Bought 2nd hand focus, want to reject
Discussion
Hi all, I bought a used 2010 Ford Focus on the 31st December and it was advertised as full service history. The car has since cut out at various times so I have stopped using it and have been doing some research, from what I can tell it appears that they have tippexed and changed the mileage and dates on the service history so it looks like its been serviced on time, however before the tippex and date change it had a gap of 4 years and 50000 miles! Does anyone know if I have proper reason to reject the car? 
Mepsipax said:
Hi all, I bought a used 2010 Ford Focus on the 31st December and it was advertised as full service history. The car has since cut out at various times so I have stopped using it and have been doing some research, from what I can tell it appears that they have tippexed and changed the mileage and dates on the service history so it looks like its been serviced on time, however before the tippex and date change it had a gap of 4 years and 50000 miles! Does anyone know if I have proper reason to reject the car?
Is that the one stamp three years ago?Looks to me like "Ford & Citreon Service Specialists" are fictional, not even an address never mind a VAT number.
As above check the MOT history, its the only thing you have. https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
If it does not tally with the book then it looks like the car has been clocked and misrepresented.
EDIT: Might not have been clocked.... just no record of servicing between 2014 and 2018 and 50k miles. But that does not mean it was not done....
As above check the MOT history, its the only thing you have. https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
If it does not tally with the book then it looks like the car has been clocked and misrepresented.
EDIT: Might not have been clocked.... just no record of servicing between 2014 and 2018 and 50k miles. But that does not mean it was not done....
Edited by was8v on Tuesday 8th January 14:55
The numbers look fairly consistent, however there's one thing that seems a bit odd.
The national Auto Repair service (the tippexed entry) and the sevens... (some have a line through the tail - some don't...) and the second "Ford & Citreon" specialist entry - the 7 in the miles entry doesn't have a line through the tail, but the 7 in the date does...
I suspect the National Entry - the mileage was probably 124275 (been changed to 92427) (which supposedly it was on 11/18) and the two "Ford & Citreon" entries are faked.
ETA:
The national Auto Repair service (the tippexed entry) and the sevens... (some have a line through the tail - some don't...) and the second "Ford & Citreon" specialist entry - the 7 in the miles entry doesn't have a line through the tail, but the 7 in the date does...
I suspect the National Entry - the mileage was probably 124275 (been changed to 92427) (which supposedly it was on 11/18) and the two "Ford & Citreon" entries are faked.
| Date Serviced | Mileage | Mileage covered |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/11 | 13022 | 13022 |
| 20/02/12 | 26088 | 13066 |
| 18/10/12 | 42238 | 16150 |
| 19/07/13 | 59252 | 17014 |
| 17/01/14 | 72711 | 13459 |
| 26/11/15 | 92427 | 19716 |
| 02/09/16 | 104225 | 11798 |
| 07/09/17 | 116370 | 12145 |
| 26/11/18 | 124275 | 7905 |
ETA:
996TT02 said:
They even copied over the date on the real final service stamp to their new fake stamp. Unbelievable.
I just noticed that, now that you've pointed it out.996TT02 said:
The National Auto service stamp should read 124,275 - for some reason the morons copied over that exact mileage onto their final fake stamp, perhaps it is being sold with that mileage. The rest of the stamps are fake as fook. As previous, "Citreon" - wow.
Yep, looks like you're right. Whoever did the fake 'Ford & Citreon' stamps turned 124,275 into 92,427 (VERY badly), christ only knows how many miles it's had shaved off it in total but that is the dodgiest-looking 'service history' I've seen in a long time.OP - how come this didn't make you run a mile? What does the MOT history show?
996TT02 said:
The National Auto service stamp should read 124,275 - for some reason the morons copied over that exact mileage onto their final fake stamp, perhaps it is being sold with that mileage. The rest of the stamps are fake as fook. As previous, "Citreon" - wow.
Good spot! Yup, the history from 2015 is definitely fake. If the dealer is prepared to lie to that level though I doubt they'll be too forthcoming about taking the car back.
OP, check the MOT history and see how it compares with the dates from the service schedule. It could be an easy way to prove the history is fake.
what probably actually happened
nobody knows if it was serviced in the gap! Does the registration doc show the PO details still? Could ask them if they self-serviced or just cheaped out.
| Date Serviced | Mileage | Mileage covered |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/11 | 13022 | 13022 |
| 20/02/12 | 26088 | 13066 |
| 18/10/12 | 42238 | 16150 |
| 19/07/13 | 59252 | 17014 |
| 17/01/14 | 72711 | 13459 |
| 26/11/18 | 124275 | 51564 |
nobody knows if it was serviced in the gap! Does the registration doc show the PO details still? Could ask them if they self-serviced or just cheaped out.
KingNothing said:
Wouldn't be surprised if the 2 "Ford & Citroen"stamps have mileages that either match exactly (if they were that stupid), or close to the MOT history mileage available online for those respective years.
I'll be staggered if they are even remotely similar. The car was on 124k miles 3 years ago, it's had 3 years' worth of mileage (clumsily) shaved off it by the looks of things.I would 100 percent be rejecting it regardless get rid of it asap.
I too bought a car with a faked history. Phoned dealer, "has it had a cambelt?"
"Yep at 59k"
Happened to be the last service, no receipt. Box ticked.
When it snapped 2 months later I spoke to the previous owner and she confirmed definitely not done and the reason for selling it.
I would have pushed a full refund but I accidentally scraped the whole side on a bollard , got £400 off them and sold it for scrap so was still out of pocket.
Now any history MUST be backed up by a receipt that tally's and or a phone call to the garages that did the work.
Funnily enough I too bought a focus 06 that cut out the next day and got a refund (actually offered by the garage).
I too bought a car with a faked history. Phoned dealer, "has it had a cambelt?"
"Yep at 59k"
Happened to be the last service, no receipt. Box ticked.
When it snapped 2 months later I spoke to the previous owner and she confirmed definitely not done and the reason for selling it.
I would have pushed a full refund but I accidentally scraped the whole side on a bollard , got £400 off them and sold it for scrap so was still out of pocket.
Now any history MUST be backed up by a receipt that tally's and or a phone call to the garages that did the work.
Funnily enough I too bought a focus 06 that cut out the next day and got a refund (actually offered by the garage).
Funk said:
KingNothing said:
Wouldn't be surprised if the 2 "Ford & Citroen"stamps have mileages that either match exactly (if they were that stupid), or close to the MOT history mileage available online for those respective years.
I'll be staggered if they are even remotely similar. The car was on 124k miles 3 years ago, it's had 3 years' worth of mileage (clumsily) shaved off it by the looks of things.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff