How to tell if a dealer is legit?

bigdave196

So, I've seen a car advertised on autotrader that I really like the look of, and it's been advertised by an independent dealer. I've had a look at the dealers website, and the address is a farm which set off the first little niggle, there's also no mention of any membership of the RMI etc. Now it's possible that this guy is a perfectly legitimate dealer, but does anyone know an easy way of checking?

I've googled the company name, and the address which brought up another dealer with a similarly laid out website

marlot

If he's a registered company you can get some details from companies house

Strider590

Not a "dealer", more of a one man band buying/selling cars from his home location. Not such a problem.... But the website thing, that's more concerning as it suggests a change of name due to bad reviews.

Google the name of the other dealer and see what comes up, it'll help to search with quotes "" to get exact search string results.

bigdave196

Is it worth ringing the local Trading Standards to see if they've had any complaints about them?

bigdave196

Hmm, searched Companies House for the other dealer:
Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off
Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/04/2009 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/01/2011 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 16/01/2010
Next Return Due: 13/02/2011 OVERDUE

thenudeone

Sounds like a phoenix business. Avoid.

s_b

thenudeone wrote: »

Sounds like a phoenix business. Avoid.

has he had the fire already then?
told me it was next tuesday.....

marlot

bigdave196 wrote: »

Hmm, searched Companies House for the other dealer:
Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off
Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/04/2009 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/01/2011 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 16/01/2010
Next Return Due: 13/02/2011 OVERDUE

I wonder if it has the same directors? I bet it does! And when you go back with a problem, the dealer you bught from has gone bust too.