Previous owners issue

Miser_maz

Any advice appreciated.
Almost a month ago I bought a nearly new Ford car from Ford dealership. I was told at the time of sale that the car had only one previous owner from new. But when the log book arrived, I find there were actually two previous owners. Feeling rather annoyed, I called the salesman who sold me the car, he has admitted he thought there was only one previous owner, but says, so what its no big deal.
But as I bought the car clearly under what he told me at the time of sale, do I have any grounds for redress?

Bossyboots

I think it would depend on who the owners were. My OH's car now shows two previous owners, one was the dealership and one was me.

hjb123

The mileage was the same I assume? I wouldnt have thought you would have much of a comeback to be honest - what were you thinking there may be?

david29dpo

Miser_maz wrote:

Any advice appreciated.
Almost a month ago I bought a nearly new Ford car from Ford dealership. I was told at the time of sale that the car had only one previous owner from new. But when the log book arrived, I find there were actually two previous owners. Feeling rather annoyed, I called the salesman who sold me the car, he has admitted he thought there was only one previous owner, but says, so what its no big deal.
But as I bought the car clearly under what he told me at the time of sale, do I have any grounds for redress?

i would have gone mad! you have been done. the more owners on the log book, the less the car is worth. this is why the dealer told you it only had one previous owner. why did you buy the car without seeing the log book first?

balsingh

Your only comeback may be if you have something in writing stating the car only had 1 owner .... like an advert in a magazine, or a printout the dealer gave you. Otherwise, its your word against theirs.

vansboy

Was it a 'Ford Direct' model...you'll be able to exchange it, if it is, anyway http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/forddirect/-/forddirect_exchange/-/-/-/-

Regardless of this, you've simply not bought what you were sold - a one previous owner vehicle & have every right to return & refund, or some form of financial redress.

As mentioned, written evidence would help, but best have a word with the dealer principal & see what they come up with.

The pre-registering way of increasing paper sales is fine & everyone knows this goes on, resulting in a saving (sometimes) for the customer & dealer bonus for the garage.

But why it has ANOTHER owner makes one think of, maybe a cancelled order - so should be cheaper, 'cos that person has lost their deposit.

Or has it already been returned & has loads of problems, or just didn't suit the buyer.

Certainly the garage needs to do SOMETHING for you!!

It's value WILL be less, come re-sale time. The amount depends on how old it is when you decide to replace it.

VB

Miser_maz

Thanks for all the replys.
Firstly, I didn't check the logbook purely because I felt no need to doubt what the saleman was saying, after all, I was buying from a dealership. I mean the car was registered new on december 04, so I assumed the saleman was certain about what he was saying.

Secondly, the salesman has not denied saying there was only one previous owner, he freely admits to it, he just feels i'm over reacting about a "trivial issue". Infact he has now actually suggested DVLA may have made an error by adding another owner!

Thirdly, because it was not a Ford-direct car, he has firmly placed the ball in my court saying what do I think he should do, saying a refund is out of the question. And that the only possibility is an exchange, but adding it would be treated like a part exchange, probably meaning he would base my vehicle price on a valuation, resulting in a financial loss for me. Although their website suggests a "30 day exchange programme", it becomes meaningless if it entails a valuation, which leaves them free to quote any price that suits them.

I would certainly have thought twice about buying the vehicle knowing it had 2 owners in such a short time, and especially at the price I paid. But what should I demand from them, forget their exchange offer, and anyway they don't have a very good car selection to choose from. Perhaps a financial compensation is best? But I doubt they would agree to it, and then what amount would be acceptable for this kind of thing?

I'm really annoyed!

david29dpo

i trivial issue!!! what crap is he going to tell you next!

hjb123

Has the car got a service history or any other documents that say what it has had done to it in its life? My Ford Fiesta has dating back to when it was bought and each time anything is done it is written in the book - oil changes, tyre changes, engine stuff, battery stuff and so on

Miser_maz

Just thought I'd add an update.
I've all but given up on this. After involving the Trading Standards team, the salesteam at the garage have stuck too their guns that I misunderstood them at point of sale, even though they have changed their story 4 times. Although the saleman had initially confirmed, after I recieved dvla paperwork, that he cleary told me the vehicle had one owner, he has subsequently denied ever saying so.
Trading standards have said as I have no evidence its pointless to pursue it further.
I know some may think its a trivial matter, but the fact that this Ford dealership is blatantly lying is infuriating, and don't want to let them get away with it.
Does anyone think, I could do anything else about it, or should I bite the bullet?

hjb123

Think you may have to bite the bullet and leave it as it is your word against theirs and if Trading Standards have had a go and not managed to work a solution out then I doubt there will be an end! I realise that there is the principle of the matter.