Cinch’s MOT Error Has Cost Me £1,000 – What Are My Rights?

Docefc

I need advice on my rights because Cinch has seriously messed up, and I’m about £1,000 thanks to their error.

Last year, I bought a car from Cinch, thinking their “faff-free” promise was legit. Turns out, the faff kicks in AFTER the sale.

I’m now selling the car, and Webuyanycar flagged a mileage discrepancy on the MOT history, slashing their offer by £1,000 because it “looks clocked.” Here’s the problem:

• 1 Feb 2023: Cinch Failed MOT over headlights, mileage recorded as 41,810. 
• 2 Feb 2023: Cinch MOT’d it, and suddenly the mileage jumps to 47,810.
  
• 18 Feb 2023: I bought the car with an advertised mileage of 41,810 and it turned up with that
• 31 Jan 2024: MOTd Mileage is 47,321, which matches the car’s actual usage.

This clearly happened when Cinch MOT’d the car before delivery. It’s obviously an admin error, but it now looks dodgy, and buyers are running for the hills.

I’ve tried contacting Cinch, but:

• Calls: Cut off twice.
• Live chat: Utterly useless.
• Emails: Ignored.

I’m stuck with a car I can’t sell at its true value, and Cinch is ghosting me. So:

1. What are my rights here? Can I demand they fix this and compensate me?
2. Has anyone else dealt with mileage errors like this?

Any advice (or just moral support) would be amazing. Cheers!

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Jenni_D

It's patently obviously a typo ... a 7 rather than a 1 at the re-MOT.

As to what you an do ... not sure.

DullGreyGuy

Mileage errors arent that uncommon on MOT, as its over 28 days since the error was made it has to be done by the DVSA

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/correcting-mot-certificate-mistakes

However you will need evidence from Cinch of the correct mileage dated within a day of the error. Thankfully there is an MOT the day before so evidence from that would be accepted if you can get it. Maybe, given its public record, the DVSA can accept the first MOT result without paperwork but you'd need to ask them. 

Sounds much more that WBAC are the ones taking advantage of the situation, like the case the other day when a buyer dropped £8k from their price when they discovered it had modest accident repair even though it looked spotless post repair. 

born_again

Try selling elsewhere 🤷‍♀️

Jenni_D

MOT history is online?

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

daveyjp

WBAC aren't being too clever, but they want clean title and don't want hassle later on.

Its obviously a typo on a retest or do WBAC honestly believe someone would clock a car for just 6,000 miles?

Sell it to WBAC with evidence of the £1,000 reduction and sue Cinch for the loss.

MeteredOut

daveyjp said:

WBAC aren't being too clever, but they want clean title and don't want hassle later on.

Its obviously a typo on a retest or do WBAC honestly believe someone would clock a car for just 6,000 miles?

Sell it to WBAC with evidence of the £1,000 reduction and sue Cinch for the loss.

Before the OP accepts your advice, can you explain your thinking on the chances that the OP would be successful in such a claim? Take into account that those that claim must show they have attempted to mitigate any losses.

This did happen to a family member of mine, and it only came to light when they sold the car - privately. But, the buyer could see where it had happened, and accepted the car as it was.

The mileage on the car had, at that point, surpassed the historical mistaken recording, which is not the case here, and I imagine it might be a bit more complex when the current actual mileage on the car is less than a previous mistaken MOT entry.

caprikid1

As has been stated this happens all the time WBAC will look for anything to drop the price. A private buyer will most likely accept it as would a dealer.

Cinch don't even do MOT's from what I can see so most likely had a third party do it.

Book a car service at cinch | Faff-free car servicing - cinch

• 18 Feb 2023: I bought the car with an advertised mileage of 41,810 and it turned up with that

Obviously the mileage would have been clearly visible online for you to see so I guess whilst frustrating I don't see you have any recompense.

Did Cinch sell you a clocked car ? No , Did Cinch misrepresent the mileage ? No. A third party Cinch used made an error. Unfortunately the time to check this was when you bought the car. Did you carry out any form of HPI check ? That most likely would have insurance against it , and flag such issues.

Docefc

born_again said:

Try selling elsewhere 🤷‍♀️

The reason I went to WBAC was because on both Motorway and Carwow I was getting 0 offers, which is strange as it's a well looked after, fully dealer serviced, I took it to WBAC as a punt never really intending to accept the offer and they were the ones who pointed it out. I had actually checked the MOT history before buying but those two updates weren't available when I made the purchase. 

Docefc

caprikid1 said:

As has been stated this happens all the time WBAC will look for anything to drop the price. A private buyer will most likely accept it as would a dealer.

Cinch don't even do MOT's from what I can see so most likely had a third party do it.

Book a car service at cinch | Faff-free car servicing - cinch

• 18 Feb 2023: I bought the car with an advertised mileage of 41,810 and it turned up with that

Obviously the mileage would have been clearly visible online for you to see so I guess whilst frustrating I don't see you have any recompense.

Did Cinch sell you a clocked car ? No , Did Cinch misrepresent the mileage ? No. A third party Cinch used made an error. Unfortunately the time to check this was when you bought the car. Did you carry out any form of HPI check ? That most likely would have insurance against it , and flag such issues.

I've just clocked that WBAC and Cinch are part of the same company, as are BCA Fleet Services who carried out the MOT. 

I appreciate that this is just a clerical error and WBAC did say as much but he said he couldn't 'clear mileage' on their system and that knocked £960 off the value. 

photome

I doubt WBAC 1k drop is all down to that mileage error as it’s only 6000, WBAC will always look for a reason to drop the original price offered.

what is the car that motorway etc don’t want ?