New car dealer woes, advice please.
New car dealer woes, advice please.
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toxgobbler

Original Poster:

2,903 posts

221 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
I bought a used car from an authorised dealership last week (Thursday).

The description of the car included “Full Service History”.
I said during the test drive etc that no proof of the service history was a deal breaker.
Foolishly, I gave them my money before I saw proof of the full service history (I was given various excuses: it’s on its way, it’s in the manager’s office, etc)

They have given me a replacement service history book that they have stamped with their own garage’s stamp.
But I know the services were not done there.

So, I have a replacement, stamped service history but if anyone checks, they won’t find evidence of the services on the garage’s system (a centralised system covering the dealerships various sites).

They have told me that they spoke to the garage where the work was done to get the mileage & dates of the services which they used to fill in the replacement book.
The garage that did the work is not on the same computer system as the one that I bought the car from, although it is part of the same dealership (they say it’s too small to be on the system).

My questions are:
Should I accept the replacement service history, stamped by the dealership I bought the car from?
Will accepting the replacement service history reduce the value of the car?
Should I hold out for a service history stamped by the dealership that did the work?
Should I return the car?


(Car is a diesel that has done about 27k miles. The book shows it has been serviced about every 8k miles.)


Dealership in Berkshire, Car is used Toyota Auris.

TooLateForAName

4,933 posts

214 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
I wouldn't accept that.

If I was looking to buy it from you down the line and I rang them to check the service then you'd lose the sale.

I would be ringing the dealer that actually did the servicing and talk to them. Will they give you a print out of all the cars history?

I'd also be complaining in writing to the dealer principle and to toyota uk and trading standards. Issuing a service history which is blatantly fake is well out of order.

ecsrobin

18,674 posts

195 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all

edo

16,699 posts

295 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
2 options:

1. They get a new replacement service book and get the garage that actually did the work to complete and stamp it (plus printouts of work as a bonus)

or

2. They give you your money back and you return the car.

Not that it matters, but what age/value/make of car?

toxgobbler

Original Poster:

2,903 posts

221 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
edo said:
2 options:

1. They get a new replacement service book and get the garage that actually did the work to complete and stamp it (plus printouts of work as a bonus)

or

2. They give you your money back and you return the car.

Not that it matters, but what age/value/make of car?
5 year old Toyota Auris 1.4D. Value was about the same as elsewhere, but as this was a main dealer it seemed more attractive than a private sale for less as it comes with 12 months Toyota warranty.

Busa mav

2,845 posts

184 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
toxgobbler said:
They have told me that they spoke to the garage where the work was done to get the mileage & dates of the services which they used to fill in the replacement book.
Shouldn't be a problem getting copies of the service receipts then , as they have told you the details are on record wink


Unless of course they just invented the dates for the services .

benjj

6,787 posts

193 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Busa mav said:
toxgobbler said:
They have told me that they spoke to the garage where the work was done to get the mileage & dates of the services which they used to fill in the replacement book.
Shouldn't be a problem getting copies of the service receipts then , as they have told you the details are on record wink


Unless of course they just invented the dates for the services .
That actually made me laugh in real life.

Of course the dealer has just made it all up. We have these threads every week and the story is always the same:

Dealer advertises car with FSH
Not available when car test driven by potential customer, assured it's there
A deal is done, buyer gets excited about prospect of new car
Dealer can't find paperwork
Buyer wants car so much they pay and drive away
Dealer forgets buyer, moves on to next sale

Once you've actually driven the car away from the forecourt your chances of getting what the dealer has said they'll do diminishes by 50% for every yard you travel.


ecsrobin

18,674 posts

195 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
benjj said:
Busa mav said:
toxgobbler said:
They have told me that they spoke to the garage where the work was done to get the mileage & dates of the services which they used to fill in the replacement book.
Shouldn't be a problem getting copies of the service receipts then , as they have told you the details are on record wink


Unless of course they just invented the dates for the services .
That actually made me laugh in real life.

Of course the dealer has just made it all up. We have these threads every week and the story is always the same:

Dealer advertises car with FSH
Not available when car test driven by potential customer, assured it's there
A deal is done, buyer gets excited about prospect of new car
Dealer can't find paperwork
Buyer wants car so much they pay and drive away
Dealer forgets buyer, moves on to next sale

Once you've actually driven the car away from the forecourt your chances of getting what the dealer has said they'll do diminishes by 50% for every yard you travel.
This!!!!

Rakoosh

347 posts

200 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
It sounds like your concern is more on the point of resale.

In this case - much as I massively disagree with how this has been handled - you're not too bad off in my view.

I would push the dealer to do the first service on the car for free and ask for it now with a stamp in the book.

I can't speak for others - but personally if I was buying your car (which will I guess be a 7/8 year old yota at that point) I would not check each and every service but I would check the book and possibly the 'last' service. By that time you will have not only the service you just got... but the next 1/2 as well and that should be sufficient for a 7/8 year old car, i.e. three that cab be verified,

Look at it another way - you bought it just based on it having a 'fsh'. had you seen the book as you now have it - that'd be ok right?

That all said - not impressive stuff from the dealer... just think its tough for you to get anywhere with this, if the car is ok its worth keeping (as you may lose money on insurance etc etc) so just go with it and I do not think it de-values it that much tbh.

av185

20,464 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
I would be enquiring if the mileage is genuine. Previous owner?

Falsification of an instrument is quite a serious offence, especially considering its a main dealer........

mikeveal

5,139 posts

280 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Contact previous owner, potentailly meet and invite owner to comment on fictional history. Obtain true details of service history, from owner or garage that actually did work.

Negotiate with dealer as to how much they owe you for misrepresenting the car they sold you.

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
benjj said:
Busa mav said:
toxgobbler said:
They have told me that they spoke to the garage where the work was done to get the mileage & dates of the services which they used to fill in the replacement book.
Shouldn't be a problem getting copies of the service receipts then , as they have told you the details are on record wink


Unless of course they just invented the dates for the services .
That actually made me laugh in real life.

Of course the dealer has just made it all up. We have these threads every week and the story is always the same:

Dealer advertises car with FSH
Not available when car test driven by potential customer, assured it's there
A deal is done, buyer gets excited about prospect of new car
Dealer can't find paperwork
Buyer wants car so much they pay and drive away
Dealer forgets buyer, moves on to next sale

Once you've actually driven the car away from the forecourt your chances of getting what the dealer has said they'll do diminishes by 50% for every yard you travel.
This!!!!
Totally agree!

Liquid Tuna

1,403 posts

186 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
av185 said:
I would be enquiring if the mileage is genuine. Previous owner?

Falsification of an instrument is quite a serious offence, especially considering its a main dealer........
Whoaa, slow down there. It's a missing service book, not a full on clocking fraud case.

rallycross

13,757 posts

267 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all

av185

20,464 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Liquid Tuna said:
av185 said:
I would be enquiring if the mileage is genuine. Previous owner?

Falsification of an instrument is quite a serious offence, especially considering its a main dealer........
Whoaa, slow down there. It's a missing service book, not a full on clocking fraud case.
I agree that's probably the case but will only be confirmed by said enquiries.......

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Hi Op

Wow my first post!

Having bought and sold a few cars in my past, the servicing history is probably the most important of the vehicle.

Afterall, it was a deal breaker to you and it will be the same for lots of other people. Plus, when you try to perhaps trade it in, imagine trying to convine people of the 'story'

Give them an ultimatum - sort the history or the deal is history and you want your money back.

toxgobbler

Original Poster:

2,903 posts

221 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Just had a call from the dealership, they say I "can't" take the car back. They say they are going to get stamps from all the garages, but it will take time. I don't really believe them at this point based on their actions so far.

What should I do/what can I do?

rallycross

13,757 posts

267 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
As said above you need to confirm its mileage, find out where it was really serviced (via the previous owner(s)).
how old is this car?

check its mileage here

http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-In...

Studio117

4,250 posts

221 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Any toyota dealer will be able to print out any of the service history completed by them.

chrisw666

22,655 posts

229 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
quotequote all
Is it an approved used car as per this?

http://usedcars.toyota.co.uk/approvedbenefits.aspx...

As that says they will have verified the service history. I'd refer the dealer back to that and then call Toyota's customer service people if that is the case.