I brought a stolen vehicle

Manor

Hi Ya,
I have foolishly brought a stolen vehicle and need advice

Before buying the vehicle I did a Used Car Expert Check and DVLA Vehicle Enquiry, everything seemed to check out.

I purchased the vehicle on 9th July 2009
From a person calling themselves a Trader and living at an address in
Aylstone Road
Leicester
LE2 7QI

The vehicle was advertised on Auto Trader web site. He explained he was a Car Trader and had purchased the vehicle from an auction in Manchester. He provided one key (explaining the other would follow) and a receipt.

He signed the Log Book and gave it to me complete. I parked the car on my drive while waiting till the end of the month before taxing it, and posted the Log Book to DVLA on 10th July.

On 28th July I did a simple web-site enquiry to check what the Tax would be when I put the vehicle on the road at the end of the month. Because the web-site said vehicle not found, I contacted DVLA by phone.

DVLA told me that someone had changed the vehicle registration number to a private plate within the last few weeks and I should contact the seller to establish what that number was. I explained that I was the new owner and have certainly not applied for a change of registration.

I went on to explain that I had tried to contact the seller on a number of occasions since the sale to ask some questions, however all the numbers simply go through to answer machine and he never replies.

They then asked me to write in so that they could investigate the matter.

I wrote to DVLA and enclosed copies of
· Log book (as it was sent to them)
· The original Auto Trader Advertisement
· My receipt

On 28th July I spoke to DVLA who said the paperwork V5 did not match their records and she was passing the enquiry to another department.

DVLA did not contact me or answer e-mails, so I reported my concerns to the police and spoke to Trading Standards.

The Police collected the vehicle on 6th August. I have now been informed that the vehicle is a stolen clone and belongs to the legal owner because the Insurance Company has not paid out.

The house I brought the vehicle from is empty.

My question is, do I have any legal claim (i.e. duty of care) against either Auto Trader or Used Car Expert.

I paid £8550 cash and any advice would be appreciated

Thanks,
Manor

cajef

Thread already opened in this forum

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=24129503#post24129503

Suggest any replies there so not to duplicate.

chipmunk

Deleted - made a flippant comment then changed my mind. Hope you get the problem sorted.

durham_girl

chipmunk wrote: »

Deleted - made a flippant comment then changed my mind. Hope you get the problem sorted.

Was it, 'Where did you bring it from?'

I wasn't going to ask that, honestly.....

chipmunk

durham_girl wrote: »

Was it, 'Where did you bring it from?'

I wasn't going to ask that, honestly.....

Could've been !:D