HPI checked a car I've just given a deposit for...

HPI checked a car I've just given a deposit for...

Author
Discussion

DuraAce

4,240 posts

160 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
All that jazz said:
"£500 non-refundable deposit and I don't have the V5".

hehe

"OK! Sounds legit! Shut up and take my money!"

rofl
Bonkers. OP - give me a shout if you run low on magic beans, always got a few left
..

catman

2,490 posts

175 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
If the car proves to be not as described, then legally, you should get your money back. How easy it it will be, is another question.

Tim

All that jazz

7,632 posts

146 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Sawyer815 said:
We filled a V62 together, he said he'd send it right away to DVLA.

But yeah, guys, thanks for mocking, I know I'm not very bright on that one. Believe me, I know. I need some advice, mockery doesn't quite help.
OK. Seriously, there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for all the discrepancies, although I don't know what. hehe

The mileage discrepancy thing with HPI is actually not uncommon as dealers and stuff can input mileage info onto it and they often cock it up. I've had it happen with one of my previous cars which had suddenly jumped 60k in the space of a year.

The missing V5 could be that the previous owner had one of those logbook loan thingies where they hold the V5 until the finance is settled. It's entirely possible that the finance has only just recently been settled and hence why he doesn't have the V5 yet. That could also tie in with his comments about getting something in writing from the finance company saying that it's been settled. If he does present such a bit of paper, check it's legit by ringing the finance company up, quoting their ref and getting them to confirm it.

The "security marker" that Butter Face mentions is a new one on me though.

Leaving £500 cash deposit for anything is way too much. I'd say £100 is about the norm to hold it. But more importantly, in future you need to check out everything BEFORE you leave a deposit as the seller is fully within his rights to retain it if you change your mind because you didn't do your research beforehand. Don't be pressured into leaving a deposit - they all try that under the guise of "well, I've had a lot of interest and it's likely to be bought by someone else if you don't leave a deposit" - 99 times out of 100 it's complete BS.

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Out of interest, Price?

Glass's Trade £4,710
Retail Transacted £5,990

Mileage 43,000

2007, Mazda, MX-5, 1.8i Convertible 2d
Manual gearbox, 5 speed, Convertible, Petrol, Rear wheel drive, 1798cc, 174.0 g/km, VPQ6
Date of Registration: 01/09/2007
Cost new: £15,515

Edited by edo on Friday 26th June 23:26

Sawyer815

Original Poster:

49 posts

106 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Well, the "non-refundable" thing makes sense as it takes the car off the market.

At least, I'm not on the lowest point of stupidity (or am I?). The deposit was not paid cash without a trace, but by debit card, with a proper bank receipt and a "deposit slip" stating exactly what I've paid, how much left do I need to pay to get the car, and the absence of V5c at the moment of the sale.

If I have to take the guy to court or something, at least I'll have that.

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Go back. Keep it friendly, ask for the deposit back. See what happens.

What was the agreed price out of interest?

Torquey

1,895 posts

228 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
If you were hell bent on getting the car id be doing the following:

Mileage discrepancy - its easy to make this mistake. Id want to see all previous mot's and full service history to prove is 43k

Finance company - sure they can easily fax/mail proof its paid off.

The security check on the hpi mentioned earlier (butter face). - could be anything but I'd follow it up to be sure.

No v5 - this is the tricky one for me. Where the fck does the dealer say it is? Where/who did he get the car from? And how long did they own it? I'd certainly want to talk to the last owner and maybe the one before that.


Edited by Torquey on Friday 26th June 23:33

Sawyer815

Original Poster:

49 posts

106 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
All that jazz : Can I ring the credit company asking if there is still a unpaid balance on a given car? Will they disclose that information to me?

For the deposit, well, I've been fooled I guess. Told me a 10% deposit is the norm to secure the car. I could've put less, but he said that if anyone had come and paid a higher deposit, or paid the whole straight away, they would've gotten the car (and I would've had my money back, though).

Thing is, I have been looking for an MX5 for months now. Every interesting one goes very quickly. Less than 24h sometimes. So I hurried. Too much.

swisstoni

16,998 posts

279 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Deposits are quite scary things. You are actually entering into a contract to buy when you hand over a deposit.

Sawyer815

Original Poster:

49 posts

106 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
edo, price is £5350. I have been seeing tons of ads for MX5s, this is pretty average for this mileage I think.

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
If it is genuine, the price isnt that bad.

Torquey

1,895 posts

228 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Sawyer815 said:
All that jazz : Can I ring the credit company asking if there is still a unpaid balance on a given car? Will they disclose that information to me
Yes they will disclose that info. Ring them. Say "I'm looking to buy a car, registration xxx xxx. Do you still have an interest in it or has the finance been cleared? Can you send me conformation through the post"

Simple.

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
If you dont go ahead, this 07 2.0 looks decent value with a bit of haggling.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...


Granfondo

12,241 posts

206 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Surely the deposit is non refundable if the car is as described?

43k miles as opposed to 80k would void the contract surely?

Find out if the mileage has been doctored and get trading standards involved!

Sawyer815

Original Poster:

49 posts

106 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Ok thanks Torquey. I'll get to that tomorrow. Will also try to phone Mazda. The seller told me the last service was at Mazda in 2013, at about 25k miles. Maybe they'll be able to confirm.

If both those things come out well, finance paid off and genuine mileage, it just leaves the V5c. But if all the weird things highlighted by the HPI check turn out to be false alarms, and the car is genuine, then the absence of V5c can't mean anything bad, can it?

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
It gets worse. It hasnt had a service in 2 years and 20k?

All that jazz

7,632 posts

146 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Sawyer815 said:
All that jazz : Can I ring the credit company asking if there is still a unpaid balance on a given car? Will they disclose that information to me?

For the deposit, well, I've been fooled I guess. Told me a 10% deposit is the norm to secure the car. I could've put less, but he said that if anyone had come and paid a higher deposit, or paid the whole straight away, they would've gotten the car (and I would've had my money back, though).

Thing is, I have been looking for an MX5 for months now. Every interesting one goes very quickly. Less than 24h sometimes. So I hurried. Too much.
1. No reason why not. I can imagine some may be arsey over it and not tell you though. Only way you'll know is if you pick up the bell.

2. If someone else "paid the whole [amount] straight away" and bought the car then what was the point of putting a deposit down on it? That's the whole point of the deposit - to secure it for x length of time while you sort out the balance.

I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from any of this tbh. Nothing else you can do now though unless you're willing to forfeit your monkey. Go along with it and

= check finance has been paid off when "proof" presented.
= await V5 *before* you pay the balance and check it's real - hold it up to light and check that it has the "DVL" watermarking all over it.
= take V5 and check it matches with reg plates front and back and also the VIN plate(s) for any signs of tampering. If you don't know where the VIN plate(s) are ask someone on here.
= if all the above checks out, get on the bell to HPI and ask what the "security interest" is. Their site says this about it :

HPI said:
Security watch

This is a register of vehicles that are high fraud or theft risks, such as rental cars. If a vehicle appears on this register, HPI will pass your details to whoever placed the security interest so that they can contact you for information regarding the sale.
Once everything checks out and you're happy then pay the balance. I get the feeling that your arse may fall out before you get to that point though! hehe


200Plus Club

10,757 posts

278 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Mileage errors do occur. My sunbeam has the chassis number as the mileage on one mot as the dickwad tester put the wrong number in the wrong box. I didnt spot it till the following yr and vosa wont correct it now. So it reads like 64k, 456076, 66k etc. Very annoying but can judge all previous mots etc and condition of the car

Sawyer815

Original Poster:

49 posts

106 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
edo : 2.0 are more expensive to ensure and to feed, I'm more looking for a 1.8. Besides, £5500 is kinda my maximum. But thanks!

Granfondo, yes, surely. Then again, I'd have to prove it's actually 80k. I'm not fairly certain a HPI check would work!

edo

16,699 posts

265 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Mazda MX-5 1.8 i 2dr
2008
35,428 miles
£5,400