Contact Details of Trader

efunc

Hello all, I need help trying to locate a 'trader'. I bought a used car from a trader advertising online. The car I bought was not as described, has undisclosed faults as well as major engine problems. I contacted the seller the day after purchasing it but he did not answer his mobile phone. I finally reached him a week after. I would like to return the car for a full refund, however the address the trader supplied on the sales invoice is not genuine. I only have his mobile number, email address, and his name, bank account and sort code to trace him.

I would like to know if I can ask his bank to provide his real address under section 35 of the data protection act. Without authentic contact details I cannot return the car to him or even pursue the matter through small claims court. I only have 2 weeks left of the 30 day statutory warranty in order to seek a resolution. (I have managed to find an address and other details through other means, however I need these confirmed to be 100% it's the right man, hence the bank as a way to tie it in). Anyone know?

AJXX

Possibly ask the DVLA for the details of the previous owner? (assuming trader transferred ownership into his/her name for whatever period of time they had possession?)

https://www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla

forgotmyname

Previous owners name will be on the log book (V5C) when that arrives contact them and see if they traded it in to him or elsewhere.

Where did you buy it from? The address they put on the invoice?

efunc

Thank you both. Sadly it;s not that easy. I've already spoken to the previous owner through service documents provided with the car. Having talked to him he recognised all the issues and confirmed that they were pre-existing at the time of sale to me. However he traded it in with a main dealer, who in turn would have sent it to auction. The dealer I got it from simply bought it in auction I presume, so the trail runs a bit cold.

I travelled across the country on public transport to meet the trader (7 hour journey) so he met me at the station and we did the deal there so that I could start the long journey home. The address he provided I've subsequently found is wrong.

wealdroam

What is this car that was worth travelling seven hours for?

You bought it at a railway station... crazy!

Do people still buy cars in lay-bys?

Silver-Surfer_2

If you have an address, why not just go there? It will be quicker than any DPA request.

Hermione_Granger

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

If you have an address, why not just go there? It will be quicker than any DPA request.

How will going to a false address be any quicker than getting the correct details? The OP has an address but isn't sure that it's correct so IMO it's pointless travelling half way around the country on a hunch.

Silver-Surfer_2

Hermione_Granger wrote: »

How will going to a false address be any quicker than getting the correct details? The OP has an address but isn't sure that it's correct so IMO it's pointless travelling half way around the country on a hunch.

Even if it's a 14 hour round trip he won't get the details any quicker.

shaun_from_Africa

efunc wrote: »

I would like to know if I can ask his bank to provide his real address under section 35 of the data protection act. Without authentic contact details I cannot return the car to him or even pursue the matter through small claims court. I only have 2 weeks left of the 30 day statutory warranty in order to seek a resolution.

It's highly unlikely that the bank would release any personal information directly to you. Even though you require the info to enable legal proceedings to be started, using this alone as a reason would make it far to easy for anyone to obtain stored personal data as all they would need to do is to state that they are going to be taking legal action and this is why they need the relevant information.
You will probably have to get a solicitor to contact the bank and make the request on your behalf.

macman

Small claims in this case may well be throwing more money away. Can't believe you bought the vehicle at a station car park and not at the trader's own premises, that's such a fundamental principle when buying secondhand.
Is this definitely a trader and not a private seller?
The bank would not divulge such info without a court order.

burlington6

Pay too much for something right, and you might lose a little.

Buy something cheap and you risk losing the lot.

Imagine if you'd gone to a reputable long established dealer and paid £1000 too much BUT the car was right. You be better off than you are now.

The British public is too focused on getting something cheap or finding a bargain