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Used car scam..Pls HELP!

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3804

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 21:50

But that's what I said before. If you can prove that the vehicle has been in an accident and prove that there is no police report, then you should be able to report him for fraud - because you CANNOT repair a car WITHOUT a police report! He can get into trouble for that alone. Go and talk to the police and get a reputable garage to confirm what you've said and write up a report on the car.

23

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 21:44

Hmm... so have the air-bags been replaced or not? If they have been, by a specialist and are therefore ready to deploy again in the case of a crash, then what's the problem? I thought from your previous posts that the chap had just had the facings replaced but the airbags were missing/ not ready for use. The mileage thing is dodgy, if it has been fiddled, but hey, again... Are there any service records that show it? Previous ownership records? I don't know if the RTA log the mileage every time it's registered... I don't know. My gut feel is that you just have to accept that you unfortunately bought a duff car and if you want to make any use of it, you'll have to stump up the cash to fix it. I really sympathise, but in this country where even retailers can sell you something and refuse to give your money back on faulty merchandise, I don't think it's even worth bothering pursuing this (and I'm usually one to pursue things!) Thanks ladies for all your input! My understanding is, if the airbag goes out, then this automatically brings the car value to next to nothing. There are no service records and no police report to prove anything because he deliberately avoided going to the service centre to cover his tracks. I'm trying to gather from your input if there's anything that can be done to prove our case, We accepted the fact that we might have to write off the car value, but we can not really accept that this jerk can get away so easily! <em>edited by binkie on 23/08/2011</em>

3804

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 15:11

No kidding, still, it's a case of seller says vs buyer says - what action will the police take in such an instance if there is no "proof"? I do agree and it once again goes to reinforce - which the OP already knows - to get a qualified mechanic to check over any vehicle you're considering buying. A friend at work recently bought a car privately, one week after doing so the 4 wheel drive transmission went.

1759

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:59

No kidding, still, it's a case of seller says vs buyer says - what action will the police take in such an instance if there is no "proof"?

Princess_I45169

1953

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:46

So did he put it in writing that it had never been in an accident or is it a case of you say he said - which he can deny and insist he told you all the trouble up front. You can try the police but don't be surprised if they don't do anything. Unless there's documentation supporting the fact he made fraudulent statements (not just the car inspection) you don't have much to go on. It's too bad, it happened to my brother when he bought his first car from a fine "Christian" gentleman in North America. Same story, car had been in a serious accident and wasn't worth the money he paid for it. No recourse. (Oh, and the seller in this case made a big deal about his religiousness in order to make my brother feel he could be trusted - of course not everybody is like this, this guy was) edited by marycatherine on 23/08/2011 we're in Dubai thou' not North America

1759

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:37

So did he put it in writing that it had never been in an accident or is it a case of you say he said - which he can deny and insist he told you all the trouble up front. You can try the police but don't be surprised if they don't do anything. Unless there's documentation supporting the fact he made fraudulent statements (not just the car inspection) you don't have much to go on. It's too bad, it happened to my brother when he bought his first car from a fine "Christian" gentleman in North America. Same story, car had been in a serious accident and wasn't worth the money he paid for it. No recourse. (Oh, and the seller in this case made a big deal about his religiousness in order to make my brother feel he could be trusted - of course not everybody is like this, this guy was) <em>edited by marycatherine on 23/08/2011</em>

3804

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:24

Well for a start if the car has been in an accident and the previous owner has managed to get it fixed without a police report - because if there was one that would show up on the RTA system (you'd hope) then he has broken the law. Go and file a case with the police and see what they say.

Princess_I45169

1953

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:09

If he put the meter back then i *think* that's illegal - why not get a full on independant report on the car and then take it to the police. If the mileage has been fiddled with then you may have a case.

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:09

I'm afraid that in the case of classifieds and private sellers, it's very much a case of buyer beware. It's true that you saw all the documents - that weren't falsified - and could only make your judgement on that, but if you're preparing to fork out a wad of cash, it's worth running background checks before handing it over. How did you come to realise the damage? I am amazed (but not) that the car passed the RTA test... if anything, that's the bad point, as they obviously didn't flag anything up. I also don't think on the basis of what he did you can say that he's a professional scammer. Dishonest, yes, but he obviously had the crash, wanted to flog the car and patched it up at minimal cost so that a willing punter wouldn't look any further than the bodywork. This kind of thing happens all the time when you're buying/selling houses - quick lick of fresh paint and new flooring can hide all kinds of things. I do sympathise, but basically, you get the car you pay for. If you want to sell it on, try the classifieds! [evil emoticon'> i have to admit it was a bit of a hasty decision, not because of the price which was actually on the higher side even for a car in a much better condition, but because my husband is a fan of that particular model :s Anyways, The reason we're thinking he has to be a pro is the way he played the whole thing, he went out of his way to go to repair shop that could replace the airbags so all of this would not show in the car record at the certified service centre. Oh, and we also found out that he manipulated the car meter. Maybe it's just me, but there has a point after which you stop being just dishonest, but you become a real crook! Hmm... so have the air-bags been replaced or not? If they have been, by a specialist and are therefore ready to deploy again in the case of a crash, then what's the problem? I thought from your previous posts that the chap had just had the facings replaced but the airbags were missing/ not ready for use. The mileage thing is dodgy, if it has been fiddled, but hey, again... Are there any service records that show it? Previous ownership records? I don't know if the RTA log the mileage every time it's registered... I don't know. My gut feel is that you just have to accept that you unfortunately bought a duff car and if you want to make any use of it, you'll have to stump up the cash to fix it. I really sympathise, but in this country where even retailers can sell you something and refuse to give your money back on faulty merchandise, I don't think it's even worth bothering pursuing this (and I'm usually one to pursue things!)

23

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:00

I'm afraid that in the case of classifieds and private sellers, it's very much a case of buyer beware. It's true that you saw all the documents - that weren't falsified - and could only make your judgement on that, but if you're preparing to fork out a wad of cash, it's worth running background checks before handing it over. How did you come to realise the damage? I am amazed (but not) that the car passed the RTA test... if anything, that's the bad point, as they obviously didn't flag anything up. I also don't think on the basis of what he did you can say that he's a professional scammer. Dishonest, yes, but he obviously had the crash, wanted to flog the car and patched it up at minimal cost so that a willing punter wouldn't look any further than the bodywork. This kind of thing happens all the time when you're buying/selling houses - quick lick of fresh paint and new flooring can hide all kinds of things. I do sympathise, but basically, you get the car you pay for. If you want to sell it on, try the classifieds! [evil emoticon'> i have to admit it was a bit of a hasty decision, not because of the price which was actually on the higher side even for a car in a much better condition, but because my husband is a fan of that particular model :s Anyways, The reason we're thinking he has to be a pro is the way he played the whole thing, he went out of his way to go to repair shop that could replace the airbags so all of this would not show in the car record at the certified service centre. Oh, and we also found out that he manipulated the car meter. Maybe it's just me, but there has a point after which you stop being just dishonest, but you become a real crook!

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:58

OP said they should have had it checked out before they bought it. I'm wondering if it might be a case for the police though. It would depend on how much damage was patched up and by whom - why was it repaired without an accident report? Sure, but the RTA passed it all as roadworthy, so although the seller was a bit light on the truth of the history of the car, he provided the legitimate, official and current documents to say that it was fine. If the faults were so obvious as to come to light shortly after buying, then had they checked, those same faults would have been apparent before the purchase. It's kind of the risk you take with classified sales - you get a car for less, but sometimes they're a bit duff and need more work than expected. Buying from a garage offers more security, but comes at a price. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 23/08/2011</em>

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:50

OP said they should have had it checked out before they bought it. I'm wondering if it might be a case for the police though. It would depend on how much damage was patched up and by whom - why was it repaired without an accident report?

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:47

Sorry, no help here, but how do you and the dealership know it's been in a serious accident? well, when we realized there was something seriously wrong with the car we took it to the dealership for a proper evaluation (something we should've done before we bought the car of course). They lift the car up and check the motor works and things like that. I'm no expert but when a car has a bent chassis and the two airbags deployed, then it must've been in a serious accident :( Yes, undeniably, but was the chassis visibly bent (if so, why buy it?!) and if you realised something was wrong when you drove it, did you not take it for a test-drive before buying?! Always, always test-drive a car and put it through its paces (a good run along SZR) and see how it handles and what noises it makes. You couldn't really have known about the air bags if the exit points had been repaired/ replaced,

23

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:39

Sorry, no help here, but how do you and the dealership know it's been in a serious accident? well, when we realized there was something seriously wrong with the car we took it to the dealership for a proper evaluation (something we should've done before we bought the car of course). They lift the car up and check the motor works and things like that. I'm no expert but when a car has a bent chassis and the two airbags deployed, then it must've been in a serious accident :(

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:25

I'm afraid that in the case of classifieds and private sellers, it's very much a case of buyer beware. It's true that you saw all the documents - that weren't falsified - and could only make your judgement on that, but if you're preparing to fork out a wad of cash, it's worth running background checks before handing it over. How did you come to realise the damage? I am amazed (but not) that the car passed the RTA test... if anything, that's the bad point, as they obviously didn't flag anything up. I also don't think on the basis of what he did you can say that he's a professional scammer. Dishonest, yes, but he obviously had the crash, wanted to flog the car and patched it up at minimal cost so that a willing punter wouldn't look any further than the bodywork. This kind of thing happens all the time when you're buying/selling houses - quick lick of fresh paint and new flooring can hide all kinds of things. I do sympathise, but basically, you get the car you pay for. If you want to sell it on, try the classifieds! [evil emoticon'>

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:20

Sorry, no help here, but how do you and the dealership know it's been in a serious accident?

23

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 13:04

Anyone been through this? or know someone who did??

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