Bought a van in Oct2011 - now company 'bust' - v suspicious - help!

mrandmrsm

Also posted in Motoring - especially for the van fault question but thought I would post here about the suspicious company 'bust' part?

We bought a Vauxhall Combo Van (56reg) from a local dealer thought we were being very sensible by buying one with a 2 year warranty!

Now we called up last month as we had a warning light come on about the particle filter and we were told by the guy we bought it from that the company we bought it from has gone into administration?? Where we find this very dodgy is that the company is has the same name advertised on its website, same web address, same phone numbers, emails, address etc.

Fortunately that fault seemed to fix itself however, there is now another warning light on in the van - the control indicator for engine electronics and it is not allowing us to accelerate much??

We have just been away for a week on holiday and as we are a new business I suppose the van hasn't been used as much as some commercial vans. Not hundreds of miles per week.

Would really appreciate some advice on the fault with the van? But also this dodgy company too - don't understand how they can now simply pass all responsibility? Anything we can do?

Thanks in advance!!

bris

These companies do it all the time, they sell x amount of vans, cars etc, or for that matter any trade really, double glazing etc. When the problems start they fold the company and start again with a new clean ltd co that can't be touched by past customers of the old co. The old co gets all the warranties and debts written off and the directors get away free to start again. Stinks really but the law allows it and it can be very difficult to prove the directors are doing it deliberately. So unless you can prove, or get trading standards interested in your case that the directors are commiting fraud by doing this, then your stuck.

bod1467

What was the basis of the warranty? Direct with the dealer? Insurance-backed (e.g. Warranty Direct)? Manufacturers? (Unlikely on a 56 plate).

mrandmrsm

The warranty is with a separate company - but we were only given contact details for them and the guy we bought it from has said it will no longer work!

Can't believe this is allowed! - we paid more than we budgeted for because the company 'seemed so legit' and due to the warranty as you rarely get warranties with used commercial vans.

arcon5

It can be done legitimately and is quite common. Commonly done by pheonixing assets. Ltd company status and the various strategies is not hOw it was intended but often abused

s_b

i see lots of van companies come go come again playing on names etc
its usually run by itinerants in the background who go round companys buying old vans up that are at the end of their lives because the engines are in bits in the back or they have starship mileage
these vans get minted clocked and the bare minimum to get them running and obviously selling a warranty on top is extra money too


look in one of those trade periodicals and do a paper/online chase always amuses me how you go by one week its full of vans next week empty next week full again,same teams running round in the background if you look a litle harder