Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Original poster

Please can someone advise, had some concerning info....

30 replies

CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:26

Trying to sell my car, bought it just over 2 years ago for almost £7000, from a very reputable firm, and a guy who came to look at it said he works for the police force and he can tell its been in a serious accident and has had some "major repair work" and i'll never be able to sell it on, nor should i!! Im on my own now, and i just had my 4th baby and i really really need to sell so i can get a 7 seater! What if he is right? what can i do? is there anything i can do, or am i just screwed? Please help/advise if you can, TIA

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 13:27

Who was this guy? Did he defintely work for the police?
Get a second opinion at least.

StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 13:28

and if it's passed its MOT then it's roadworthy, surely?
It's up to someone else if they want to buy it

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:30

He came from quite a distance from me, i dont know him, he may not work for police, i just dont know, im worried sick, id never sell it if its not safe, but i so badly need a bigger car, i dont know what to do. Im scared to get a second opinion in case he is right!!

OP posts:
Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:35

It has just passed its MOT i asked the guy that did it and he said its rubbish he couldnt see anything wrong at all, but if i wanted to bring it back he would gladly give it a good look at and find out - im scared what he may find now

OP posts:
Portofino · 25/04/2010 13:35

I would be expecting him to come back to you later and offer you peanuts to "help you out". Correct reponse if he does is "off you fuck, matey!"

Agree with Stealth, if it has been MOT'd the garage would have picked it up - if it was THAT obvious. I'm presuming the guy has just glanced over it...

ABitBatty · 25/04/2010 13:42

He could have done a HIP check on it, that might be what he is basing his information on. He's probably bullshitting about working for the police though, the Police can't find out about accident damaged motors from the insurance database as easy as that I wouldn't have thought.

car data checks

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:44

Yes he was only there for 5 mins at most!

OP posts:
Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:47

We did alot of checks on it when we bought it, and they all came back fine. This guy said he works with 'dodgey cars' with his job in the police, and could see this damage a mile off!!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 13:49

How did this all happen? Did he knock at your door to tell you this?
I doubt very much he was from the police. Either way you should ring them - if he was genuine they'd reassure you, if not then you need to report it.
How long ago was your MOT? If it's been in a big accident then repaired and is roadworthy - fine. If it's not been repaired adequately then I think it would have failed its MOT.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 25/04/2010 13:50

If all the checks you did came back fine and it's sailed through its MOT with a reputable garage then I would take a working assumption that the guy you saw was full of shit, frankly.

ABitBatty · 25/04/2010 13:52

Sounds like a billy bullshitter to me. Will probably be along to offer reduced £££ shortly. Or just doing it for a laugh to see someone worried and upset Was he interested in buying despite this damage he could see a mile off?

StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 13:54

lol @ billy bullshitter

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 13:55

It passed its MOT on weds last week (21st) no probs. I advertised it and this guy called, arranged to come and pick it up (before he even viewed it!) and when he came round he just straight away shook his head and said "oh no, sorry, im not having that, its had serious accident damage" etc. I have his first name but not his last, so i doubt id be able to check him up

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 13:57

oh i see, didn't rrealise you'd already advertised it
hmmm
police or not, sounds like he was trying to 'negotiate'

ABitBatty · 25/04/2010 13:58

I'd be prepared for him to be ringing back and saying something along the lines of 'I've been thinking about your car and have found out it will cost be £x to repair all this damage so am prepared to do you a favour and offer you £ '

Steer well clear of this charlie chancer

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 14:05

no, he was interested in buying at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 25/04/2010 14:08

if he does call back i'll be telling him to get lost (putting it nicely!)

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 14:18

Well it might be worth asking him for more details (i.e. which bit of the car). Then if you are worried you can get it checked out again.
I'm no expert but I can't imagine anything visible of great concern, damaged bumpers and bonnets are a rust risk only, surely? The really expensive stuff (cam belt etc) wouldn't be visible at all. Unless it's obviously a cut and shut

bidibidi · 25/04/2010 14:41

Cars can pass MOT that are not roadworthy I won't get into it, but I speak from bitter experience MOT is just a checklist, it's far from definitive!! I would think about taking it to the AA (they do a thorough check) to see what they think, OP.

bidibidi · 25/04/2010 14:46

Also, it is a road traffic offence to sell a car that is not road worthy (Trading Standards recently told me). That applies to private sellers -- dealers have even tougher conditions to comply with about their goods for sale. So might be worth the AA check unless OP is sure that her garage is solid and would notice and tell her about faults.

I think guy who visited OP may be delusional, too, but I wouldn't rely at all on MOT cert. to mean a car is safe.

StealthPolarBear · 25/04/2010 21:00

really?? I thought that was the point of the MOT - that's dreadful
Definitely a good idea to get an independent check

bidibidi · 26/04/2010 18:51

eg, A car that cannot reverse can pass an MOT.
There's a lot that it doesn't cover.

10poundstogo · 26/04/2010 21:56

Do an online check - it will tell you if it has been an insurance write off, nicked or has finance on it. shop around prices go from £10 to about £25, depending on level of detail.

Beasknees · 26/04/2010 21:59

he just wants to get it cheaply. A 'mate' of his will be in touch and offer you £100 or something stupid and he'll be laughing. Ignore him and go with whoever did your MOT as not having any problems.

Ivykaty44 · 26/04/2010 22:05

why would someon travel a great distance to look at a car for all of 5 minutes and say it was a wreck from an accident - he would hardly be able to tell after 5 minutes.

Can you trade in to get a 7 seater and not do a private sale - save jokers like this getting in and winding you up..

Swipe left for the next trending thread