Why does nobody want to help?

[reguser]

Hi guys,

 

Wondering if you provide some advice or point me in the right direction.

 

I bought a car via autotrader from a man who claim he 'bought and sold' cars. He provided the cars service history and a HPI report. Bought the car in good faith but it was repossed due to outstanding finance! Completed an HPI check which revealed that there was outstanding finance (hindsight is a great thing). So I like to get my money back.

 

Tried contacting the seller but no luck. Address he gave on the receipt and name are probably alias. I did confront him at another house to which he claimed he has no knowledge of me or the car he sold.

 

Spoke to the police, citizens advice, consumer direct and trading standards who are not really interested. They all offer one piece of advice and that is to a small claims court (which I intend to do). This is where the problem is. In order for me to go to the courts I need his actual name and address but I have difficulty obtaining this.

 

Consumer Direct stated the only offer 'advice' whilst trading standards will not persue the matter as it is a civil matter. I have tried contacting autotrader who cannot divulge information on their systems due to Data Protection laws (rightly so) but stated that a 'legal body' completes and returns a 'Data Protection Forms' in order for this information to be released.

 

Could someone please advise what do they mean by a 'legal body' and what are 'Data Protection Forms'? I applied for keep history via DVLA and there are no details of him as a registered keeper.

 

Seems like I am continually banging my head against a brick wall and any advice would be appreciated.

 

Moral of the story is do an HPI check.

 

Many thanks...

[breeze1996]

How about writting to the person listed as the last owner and getting them to send you a letter saying whom they sold the car too?

 

After all they must have been paid for the car.

[Goldlady]

Can you get a copy of the original autotrader advert? I know the Inland revenue rely heavily on back issues of the autotrader when they are investigating people - maybe you can get your revenge in another way;)

[supasnooper]

Did you go to the sellers house to purchase the car ?

 

If so, go to the local library or post office to the sellers house and look at the Electoral Roll to see who lives there.

[bottomburp]

... the Electoral Roll ...

 

I'm not sure I like the sound of that! Is it tasty?