brought car from trader that was clocked

[tosh1]

I purchased a used Ford Galaxy 1.9 diesel automatic from a garage in Lincoln in April 2007 with a mileage of 106000.

In the first month the gearbox had to be replaced at extra cost to myself as when I contacted the trader I was told that the warranty company would see to fixing it. The warranty company refused.

Since then I have had numerous other bits and pieces of work carried out and have decided to cut my loses and part exchange the car for something else.

Today I purchased a car from another garage offered the Ford Galaxy as part exchange with mileage of 121000. The garage completed a hpi check and informed me that in September 2006 the Ford Galaxy had a mileage of 217000 which was showing as all ner MOT certificates are computer linked and record mileage.

I was sold the Galaxy with history showing mileage up to 980000 and that it was a fleet car. I contacted the fleet company today and was informed that the car was never registered on their books and that all the paperwork I have which was supplied by the garage is a forgery.

Is there any advise that you can give.

[Conniff]

So has this second dealer refused to take your old (problematic) galaxay in part exchange?

 

You must contact Trading Standards asap.

[christine1953]

Hi, are you allowed to name the garage here?

[raydetinu]

Yep why not!

Why did you not get the car fixed by the first dealer at their cost, would be coverered under soga.

What mileage was on the MOT you got with the car.

This is fraud and should be reported to the police and TS.

You may have some redress through the courts as it was misrepresented and you may be awarded your money back. check with a solicitor.

may be worth a try.

[tosh1]

Hi

 

firstly i do not have the car anymore. the px was completeted at a lower cost to myself.

 

Unfortuatly I not allowed to name garage that sold me the car but they no longer exist.

 

i contacted consuner direct and they reffered me to trading standards

Edited December 21, 2008 by tosh1

[Conniff]

Take this all the way with Trading standards Tosh. If you Google ***** you will be smacked in the face with the complaints that come up.

 

These type of dealer just pray on ordinary people but if you have some proof that it was clocked then the owner could go to prison for the offence, it is very serious.

Edited December 21, 2008 by MARTIN3030
Sorry Connif-these are extremely serious allegations and so we cannot name yet.

[tosh1]

I have passed this on to trading standard and am waiting for a reply

[sickovit]

Did the galaxy have a sticker on the dash clocks when you bought it saying that the dealer did,nt guarantee the mileage.

 

This is a very easy "get out" for the dealer and crops up very regulaly,if it did,nt your on a winner if it did then you have no chance.

 

IMHO these stickers should be banned , a car dealer has easy access to the HPi register and they should be made to check every sales vehicle this way and then add the report to the sales receipt thus covering themselves and the public.

 

This shocking practice of clocking cars should be stamped on!

[gwc1000]

Did the galaxy have a sticker on the dash clocks when you bought it saying that the dealer did,nt guarantee the mileage.

 

This is a very easy "get out" for the dealer and crops up very regulaly,if it did,nt your on a winner if it did then you have no chance.

 

IMHO these stickers should be banned , a car dealer has easy access to the HPi register and they should be made to check every sales vehicle this way and then add the report to the sales receipt thus covering themselves and the public.

 

This shocking practice of clocking cars should be stamped on!

 

Sorry, but I disagree. There is no easy "get out" for a motor dealer. A dealer is obliged as far as is possible (using such services as hpi, or contacting previous owners) to determine if the displayed mileage on a vehicle that he offers for retail sale is correct. He cannot rely on the excuse that he was unaware that a mileage was incorrect if it transpires that he never took the necessary steps that were available to him to check the vehicle's mileage.

[sickovit]

The dealer is only OBLIGED and NO legislation says they HAVE TO do these checks, if the dealer puts the sticker on the clocks which states he/she does guarantee the mileage then the ONUS is on the purchaser to verify the mileage.

 

There was great concern many years ago from various watchdogs about the use of these stickers but again its another loophole for unscrupulous dealers to use.

 

Its incredible how many purchasers ignore these stickers only to suffer great financial outlay sometime later when the vehicle developes major problems due to high mileage.

 

Personnally i would NEVER buy any vehicle without a comprehensive HPi report.

Edited December 20, 2008 by sickovit

[tosh1]

The car did not have a sticker on it. In fact the dealer even suppied me with a history for the car with the false milage.

[Mr lex]

This is very serous indeed, You must pursue Trading Standards as much as it takes.

 

lex

[tosh1]

I dont think the garage exists anymore.

[gwc1000]

The dealer is only OBLIGED and NO legislation says they HAVE TO do these checks, if the dealer puts the sticker on the clocks which states he/she does guarantee the mileage then the ONUS is on the purchaser to verify the mileage.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. But then what do I know? I've only been a second hand car dealer for nigh on thirty years

[tosh1]

Hi gwc1000

 

Is there anything I can do? I have gone to trading standards but got nowhere.

 

Tosh1

[MARTIN3030]

Trading standards are not exactly fast-I would assume that they are looking into this-certainly they should tell you what they are doing/propose to do.

In view of the seriousness of the allegations,and also the implications I have had to edit the named dealer.as per site guidance/rules.

Of course later we can reveal all once its safe to do so.

Edited December 21, 2008 by MARTIN3030

[gwc1000]

Hi gwc1000

 

Is there anything I can do? I have gone to trading standards but got nowhere.

 

Tosh1

Hi. Normally Trading Standards are not interested in individual cases. If you make a complaint against a dealer T/S will normally put it on file, and they may take action when they have a number of complaints against the same dealer. It is easier for them to successfully prosecute somebody with twenty cases against them as opposed to one case, as a good defence would probably get the dealer off in the latter circumstances.

I think you may have problems in your own case as the garage has changed hands. Also, you no longer own the car, so if you were to sue, what amount would you be claiming for? How would you calculate your losses as it would all be hypothetical. I think perhaps your best course of action would have been to have not part-exchanged when buying the new car and taken action against the dealer who sold you the Galaxy at that point. As a matter of interest how old was the Galaxy and how much did the dealer allow in chop?

[tosh1]

I got a phone call from trading standards today. They are asking me to make a statement (which i have agreed to) as they will be taking the individual to court. They have a number of complaints regarding this garage that they are looking into. The person in question has opened up a new garage in a different name.

 

I brought the car for £6000 and it was a on a 2002 plate. When I part exchanged it they only gave me £1800 against the new car.

Edited December 22, 2008 by tosh1

[gwc1000]

Well, I would say that £1800 for an 02 deisel Galaxy that has done over 200,000 miles is a fair price.

It is good news that T/S are taking action against the dealer. However, if T/S proceed with this, it will probably be a criminal case against the dealer, without any financial benefit to yourself.

[tosh1]

The dealer offered me this amount because they felt sorry for me as they were the ones who informed me that it had been clocked. I just sat there, shocked, and devastated.

 

If i don't get any money back and t/s win. thats fine.