Advice sought .. potentially bought a stolen car

[Riyazc]

Hi All,

I have reached a slight problem, i have just traded in my RRS which i had done a HPI check 4 months ago all clear . Have realised the cars too big and wanted something smaller so bought a porsche instead.

i went to a private dealer last sunday to see my new purchase. they did their checks and where happy with my RRS and we agreed a price for a part exchange.

i went to pics my new car up today did the deal every one happy signed all papers. Two hours later i get a call from the dealer asking whether it is possible for the for me to come back as we need to talk. went back and they are under the suspicion that the car is stolen or a clone. The dealer had done their own HPI which came back clear. should the dealer not take this up with HPI themselves and not me?

Whos responsibility is the car? has anyone been in this situation?

Any genuine feedback would be great.

[CarlT]

Down to the dealer I would suggest. If they have HPIed it and it was clear, but it is not then they can take it up with HPI

[carmonk]

Their car, their problem.

[joewilliams]

If their HPI check is clear, on what grounds are they suspicious?

[AndrewW-G]

return to dealer for a full refund, they are the professionals, so therefore the onus is on them to establish that the car's identity is legitimate

[bazking69]

What makes them think it is iffy?

[Vixpy1]

Which car, your RRS or the car you bought?

[Riyazc]

Car was bought privately ... and we HPI'd it.

ANd its been back to a main dealer a few times since (LR reliability is shocking!!) and they spotted nothing.

Dealer is an indepedant and reckons there is a vin number missing someone on the side of the engine bay - cant see any mention of there being such a number online anywhere.

He also says the VIN in the window doesnt look legit.

[Deerfoot]

AndrewW-G said:

return to dealer for a full refund, they are the professionals, so therefore the onus is on them to establish that the car's identity is legitimate

What he said.

[Riyazc]

Sorry... just to clear up.

Bought an RRS privately ... decided didnt need it... so PX'd it today for a cayman.

Dealer is now wants to reverse the deal saying he is 100% sure my RRS was stolen .. but if he was that sure, surely he would have called the police on me.

[TheEnd]

A HPI is of no use in this situation, and they won't be taking any blame.

[AndrewW-G]

In that case, call the police (local switchboard not 999) and speak to your local stolen vehicle team, they will be able investigate and confirm / reject the dealers claim . . . . . . . . . . . . the question has to be asked though - why didnt the dealer spot it when you took it in, I'd suggest that as the Police havent been informed that it may simply be a ruse by the dealer for some reason

[carmonk]

Why would he want to call the police? The dealership own the car and it's their responsibility. If they want to call the police it's up to them.

[Riyazc]

Stolen vehicle team.. thats a great idea!!

MAybe it is a ruse by the dealer.

[TheEnd]

Riyazc said:

Dealer is now wants to reverse the deal saying he is 100% sure my RRS was stolen .. but if he was that sure, surely he would have called the police on me.

If they called the Police, they'd go straight to the dealers, and pick the RR up, and they'd lose out.
The dealer is hoping you fold, take it back, and then are morally/legally obliged to hand it over.

You are in the clear though, the handling stolen property stuff only works if there was sufficient evidence to show you knew or should have at least suspected it (ie bought it for a grand in a car park with no documents)

[Riyazc]

Dealer did suggest we reverse the deal and then i sell is privately.

Er.. no... sorry bad bad bad karma.

[TheEnd]

Just ask them what the police have said, followed by a "you have told them, haven't you?"

If anyone is breaking the law, it'll be them with their knowingly stolen stock.

[Oldred_V8S]

joewilliams said:

If their HPI check is clear, on what grounds are they suspicious?

Surely an HPI check will not pickup on a clone, or am I missing something? A colleague at work got caught like this. ran an HPI check which showed that nothing was owed on the car, purely because the car he HPI'd did not have anything outstanding on it.

[Deva Link]

Riyazc said:

Dealer did suggest we reverse the deal and then i sell is privately.

That's a bit of an odd thing to say.

If they really thought the RRS was stolen they'd have surely arranged for a few people to be there when you came in so that you didn't leave again with the Porsche?

[Riyazc]

To be fair. he gave us a car to go home back in .. so he isnt being lame to us.