Sounds like your immobiliser is engaged. Have you had a Renault before? Usually they have to be locked and unlocked with the remote fob to allow the car to start, but you dont give enough details about the car so I dont know about yours.
Phone the seller and ask how they started it. I assume it is the same as my Laguna and has a bypass code which has to be entered manually. A previous owner may have fitted a bypass kit.
setty
April 2009