Service book wrong?

2ba3c

I'm pretty sure I don't have much luck when it comes to cars!

So 2 weeks ago, I bought a second hand Ford from a big car dealership down in Canterbury after someone crashed into us and ours was written off.

I went to look at it, looked at service book, VC5, etc etc - all looked good. Bought it for £9,500.

I've just been sitting down going through some paperwork (thinking about buying a Ford service plan), went to look at the service book and now notice that on the front of the service book, the Registration number has been tippexed out and our registration is written over it. Doesn't even look like there could have been a mistake - its a completely different registration number (but I can't quite read the last 3 letters).

What are the reasons for changing a restoration number. It's not a private plate?

So, I called one of the Ford service departments that has stamped the book for a service, to see if they have our registration on the system for having been in for a service in 2012 and 2013 - and they have no record of us.

So, what do I do? Could this has been falsified? Or would someone just change their reg, its a 2010 car.

DUTR

There should be a VIN other other identifiers in the service book, does the VIN match?
As it's sounding a bit like buyers remorse at the moment.

bigjl

Certainly sounds as though there is a possibility it has a dodgy service history.

However, as mentioned get them to search the VIN as it is possible it had a PP put on but the first owner and when they took it off at sale they tippexed the original reg number and put the new one.

colino

Likely to be a change of a vanity plate, but your VIN should still match the book.

2ba3c

No VIN in the service book. It's a standard Ford service book, with stamps in it for the service at different mileage.

Whats a PP?

We just paid for a VIN info to just check the VIN matches the car, which it does... what should I be book looking for in the VIN info bit though - nothings coming up that concerns me?

2ba3c

The warranty certificate where I guess you would find the VIN hasn't been completed at all....

DUTR

2ba3c wrote: »

No VIN in the service book. It's a standard Ford service book, with stamps in it for the service at different mileage.

Whats a PP?

We just paid for a VIN info to just check the VIN matches the car, which it does... what should I be book looking for in the VIN info bit though - nothings coming up that concerns me?

I just checked my service book and all it's got in is the VIN , not the reg, the previous car had both.

bigjl

First thing to check is try an peel off the tipex to find the reg no of the car it belongs to.

Not sure if Ford service records are centralised.

Perhaps a call to Ford Customer Services might get you some info.

I would be calling the dealer to ger an explanation and then contacting trading standards.

Not to mention taking the car to Ford forna service as it may well be overdue, or indeed clocked.

pvt

PP = Private Plate

Not sure what the process is, but you should be able to find out from the DVLA if the reg has been changed at any time.

Also try a nasty solvent like acetone (nail varnish remover) or nitromors (paint stripper) to remove the tipex.

If nothing else, the fact that you do not have a bona fide service book devalues your vehicle when you come to sell it on, so the dealer who sold it to you should sort this out.

bigjl

All you need to do is pick the tipex off.

Using Nitromors or thinners will remove the ink you are trying to read.

DUTR

bigjl wrote: »

All you need to do is pick the tipex off.

Using Nitromors or thinners will remove the ink you are trying to read.

Or look at the opposite side of the page, pressure has to be applied for the pen to work.