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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help, is this dodgy?

11 replies

blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:34

Just looking for advice here, really hoping someone can help

someone close to me handed their car in to a garage with engine problems. It turned out the engine was damaged badly to the point the car could not be driven and has had to wait for a new engine. They have been told the car itself is sitting in the garage and the engine has been removed and sent away (I’m not sure if the engine is being sent to be repaired or sent to be looked at and they’ll get a new engine, but I do know they were told the car was not drivable and the car is sitting engineless) it’s been in the garage for nearly 4 weeks now and they’re due to get their car back in just under a week now.

however they have just received a parking ticket for their car, from the other end of the country (the equivalent of Edinburgh from Essex- that sort of thing) it’s definitely their car- there’s a photo included of it parked up and it was dated over a week ago- when they were told the car was sitting engineless in the garage, so it definitely wasn’t a test drive to see if the engine is fixed and it was too far a distance for that anyway.

does this sound dodgy or are we being petty? Is there any reasonable way this could be legit? Never had this happen before so very inexperienced in this and not sure if there’s a normal reason behind this. We are waiting to speak to the garage obviously to ask wtf our car was across the country when it was apparently sitting engineless.

any help would be greatly appreciated here x

OP posts:
billyt · 21/10/2023 10:37

Is it definitely their car in the photo, not just a photo of the registration plate? Anything that can identify that it's possibly a cloned car (same make and colour)?

I'd be driving to the garage to make sure their car is actually engineless and just sitting there. Don't give the garage (if it is dodgy) any time to mess about.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 21/10/2023 10:38

There are only really two options.

  1. The garage is lying (not sure why they would - crime related?)
  2. The car has had its identity cloned - possibly more likely. Go to the garage to see the car. That should settle it.
blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:39

Yeah, definitely their car. Although I suppose it’s a fairly popular type so could be a different car but it’s the exact same model, colour and door number etc so we’re certain it’s the same car.

Great idea about driving round- I’ll do that this morning. Thanks 👍🏻

OP posts:
WhatICallMyUsername · 21/10/2023 10:39

It does sound dodgy but like @billyt it could be a legitimate error. What have the garage said? I'd also be going to see it for myself

I know this doesn't help you now but when I leave my car with the garage I always take a photo of the mileage before I get out. Obviously a few miles could be put down to a test drive but nothing excessive like you've mentioned

blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:40

The only thing I suppose is that even if it had gone on this journey it would probably be back now, because it was 10 days ago so even if the car is still there I guess it doesn’t rule out if it was driven on this journey

OP posts:
blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:40

Yeah taking photos of mileage is always a great idea, I usually do it but unfortunately this was an elderly relative who didn’t ☹️

OP posts:
WhatICallMyUsername · 21/10/2023 10:41

blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:40

The only thing I suppose is that even if it had gone on this journey it would probably be back now, because it was 10 days ago so even if the car is still there I guess it doesn’t rule out if it was driven on this journey

But presumably there's a working engine in it if this has happened and you say they aren't getting it back for another week?

blueorred · 21/10/2023 10:42

Oh good point actually I hadn’t thought about that. I think iirc they’re due to get it back on Wednesday or thursday so yes that could be right!

OP posts:
WhatICallMyUsername · 21/10/2023 10:48

Is the garage open today? Could you go with a spare key and say you've left something in the car and quickly pop the bonnet and check? Obviously don't try and start it as you don't know what stage of repair it at!

Hobbi · 21/10/2023 10:53

A bit confusing - you refer to 'your' car and someone else's. Which is it?

billyt · 21/10/2023 10:55

I think even just seeing the car will tell you if there is an engine in it, or not. The front will be higher than usual, and normally the bonnet wouldn't be shut properly as no need.

Cars get cloned all the time. All it takes is someone to see a car off-road/for sale, make some plates up and either steal a car that matches, down to age/style/doors/colour, or find one that matches their existing car. You quite often hear about gang cars, where they buy cheap/steal a car, steal number plates from a similar car and don't tax or insure it. Real owner gets all the shit and they dump when finished with.

I can go out now and see exactly the same model, colour and style of my car within an hour or less.

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