Mileage reset on auction car

[chriggy]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice please, I arranged to buy a car at auction today, it had gone through the hall unsuccessfully so I made an offer on it - it was referred to the buyer who accepted and I left a £300 deposit.

What I've now discovered from the online listing, that they hadn't mentioned at the rostrum, was that it's recently had the mileage reset. I gather this could be major dash fault, engine replacement or write off?
Just wondering where I stand, do I have any right to get my deposit back? It hadn't successfully gone through the sale, so they couldn't argue I've denied them income. An engine replacement wouldn't necessarily be an issue (it's a 5yr old car, MOT history verifies mileage to be 41k as of March) but a write-off wouldn't be ideal - would an HPI check be any use?

I'm open to advice

[Trevor555]

chriggy said:

Hi all,

Looking for some advice please, I arranged to buy a car at auction today, it had gone through the hall unsuccessfully so I made an offer on it - it was referred to the buyer who accepted and I left a £300 deposit.

What I've now discovered from the online listing, that they hadn't mentioned at the rostrum, was that it's recently had the mileage reset. I gather this could be major dash fault, engine replacement or write off?
Just wondering where I stand, do I have any right to get my deposit back? It hadn't successfully gone through the sale, so they couldn't argue I've denied them income. An engine replacement wouldn't necessarily be an issue (it's a 5yr old car, MOT history verifies mileage to be 41k as of March) but a write-off wouldn't be ideal - would an HPI check be any use?

I'm open to advice

A recording of the sale is kept so they'll be able to confirm, or deny, whether or not it was mentioned on the rostrum.

They should have sold it as "incorrect mileage" if it's been reset.

If they didn't declare that then I'm sure you'll get your refund.

[chriggy]

Thanks Trevor - if I was mistaken and had missed the information (which I really don't think I did!), would there be any value in doing an HPI check? (are they allowed to sell written off vehicles without informing buyers?)

[Trevor555]

chriggy said:

Thanks Trevor - if I was mistaken and had missed the information (which I really don't think I did!), would there be any value in doing an HPI check? (are they allowed to sell written off vehicles without informing buyers?)

Has it turned out to be on the register?

They wouldn't sell one without declaring it, and they always state, more than once, that a vehicle is on the register if one goes through.

So if it turns out to be written off, and they haven't declared it then of course you'd get your deposit back.

I'm sure they'd be able to let you listen to the tape of the sale if there's some misunderstanding.

[Trevor555]

Just to add, my experiences, and advice has been for BCA auctions.

I've just reread your first post and realized you haven't mentioned which auction.

So I appologise if I've been giving you duff info, I'm sure some of the smaller auction houses may not record their sales.

[chriggy]

No problem Terry - it's not BCA but I'm sure they will have recording (they have online livebid facility). However, I spoke with them Saturday, they said it's not been written off and they have no history of engine change and said it's likely just instrument console change.
Still a gamble though