You should avoid car finance at all cost. There are plenty of decent cars around that cost a few hundred pounds. There are also plenty of sites giving advice on how to tell which cars are worn out and which ones still have a few years' life left in them. Mine cost £300 about 3 years ago and, in spite of the abuse it gets, it still seems to keep going.

I don't know how old your car is but, if it more than about 10 years old, you shouldn't think about spending £1k on it. You'd be better selling it to a scrap yard for £30 and spending £500 or so on something better. If someone then comes chasing you for the finance, you could show them the £30 receipt from the scrap yard and tell them that you are not paying whatever thet are asking for a £30 car.

If you are shopping for another car, www.autotrader.co.uk is a good place to start.

Hi

A few years ago I needed a car and went to Yes Car Credit in Glasgow, where I was given the hard sell and eventually got a Ford Escort. After about 2 years, and deciding the car I was sold really wasnt as fully checked as they had claimed I went to the local office to ask about handing it back as it said in the contract I could do after paying half. The girl said that if I gave them another £1000 then I could return it. :0

So, I held on to it. After another year I get a letter saying I could trade it in for another car, and seeing as how I couldnt get credit anywhere else I decided to see what they could offer.

Was given the choice of only 3 cars due to my financial circumstances and picked the cheapest, a Toyota Avensis. Took it a test drive and thought it was ok so accepted it. Went through the hard sell again ("you need PPI, blah,blah,blah) and picked it up the next day.

Wasnt til I got home I noticed that the new tyres and satnav that were on it during the test drive were no longer on the car. Phoned them and was told the guy I had dealt with wasnt in but they would get him to call. 5 years on and I am still waiting!!!!

Anyway, I paid the credit for 2 years and then changed job. Due to family problems etc, I then could not afford the car, so called the company to say this and was told "If you cant afford it, why did you buy the car? You'll just need to find the money, cant you borrow it from someone?" Told the guy to mind his own business and hung up.

The payments were to be over 5 years, but I to date I have only paid for 2 years as my bank account was closed by the bank and I had to open a new one with a different bank.

I received a letter about 3 years ago from a debt company (cant remember their name) saying they were taking over my account, but since then I have heard nothing. No letters, no knocks on the door, nothing. I still have the heap of rubbish car that has cost me a fortune to keep going since I got it. But now its gonna cost me nearly a grand to repair (thought toyotas were meant to be reliable?) and I just want rid of it but cant coz its still on finance.

Can anyone give me any advice of what I should do?

many thanks.

Grant