false odometer reading?

neilsolaris

Hi,

My partner just bought a car off a used car dealer, and then when checking the paperwork just now when he got home, there seems to be an anomaly with the mileage figures on the MOT summary form.

Basically, the penultimate MOT test indicates that the mileage was almost 55,000 miles. However, the latest MOT test indicates that the mileage is just over 35,000, which is what the car was advertised as, and indicates in the car display.

The most recent MOT's have been conducted at the same place, which is the MOT centre behind the office where we bought the car.

In your opinion, is this indicative of odometer tampering? If so, is it possible that the MOT test centre colluded with the seller? I assume they didn't intend to include the MOT summary sheet.

If anyone has any advice on how he should proceed I'd be very grateful. Thanks for your advice.

Chopper_Read

What's the mileage now?

neilsolaris

The mileage now is just over 36,000 miles, as the last MOT was very recent.

spacey2012

Call the previous owner on the vc5

arcon5

What was the mileage before the 55k?

neilsolaris

Unfortunately they kept the part of the V5C form with the previous owners details on, saying they will post this section of to DVLA. The part my friend has is the "new owners" section. We have the name of the previous owner on the old MOT certificates, but not their phone numbers.

neilsolaris

The mileage before the 55K was 30K

atrixblue.-MFR-.

http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECSID-Internet-Status-Request.js

go there and put the MOT doc number in, this will tell you the cars past history MOT checks and mileage, if it went from 22 33 44 55 kmiles then back to 32k miles its been clocked, and the dealer should either refund the amount of money the car is worth at that mileage or refund your cash as it not as described, then call trading standards.

neilsolaris

Thanks atrixblue for the information and advice.

To complicate things a little, my partner traded in his old car. Therefore, I guess the total consideration consisted of the amount he actually paid, plus the market value of his old car. Would you agree, and in which case, could he demand the total back?

Also, we don't live close to the dealer. Would the dealer be obliged to collect the car from where we live? Could we also charge him for the petrol we put into the car to drive it home (the tank was empty when we bought it)?

I've messaged you before reading your link, so sorry if it answers any of my questions there! I'll read it now though. Thanks again.

patman99

Site only shows status of current MOT certificate.

neilsolaris

Hypothetically, if it turns out that he paid the correct amount for the actual mileage, would it still be advisable to get a refund, or does it not really matter? I'm just thinking, if he keeps the car, should he get the odometer readjusted to display the correct mileage? What about when he wants to sell the car? Is he obliged to disclose the discrepancy to future buyers, and won't this put them off?