Sold a car with a false service history

notchello

Hi, I recently bought Leon 1.2 TSI at Seat  . It was stated on service book that the timing belt had been changed and the service book was stamped, but I started to doubt that it wasn't because the timing belt wasn't tick and the writing of the date is the same as the dealer who help me on that day to purchased the car. Isn't this falsifying service history? Where do I legally stand?

tacpot12

I'm struggling to understand how the service book can say that the belt was changed, but the belt wasn't ticked as having been changed. Usually service books from VAG only have a tickbox for whether the belt was changed or not. There is no where else where it could say that the belt was changed (other than an advert). Can you provide a photo of where the service book says the belt has been changed? 

If the advert was wrong, you will need to get a copy of the advert to prove that it is wrong and hence that the car is not as described. If you bought the car within the last six months you are entitled to a repair, or if the trader declines to repair it, a refund of "an appropriate amount". What is appropriate will be the difference in value of a car of that age/mileage with or without the timing belt having been replaced based on the cost of the replacement. If the replacement is overdue, the refund should be the full cost of replacing the belt. If the belt is due at 60K miles, and the car has done 40K miles, the refund due will be 2/3rds of the cost of replacement as the dealer doesn't owe you for the 20K of life still left on the belt. 

It is unclear from your description what date is stated on the service book for the work that did or did not include the belt change. Are you saying that it is dated the same date you picked the car up from the dealer? What time did you pick the car up? If you picked the car up at 4pm it is entirely possible that the service work was carried out that day. 

AdrianC

notchello said:

Hi, I recently bought Leon 1.2 TSI at Seat  . It was stated on service book that the timing belt had been changed and the service book was stamped, but I started to doubt that it wasn't because the timing belt wasn't tick and the writing of the date is the same as the dealer who help me on that day to purchased the car. Isn't this falsifying service history? Where do I legally stand?

So, umm, why did you buy THAT car if the service history made you raise your eyebrows?

Unless you're some kind of graphological expert witness, "The writing of the date looks a bit similar to the salesman's" is tenuous speculation at best. And, even if it is the same, it's entirely possible that there's a perfectly innocent explanation - like other evidence of the service having been carried out, but the book not having been stamped at the time.

Change interval on that engine is 120k/5yrs.

macman

Where you stand is that you cannot prove a falsification of the service record. If you had your suspicions, then you should have walked away.
You did of course inspect the service history before you signed the deal?

sweetsand

Depending on the car, timing chains can go quickly bmw, bmw min, pergout and few others have petrol engines where the timing chain rattles every 10 15k miles a known fault but unless you have the new car warranty, dealers will say it's wear and tear - but remember, timing chains can go even more quickly if oil not changed or chain not fitted properly.

macman

OP's engine has a belt, not a timing chain. Their vehicle is at least 5 years old, so warranty doesn't come into it.