Someone has arranged HPI on your car

Cjgraham35

Just recently I found that my car which I am selling, had finance on it. I know this to be incorrect and challenged it immediately with the Finance people.

Whilst they stuck to their script and refused to do any due diligence and confirm my points, my concerns and my facts, I found myself starting a process of searching online car databases for my own vehicle.

Fingers pointed, scenarios imagined but in the end, and being simple about it, an HPI check showed an agreement had been set up by someone (not me as I wasn't allowed any information from the account) using my car's details, including the VIN which is found inside my car, not the windscreen and also found on the V5, which at this particular time was being processed by the DVLA.

This resulted in the motor car finance company claiming they had a financial interest in my vehicle and no matter how much I huffed and puffed and swore they weren't interested. 

Infact a 36 month arrangement had been set up only 3 weeks prior to the sale, which...has fallen through because the dealership didn't want to inherit the finance issue.

Whilst this issue is ongoing, and glacially, can I put it out there, does anyone know how to resolve such a matter quickly? I suggested to the finance company it could have been a typo, nope...

Has anyone had a similar experience and what was the resolution? 

By way of an update, after submitting complaint emails to the finance firm, posting on twitter to them of the issue and liaising with other 3rd parties who have tried to contact them, someone has been intouch and I have to prove ownership of my car with photos prior to the date of the HPI.

Moral of the story? 
Photography your car monthly and keep the photos date stamped...just incase.

I am awaiting their response to their error and acknowledgement that they are wrong and they shouldn't have tried to pass on the scam that they have fall for to me.

But I'm not holding my breath. 

km1500

"prove ownership of my car with photos prior to the date of the HPI."

do you have the sales receipt from where you bought it ? plus maybe a bank or card statement showing payment ?

Alderbank

This happens quite a lot. It's a key reason why buyers get HPI check before they buy.

The seller knew what he was doing. There is a certain amount of inertia between a loan being taken and the info appearing on the financial databases used by the likes of HPI. He timed it just right.
Did you get HPI check done before buying? They are aware of this loophole and for that reason they include £30,000 insurance against you being caught out by it.
If you got that HPI check, root out the paperwork.
If you didn't you need to have a very firm word with the private seller you bought the car from.

PS I'm intrigued - why would photographing your car every month prevent this?

Cjgraham35

Alderbank said:

This happens quite a lot. It's a key reason why buyers get HPI check before they buy.

The seller knew what he was doing. There is a certain amount of inertia between a loan being taken and the info appearing on the financial databases used by the likes of HPI. He timed it just right.
Did you get HPI check done before buying? They are aware of this loophole and for that reason they include £30,000 insurance against you being caught out by it.
If you got that HPI check, root out the paperwork.
If you didn't you need to have a very firm word with the private seller you bought the car from.

PS I'm intrigued - why would photographing your car every month prevent this?

Hiya, I'm the seller! Some scallywag took out an HPI agreement on my car pretending to buy it...then not buy it, take off with the money leaving the finance company trying to lay claim to my car, because the loan is not getting repaid. The car was my parents bought for themselves with cash and as both have passed I am trying to sell it.

Take photos of your car, typical images come with a date and time reference, or rather can do. Also, a series of them over a period of time will atleast give some confidence you've had the car a while. If you read what the finance company have asked for, it's photos of the car prior to the HPI date of arrangement. 

I think you need to re-read my experience of someone getting HPI on my car while I was selling it.

Cjgraham35

km1500 said:

"prove ownership of my car with photos prior to the date of the HPI."

do you have the sales receipt from where you bought it ? plus maybe a bank or card statement showing payment ?

For once all the paperwork saved in a plastic bag or 2nd drawer actually helped. I had infact listed all the documents the car has been associated with from Sales invoice to the receipt for the advert on AutoTrader, including the Post Office receipt showing the time and date I sent the V5 off to change the details to my name and address, as well as Insurance documents from 2yrs ago stating my name, the car, the policy payment in full and email address which coincided with the email address the finance company are now using to write to me.