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Original poster

what a complete nightmare

64 replies

pandagirl03 · 12/04/2006 07:42

dont know if anyone has been in this situation or can help me, couldn't sleep for worry last night. well yesterday all excited about to pick up my new car and was part ex my old car, when i say old is a 2002 model so not that old. 15 mins before going to get our new car the garage rings and tells us he has done a hpi check on our car which come back saying our car was a cat b write off which means the body shell of the car to be crushed and the vechicle never to be returned to the road. we went back to the garage we bought it from and he is looking into it etc etc. so in the mean time i have no car and a car sat on my drive that is worthless. anyone had any experience in this please help me going out of my mind. thanks sorry for rambling.

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 13/04/2006 09:07

Have you tried calling trading standards?

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 09:22

no tried calling cab yesterday no one avalible to help typical isn't it.

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Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 09:27

does anyone know if cab advice lines open b4 10am all the ones round here are 10am. man ringing about picking up car at 10.30am.

OP posts:

Freckle · 13/04/2006 09:30

Most CABs open at 10am. I would contact the garage and say that he cannot remove the car. He is welcome to inspect it on your drive but, until you have taken further legal advice, the car is not to be taken away. Ask him why he needs to inspect it when you have all the paperwork proving that it was a write-off.

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 09:33

i have asked him why he needs to inspect it he told me because he doesn't think the car is a write off and he thinks its a clerical error, so wants to inspect the car to see if there is any damage. i asked him to come to our drive to look at it he said he needs to look at it properly in a garage.im so confused and stressed about the whole thing.

OP posts:

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 09:44

I wouldn't let him take the car!

My dh works in a garage but his bloody mobile is off so I can't contact him to ask his advice on your behalf .

I know they have something to lift a car in the air (not sure of the name) but I think the serial numbers - chassis? - are easily seen without this.

Will keep trying him.

Don't let him take the car!

Also, our car was involved in a small bump and the damage to the car meant that the insurance people classed it as a write off (ie they paid out on it) BUT it was still driveable iyswim and legally allowed on the road.

Are you sure it was a complete write off and not just what we had?

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 09:54

thanks olive oil.

we did a hpi check it come back as a cat b write off which means body shell should be crushed and car not to be returned to the road. i rang the hpi company and looked into it further rang the insurance company that wrote it off and they said it was definatly a cat b write off and should not be on the road. we have checked all the chasis numbers there is one on engine one on window and 2 in the boot but we cant find any on the doors which i thought chasis numbers were on the doors aswell. thanks again.

OP posts:

Freckle · 13/04/2006 09:58

Is it possible that the bodyshell was replaced? If the car was pretty new, it might have made more sense at that stage than to write off the whole car. The hpi and insurance people might have written it off (which basically means that the car would cost more to repair than it is worth), but the owner chose to repair anyway - he may have had a friend who would do it more cheaply for him.

Do you have the previous owner's details?

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 09:59

I think our car is on a Z list but could be completely wrong, dh deals with this.

Your car could be a ringer, ie 2 cars welded into one (), or they could have used the reg off the written off car and put it on a stolen one etc etc.

Maybe that is why he wants to look underneath?

Or it could be innocent, hmmmm.

Gut feeling. Does it seem like a dodgy garage, is the man friendly?

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 10:01

Freckle - that is what we did but the car would be listed as a Z list (or something) not a complete write off. I think!

Dh phone still off.

Grrrrrrr.

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 10:02

he wasn't nice when i first went there about it, he went mad at me telling me not to make him idle threats because i asked for a answer by the next day. now hes all nice.

i asked hpi this but the car was written off by its chasis numbers which match whats on our car and the number plate and chasis numbers match dvla and hpi records.

OP posts:

Piffle · 13/04/2006 10:05

This sounds incredibly dodgy tbh.
Teh garage will know that they or whomever they bought it off or sold it on behalf of are in teh shit.
A car that has been a write off, should be re registered as a z plate, if it was above board.
I'd def get law involved, whether via cops, CAB or privately
And do not let them take the car. It is yours. Him looking at it will change nothing, he does not need the car to sort out a clerical error.
Good luck, I hope you get something out of this, it is worth noting that small claims (if amount sued for is below £5k I think) could deal with this for you. I think it is open and shut tbh.

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 10:09

bloody cab wish they would answer there phones.

OP posts:

Freckle · 13/04/2006 10:13

Just hang on. Don't hang up and ring back. They will answer as soon as an advisor is free.

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 10:31

spoke to them there calling back when they can find out more.

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Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 10:40

any luck with your dh oliveoil??

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oliveoil · 13/04/2006 13:02

He says it doesn't sound good tbh . I was right on the Z list thing.

What did the man from the garage say?

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 13:06

he hasn't rang, so just rang him he is coming to my house to inspect it, he said if he doesn't find any evidance of a crash then he will get a independant inspector out to look at it.we went to police they said they cant help at the moment.

OP posts:

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 13:08

what did the CAB say?

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 13:11

the cab just told me this information The dealer may have committed a criminal offence by giving a false description of the vehicle, or by selling an unroadworthy vehicle unless it is made clear to you that the vehicle is only suitable for breaking up or needs major repairs. An MOT certificate does not mean that the vehicle is roadworthy.

told me to keep all paperwork and try and get a independant inspection done on it.

OP posts:

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 13:12

eh? An MOT certificate does surely?

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 13:13

well you would of thought so wouldn't you. im so confused now i dont know if im coming or going.

OP posts:

oliveoil · 13/04/2006 13:17

when you go to a garage for an MOT, it costs say £40, they test it. If you fail, you have the work done OR you do not get a certificate.

I am sure this is how it works. Some people need more work doing than the car is worth so they don't bother, hence no cerficate. And without an MOT you don't get insurance.

It is all computerised now as well so the Government know if you go over your renewal dates etc.

Ledodgy · 13/04/2006 13:19

Also tell the dealer YOU will arrange for an independant inspector NOT him because he may not be independant at all. This sounds really dodgy and IMO the dealer is definately at fault.

Original poster

pandagirl03 · 13/04/2006 13:22

i told him i will do it and he will be paying for it. the dealer is seriously annoying me. we have all the paper work for goodness sake what more does he need. he keeps saying he thinks its a clerical error how the hell do ppl make a error like that???

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