Advice needed on purchase of used car !

asim2002

Dear All,

I put down a 500 pound deposit on a used car today at a Ford dealership. Car cost = 15000, Model = 2010. I had a brief look at the car before I paid the deposit. I noted that one of the tyres was worn excessively and the dealer told me he would replace it before final purchase.

Before I paid the deposit, the dealer told me that the car has full service history and a mileage check. He also mentioned that the car has an Irish number plate and that these are very desirable nowadays. I did not know any better so went along.

On asking to see the service history he showed me a printout which said that the car was serviced at 6000, and then 19000 miles (current mileage is 19500). I noted that on top of this paper, the registration number was wrong and was crossed out and the correct registration written by hand. I asked him why this was and he said it was because the car had an irish number plate. Again, I agreed.

I have now come home and tried to do an HPI check... the DVLA website says it does not have this registration number in its database.... so then I checked the DVLNI website (for irish cars) and there too it says there is no such registration number.

The dealer did show me a V5 document for the car which showed that the car had one previous keeper who was disabled.

I am now quite worried because I have paid a hefty deposit and the car registration is not on the DVLA or DVLNI websites.

I did a google search on the car registration and luckily had a hit where it shows that the car was sold at an auction in Belfast just a week ago. The ad for the auction says that the car had no service history or service book at the time of auction. Does this mean the printout the dealer showed me with the mileages and service history on it was fake ?

Can I still get my deposit back if the dealer cant explain the above tomorrow... he did make me sign a piece of paper which I think was a contract, but I only signed it believing what he said was true (about the service history, etc).

Please advise !

[Deleted User]

The car could be a ringer.

I'd be inclined to inform the police.

You might lose your £500, but if you buy it and it turns out to be stolen, you could lose all £15,000.

asim2002

This is a big dealership (a Ford dealership) and they do not give the impression that they sell dodgy cars at all.... im just confused as to why the car reg is not showing up on any database

[Deleted User]

Big dealership or not, in your shoes, I'd still check with the police.

flashg67

Does the print out show where the servicing was done? Try ringing the garage where it was done and see if their records can help you confirm either way?

motorguy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

The car could be a ringer.

I'd be inclined to inform the police.

You might lose your £500, but if you buy it and it turns out to be stolen, you could lose all £15,000.

Bit of an over reaction.

You'll note that the o/p said from the auction house that 'no service history was available with the car' - thats quite common these days as more and more cars history remains on computer at the dealers.

Also, you're buying from a main ford dealer so i doubt they'll be up to anything dodgy and they certainly wont have taken any chances when buying the car.

O/P - you need to do the following -

Ring the DVLA and explain whats happening and see if they have details of the car - a lot of HPI systems take several weeks to update.

Ask the supplying dealer to show how the mileage history is linked to that car - they should be able to show evidence of the reg change.

Ask the supplying dealer to produce an HPI report for you demonstrating the link between that report and that car.

I take it it came through Agnew Trade Centre or Wilsons? They are the two biggies over here who would have mainland buyers and live online auctions. Both would HPI check their cars first.

Finally, be aware that if you are buying a Ford from a Ford dealer you are paying a premium for that and should expect the best of the best, so make sure you are getting that.

[Deleted User]

pgilc1 wrote: »

Bit of an over reaction.

Not where £15,000 is concerned.

motorguy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Not where £15,000 is concerned.

There are many easier ways to resolve this to the O/P's satisfaction than ringing the police and having a SWAT team sent round, hence my post above.

[Deleted User]

Who said anything about a SWAT team :huh:

All I'm suggesting is to pop into the local police station, with the vehicle details.

If it is stolen, the OP will finish up with no car, and £15,000 poorer.

motorguy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Who said anything about a SWAT team :huh:

All I'm suggesting is to pop into the local police station, with the vehicle details.

If it is stolen, the OP will finish up with no car, and £15,000 poorer.

The O/P has already confirmed it was sold at auction a week ago in Belfast, so has started to piece together the history.

Its simply a matter of ringing the DVLA with the new reg and original reg and asking them to confirm, then asking the supplying dealer to produce an HPI report that they can link the car to via the VIN number.

An up to date HPI will show if it was stolen before it was auctioned.

The auction company will have HPI'd it, the supplying dealer will have HPI'd it.

This is simply a matter of the O/P not having the correct info at hand to trace the history.

WHY involved the police???

[Deleted User]

Please yourself.