Just found out my car was apparently a CAT C write off?

thetourist85

Hi - if anyone can offer any advice here it would be greatly appreciated.

We purchased a car from a dealer in October 2011. We recently started looking at part-exchange options, and a dealer we approached ran an Experian AutoCheck on the vehicle, which has identified that it was a CAT C write-off. Much to our surprise. The source of the data is the MIAFTR.

In this adverse data section, it also lists the loss date, a theft indicator (in this case, "not stolen") and also "make and model". The make and model listed here is the make and model of another vehicle - the dealer who gave us the report advised that this was the other vehicle involved the insurance claim. But I am now questioning this - should the 'make and model' in this section refer to our car, or the other car involved in the supposed write-off claim?

The reason we believe it may be a mistake is that we have performed a check using mycarcheck, which brings back no such information. The car was not sold with any information about it being a write-off. The dealer we purchased from also claims to perform an HPI check on all vehicles, and it they are a fairly reputable dealership I would find it hard to believe they would attempt to hide anything (but I can't rule that out). Also, on the V5C document, there is no indication that the car has had a VIC or are there any other special notes.

We have contacted Experian to ask them to verify their records, and also informed our original dealer of what's happened - they were genuinely surprised by what we were claiming, and are now looking into it. But we're not sure how to proceed with this. My instinct is that its some sort of data error, but if it isn't, our original dealer may have potentially sold us a CAT C without our knowledge - although if HPI is clean, it would potentially be without theirs as well. I believe if this is the case, then they would be in breach of contract, but liability may potentially lie with HPI, if their data is wrong.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

k3lvc

I've had a simlar situation re CAT D before. Has your car previously had a private plate on under previous owner ?

Stooby2

Personally I'd my own HPI check to see what's going on. Then you'll have something tangible to use to show Experian they are wrong, or if there is something on there, you are able to go back to the original dealer and ask what if they really did the HPI check.

Hintza

I thought Cat C appeared on the V5c?

thetourist85

k3lvc wrote: »

I've had a simlar situation re CAT D before. Has your car previously had a private plate on under previous owner ?

Not sure how I would know if this was the case?

Stooby2 wrote: »

Personally I'd my own HPI check to see what's going on. Then you'll have something tangible to use to show Experian they are wrong, or if there is something on there, you are able to go back to the original dealer and ask what if they really did the HPI check.

Yeah, I've tried to avoid paying the £20 myself but it might be a good idea just in case. That said, though, the original dealer claims to have HPI checked it again today and it still comes back negative. They've said they're going to contact Experian and see what's going on. I'm also assuming that mycarcheck.com (which I have used) uses the same data as HPI, and that is also coming back negative.

Hintza wrote: »

I thought Cat C appeared on the V5c?

The way I understand it is, if it has been a CAT C/D then it must have a VIC before it can be put back on the road. Any any VIC must show on the V5C. The fact that there's nothing on there is confusing to say the least.


I would be interested if any one has had any experience using AutoCheck on a CAT C/D, and particularly whether if the 'make and model' part is supposed to refer to the other car in the accident or not.

fivetide

thetourist85 wrote: »

Not sure how I would know if this was the case?

.

The HPI report would identify that.

Has your car got a private plate on it at the moment?

Seems strange that a a standard plate would show up this way (I had one show up the other way round. The old boy I bought a car off had crashed up one previously so the plate came back as a write off but the car was a different make and model - the same thing that has happened to you. A check against the chassis number showed it was clear).

colino

The original seller, "reputable dealership", would have HPI'd it. Your V5C isn't marked (which it would if it was a C) and your own other independent check so no such marker.
As a matter of good will if I was the original trader I would re HPI it and show you the proof.
You have a C notification for another car.

k3lvc

colino wrote: »

The original seller, "reputable dealership", would have HPI'd it. Your V5C isn't marked (which it would if it was a C) and your own other independent check so no such marker.
As a matter of good will if I was the original trader I would re HPI it and show you the proof.
You have a C notification for another car.

Mine was complicated further by both being a rare model/colour. Previous owner had written one off and replaced it with an identical car, transferred private plate on/off and then sold on fairly soon. No CAT D marker when I bought but by the time of sale we ended up with all sorts of confusion culminating in a detailed letter from HPI showing engine/chassis numbers and confirmation no markers against my car

thetourist85

fivetide wrote: »

Has your car got a private plate on it at the moment?

Nope.

colino wrote: »

The original seller, "reputable dealership", would have HPI'd it. Your V5C isn't marked (which it would if it was a C) and your own other independent check so no such marker.
As a matter of good will if I was the original trader I would re HPI it and show you the proof.
You have a C notification for another car.

This is what I am beginning to think is true. Hopefully Experian realise there's been an error - because if it is - it is costing us when it comes to part-exchange!

forgotmyname

Do a PROPER HPI check.. RAC, AA, HPI.

Dont bother with cheap and not so cheap checks.

Someone mistyped the reg number? Checked the chassis number also?

stevemLS

Mine showed as stolen/insurance write off (which it hadn't been, I have owned since new).

The dealer queried it with HPI - they took it off - the only explanation was "Admin error"