Ex-minicabs being sold as nearly new with no disclosure
Ex-minicabs being sold as nearly new with no disclosure
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codenamecueball

Original Poster:

734 posts

117 months

Sunday 14th August 2022
quotequote all
I've been looking at budget electric cars, and noticed a slew of Hyundai Ioniq's turn up at a large car supermarket. They all seem to be similar spec, mileage and number plate, suggesting they came off the same fleet. At first I didn't really care, probably not important as 1 year old, 10k mile cars have to come from somewhere. Except they all show as having current Transport for London minicab discs, and on one of them they forgot to take the PCO lease company branding off.

It's the same for all the MG MG5's they have for sale, and all the 71 plate Hyundai Ioniq's. They're being sold at top price with no history being disclosed. Ex-rental, I totally understand as nearly-new cars have to come from somewhere and most rental customers are fairly gentle to avoid penalties on return.

But given you can't trade in an ex-taxi/minicab to a dealer in the future without taking a huge financial hit, how can these be sold without the history being disclosed or having a huge discount applied? Do they expect people to just not bother checking? Is it even allowed?

CoolHands

23,130 posts

223 months

Sunday 14th August 2022
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If they are minicabs then probably been clocked to death.

Hugo Stiglitz

41,250 posts

239 months

Sunday 14th August 2022
quotequote all
codenamecueball said:
I've been looking at budget electric cars, and noticed a slew of Hyundai Ioniq's turn up at a large car supermarket. They all seem to be similar spec, mileage and number plate, suggesting they came off the same fleet. At first I didn't really care, probably not important as 1 year old, 10k mile cars have to come from somewhere. Except they all show as having current Transport for London minicab discs, and on one of them they forgot to take the PCO lease company branding off.

It's the same for all the MG MG5's they have for sale, and all the 71 plate Hyundai Ioniq's. They're being sold at top price with no history being disclosed. Ex-rental, I totally understand as nearly-new cars have to come from somewhere and most rental customers are fairly gentle to avoid penalties on return.

But given you can't trade in an ex-taxi/minicab to a dealer in the future without taking a huge financial hit, how can these be sold without the history being disclosed or having a huge discount applied? Do they expect people to just not bother checking? Is it even allowed?
I doubt that a 1 Yr old mini cab has done anywhere 10k. They are flogged to maximise income for the company/drivers.

nobrakes

3,782 posts

226 months

Sunday 14th August 2022
quotequote all
“most rental customers are fairly gentle to avoid penalties on return”

Surely the old adage that the fastest cars are hire cars still stands?

ZX10R NIN

30,424 posts

153 months

Sunday 14th August 2022
quotequote all
If you want to sure of not buying an ex taxi then just do a Vcheck & it'll tell you if the car you're looking at has been used as a private hire.

Dan W.

1,196 posts

106 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
How do you know the previous use is not being disclosed to customers who have enquired ?

A lot of these places have these messages

Our suppliers include, but are not limited to, ex fleet or company vehicles, personal contract hire returns, part exchanges, daily rental, Motability returns, driving school and direct purchases from members of the public. Due to the high volumes of vehicles we buy and the vast number of suppliers we deal with it is not possible to display the exact prior use of every vehicle we purchase, but if you do require more detailed information about any of our vehicles then please discuss this with a member of our team.

Edited by Dan W. on Monday 15th August 14:24

codenamecueball

Original Poster:

734 posts

117 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Dan W. said:
How do you know the previous use is not being disclosed to customers who have enquired ?

A lot of these places have these messages

Our suppliers include, but are not limited to, ex fleet or company vehicles, personal contract hire returns, part exchanges, daily rental, Motability returns, driving school and direct purchases from members of the public. Due to the high volumes of vehicles we buy and the vast number of suppliers we deal with it is not possible to display the exact prior use of every vehicle we purchase, but if you do require more detailed information about any of our vehicles then please discuss this with a member of our team.

Edited by Dan W. on Monday 15th August 14:24
I don't, but I can ring them and ask if you'd like? No such message on the website, but they do throw in a £199 admin fee and £499 fee if you arrange your own finance - none of which is disclosed anywhere on their website.

Dan W.

1,196 posts

106 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
codenamecueball said:
Dan W. said:
How do you know the previous use is not being disclosed to customers who have enquired ?

A lot of these places have these messages

Our suppliers include, but are not limited to, ex fleet or company vehicles, personal contract hire returns, part exchanges, daily rental, Motability returns, driving school and direct purchases from members of the public. Due to the high volumes of vehicles we buy and the vast number of suppliers we deal with it is not possible to display the exact prior use of every vehicle we purchase, but if you do require more detailed information about any of our vehicles then please discuss this with a member of our team.

Edited by Dan W. on Monday 15th August 14:24
I don't, but I can ring them and ask if you'd like? No such message on the website, but they do throw in a £199 admin fee and £499 fee if you arrange your own finance - none of which is disclosed anywhere on their website.
Id be interested, Could you post a link to their website please

codenamecueball

Original Poster:

734 posts

117 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Dan W. said:
Id be interested, Could you post a link to their website please
I can't as it falls foul of name and shame guidelines I'm afraid.

Fore Left

1,609 posts

210 months

Monday 15th August 2022
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codenamecueball said:
I can't as it falls foul of name and shame guidelines I'm afraid.
roflroflroflrofl

Woe betide this website wanting to help its users avoid buying an ex-taxi.

rolleyes

anonymous-user

82 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Is this in West London, not too far off the A40?

codenamecueball

Original Poster:

734 posts

117 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
MrBig said:
Is this in West London, not too far off the A40?
Nope, the kind of place that nobody would recognise a PCO disc.

SteBrown91

3,089 posts

157 months

Monday 15th August 2022
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codenamecueball said:
Nope, the kind of place that nobody would recognise a PCO disc.
Comeon, at least give us a clue. What does it rhyme with? What does its name sound like? biggrin

Hugo Stiglitz

41,250 posts

239 months

Monday 15th August 2022
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£499 extra if you sort your own finance?

Dude and you want to do business with a company like that.


Really?

Jamescrs

6,277 posts

93 months

Monday 15th August 2022
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There's plenty of people who won't check the history of these cars.

My father in law is convinced the car sales people he deals with are his mates and will believe anything they tell him. It's a vauxhall main dealer and he won't be told otherwise.

I think if my wife didn't have me to guide her she would be the same too.

codenamecueball

Original Poster:

734 posts

117 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
£499 extra if you sort your own finance?

Dude and you want to do business with a company like that.


Really?
No I don't - I phoned up to agree to buy and put a deposit down on a similar car they had which is when they explained the fees to me, so I walked away.

There's lots of similar Hyundai Ioniq electrics on AutoTrader - to make it easy I'll even do the search for you

And here's where you can check the VRM