Innocent purchase of a stolen vehicle

houseofwon

neilmcl wrote: »

OP, what sort of investigations are the Police doing. Are the investigating the garage for example? Have you actually spoken to them since they took the car away.

None as far as I am aware. I've been in contact with the police on countless occasions. By e-mail, by phone and by going to the police station. As I see it the police were told of a stolen vehicle. They located it and returned it to the person who it was originally stolen from. I'm really at a loss to how I can get more out of the police. If you consider it.

I paid for the vehicle. I had the genuine V5 issued by the DVLA in my name. I had all the keys for the vehicle. I had the vehicle at an official dealership when I had some work done on it- the official dealership would definitely have picked up if I was in possession of a stolen vehicle because they log vehicles onto their system using the VIN PLUS vehicle registration mark, but again it had not been reported stolen at this time. I had it insured in my name. How then can someone else, even if they were a person from whom the vehicle had been stolen, convince the police it is their vehicle? everything points to me being the owner.

verityboo

Have you contacted the garage that sold you the car?

houseofwon

Woody. wrote: »

Is there any reason you made an 800 mile round trip for this car?

I searched for it online and it was one I particularly wanted- had the extra bits which other vehicles I'd found online didnt have- upgraded brakes, the colour combination I wanted, the alloy wheels I wanted, relative to its age the mileage was low- basically it had various bits and bolts which other vehicles I had seen did not have. Also it was a dealership which dealt specifically in luxury vehicles and I read with glee about experiences of previous customers.

Woody._2

houseofwon wrote: »

None as far as I am aware. I've been in contact with the police on countless occasions. By e-mail, by phone and by going to the police station. As I see it the police were told of a stolen vehicle. They located it and returned it to the person who it was originally stolen from. I'm really at a loss to how I can get more out of the police. If you consider it.

I paid for the vehicle. I had the genuine V5 issued by the DVLA in my name. I had all the keys for the vehicle. I had the vehicle at an official dealership when I had some work done on it- the official dealership would definitely have picked up if I was in possession of a stolen vehicle because they log vehicles onto their system using the VIN PLUS vehicle registration mark, but again it had not been reported stolen at this time. I had it insured in my name. How then can someone else, even if they were a person from whom the vehicle had been stolen, convince the police it is their vehicle? everything points to me being the owner.

Did you see a V5 before you bought it?

houseofwon

verityboo wrote: »

Have you contacted the garage that sold you the car?

My first car was an old mini which I purchased from a dealer. I kept it for 4 years before trading it in for a new car. A year later the garage contacted me as the new owner of the Mini had been stopped by the police and the car taken as it was a stolen car. The garage wanted to know about my ownership and I gave them a copy of the original sales invoice from the garage I bought it from. They were happy that their insurance would pay out as obviously they would have to refund the new owners

verityboo wrote: »

Have you contacted the garage that sold you the car?

I have contacted the garage. I've also written to them detailing what has happened. Proving details of the police who took the vehicle.

One of the senior managers I spoke with suggested the garage would only refund my money if I took it to a civil court. I hope I do not have to follow this route.

houseofwon

Woody. wrote: »

Did you see a V5 before you bought it?

I completed the tear off slip to register myself as the new owner of the vehicle whilst at the garage on the day I acquired the vehicle so yes I did see the V5.

Woody._2

Have you spoken to the officer who is investigating the theft?

agrinnall

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

there was another thread very similar to this a couple of weeks ago.

I think it might have been this one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3333788

houseofwon

vaio wrote: »

Obviously your claim (which should include all the other costs you mention) is against the garage that sold it to you, but, if your debit card is VISA then they are also responsible under s75 CCA which would probably be the easiest way to proceed.

I used my RBS Visa Debit card. Does this form of protection apply to debit card purchases?

Thanks

houseofwon

Woody. wrote: »

Have you spoken to the officer who is investigating the theft?

I spoke with the dealing officer quite briefly and again he was not forthcoming with information. Basically he confirmed the vehicle had been stolen but would not detail how and when. He told me as much about the situation as I have stated here.

Now however he is not returning my calls even though I am being told he has my messages and knows to contact me. He also is not responding my e-mails. It's very frustrating!

At the moment my focus is on getting my money back from the garage but I really should lodge a letter of my disapproval of how I'm being fobbed off by the police.