Garage has sold/scrapped vehicle

jojogirly

I wonder if anyone could tell me where we stand on this. Before xmas my husband took his van for an mot, it failed the mot on a minor part, the garage owner advised my husband to park the van up at the garage, take off the part and go and get the new part. Which turned out to be really hard to find - the van couldnt be moved and the garage owner said it was fine to leave it there. So we settled the bill and left. When we did find it 5 weeks later (having kept the garage informed to this point) and went back to fit it the garage owner wasnt there, an employee advised us we couldnt fit it that day, so we phoned the owner - he didnt answer. We have phoned constanly, left messages and visited the garage repeadedly over the last few months only to be told we cant have access, he isnt there etc.

Today we had a letter from the DVLA acknowledging that we have authorised a change of ownership or had it scrapped. They still will not answer the phone to us, We have recieved no corrospondence from them at all, and since we keep trying to get hold of them to remove the van dont see how they can sell/scrap our vehicle.

Any advice appreciated.

somech

could try calling the police

garage sounds a tad dodgy.

beks

I have no idea where you start with this, but that sounds awful.
Did the garage have the log book to be able to sell/scrap the van? Have you contacted the DVLA?
Think you need legal advice ... try CAB or as above poster says, you may have to get police involved if events are as you say.
Good luck and I would also warn others about not using this garage.

aqueoushumour01

this has happened to someone else on here. try searching for old posts with scrap or scrapped and garage in threads. it must have been in the last 6 months. can't remember what the outcome was but it was exactly the same but the car needed a new engine I seem to remember.

DCFC79

aqueoushumour01 wrote: »

this has happened to someone else on here. try searching for old posts with scrap or scrapped and garage in threads. it must have been in the last 6 months. can't remember what the outcome was but it was exactly the same but the car needed a new engine I seem to remember.

yes i seem to remember that post as well

Norman_Castle

Contact the DVLA telling them that you have not autharised scrapping or a change of ownership.The letter from them may be asking if you are aware of a request to change ownership.You need to explain the situation to them.I think you should also contact the police and ask for help entering the garage.

verybigchris

aqueoushumour01 wrote: »

this has happened to someone else on here. try searching for old posts with scrap or scrapped and garage in threads. it must have been in the last 6 months. can't remember what the outcome was but it was exactly the same but the car needed a new engine I seem to remember.

Here's that thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2160751

jojogirly

Thank you all, we have tried with no luck to contact him today, we have called using different phones, and driven to the garage - all locked up with no sign of the van.

We will be contacting the DVLA first thing on Tuesday - In the meantime, I think I will contact the police as suggested. I have a horrible feeling that we will never get the van back - amazes me that garages have the right to do this without your permission and documents.

somech

garages can only do this if the car is abandoned on premises

has to be there a certain length of time and they need to try and make reasonable efforts to contact the owner.

this garage (use the word garage loosely)has shafted you.
if it were me tuesday morning i would be camped outside waiting for them