempted to charge her £600 for "wear and tear"."I couldn't believe that after all the stress – the trips back and forth and all the money – they still tried to take more."Imogen Gosling says her secondhand Mercedes-Benz started smoking an hour after leaving the Trade Centre - John LawrenceImogen Gosling, 29, recently secured a new job as a travelling sales manager.A reliable car was crucial. So, she bought a Mercedes-Benz A180 for £14,450 from the Trade Centre UK showroom in Coventry on June 6.She also purchased the lifetime warranty for £59 a month, swayed by access to a courtesy car if anything went wrong.AdvertisementAdvertisementOne hour after leaving the dealership, she says the car's engine management warning light came on, it went in and out of "limp" mode and black smoke "poured" out of the exhaust.She reported the issues that same day. An independent inspection identified issues with the engine, airbags and tyre pressure monitor.Ms Gosling said she received no acknowledgement of the emails she sent raising concerns in the first few days. Phone calls went unanswered. When she took the car back to the Trade Centre, she saw "lots of irate" customers inside, making similar complaints.Again, Trade Centre UK said it couldn't replicate any of the same faults. It would not accept her request to reject the vehicle and claim a full refund.AdvertisementAdvertisementShe was stuck. No courtesy car was available and she was missing out on days of work at her new job."You just feel helpless," Ms Gosling said.She added she felt she had no option other than to pursue legal action, writing a letter before court action to the company.Only then did Trade Centre UK agree to unwind her deal.Ms Gosling took matters into her own hands by delivering a letter before action - Imogen GoslingOther customers, however, are still facing similar issues:George Palmer claims his Citroën C4 displayed engine warnings and critical mechanical failures, including a cracked wet belt, a month after purchase. He is seeking a full refund.Amy Clarke bought a vehicle from the Rotherham showroom in November 2025. Within a day, she claims she experienced significant issues with the clutch and the engine overheating.Chris Goss is locked in a dispute over a Mercedes bought in 2023, which suffered turbo failure which damaged the engine. Adjudicators at the Motor Ombudsman have ruled in his favour twice.AdvertisementAdvertisementGoss was pointed towards the Motor Ombudsman because his complaint also involved the warranty provider.But the Trade Centre Group itself is not part of the Motor Ombudsman scheme, which is voluntary. It means Trade Centre is not bound by the code of practice of the industry watchdog.Other Trade Centre customers, like Sammy*, have been staging protests outside showrooms - Erin HonselerConsumers are lodging complaints elsewhere instead. Rhondda Cynon Taf and Warwickshire confirmed that its Trading Standards teams had received complaints relating to local Trade Centre showrooms in the last year.The group operates six showrooms across England and Wales, with thousands of vehicles stocked at any one time.AdvertisementAdvertisementDarren Street, the owner of Spear Garage near the Wednesbury Branch, said drivers regularly bring in Trade Centre UK vehicles."It's always the same story – faults coming up within a few days," he said.Having seen issues with clutches, gearboxes and airbags, he questioned whether the 99-point checks the Trade Centre Group carries out on its cars are thorough enough.Trade Centre Group's lifetime warranty is a core part of its business offering - Jay WilliamsThe latest accounts filed with Companies House show Trade Centre turned a pre-tax profit of £6.2m in the year to November 2025. Revenues topped a record £283.4m.Mark Bailey, its founder and chairman, had his consumer credit licence revoked in 2003 after it emerged he had been involved in what were described as "unfair" business practices.AdvertisementAdvertisementToday, the firm's flexible finance deals and lifetime warranty are a key part of its offer. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with permission to act as a credit broker. Mr Bailey is listed as "approved" by the watchdog.In general, the FCA will look at a person's past conduct when considering them for authorisation.A spokesman for the Trade Centre Group said it was committed to delivering a high standard of service "to the many thousands of customers it supports each year".It said that while the scale of its operations means a high volume of vehicles pass through its dealerships, "thorough checks remain a priority in every case".It said it could not comment on individual cases, but where complaints do arise "they are taken very seriously"."We would note that complaints of this nature are limited, which we believe is a reflection of the care taken across our operation," it added.*Did not wish to include her surnameTry full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.