dodgy car - need help

[Kent4891]

Afternoon All,

My dad decided to go go car shopping last year on his own and bought a vehicle (2012). He bought the vehicle in August and recently needed an MOT. The local MOT garage called shortly after dropping off the car advising they are unable to carry out the MOT as the vehicle has several VIN numbers!

So the VIN number on the log book is on the door (2012), the VIN number on the dash is to another vehicle (2008) and there is a VIN number under the boot carpet which has been ground out!

He's contacted the dodgy dealer to which they told him just speak to a main dealer and get a sticker for the VIN number on the dash, well that ridiculous! Tried contacting them again but they are not interested.
Spoke to police and they have been useless!
Spoke to DVLA they don't have any answers!

I assume our only option now is small claims court.

If anyone has experienced this before situation before I'd be more than grateful for any help or assistance.

[Jamescrs]

Sounds like a job for Citizens Advice Bureau/ Trading Standards.

The risk is that if the dealer is a back street dealer theywill just dissolve the company and reappear under another name shortly after.

[Shinyfings]

This may or may not work. Years ago my car was pinched and returned minus wheels. I knew where the wheels were but plod weren’t interested. A quick letter to the chief constable (this was Leeds) and I was able to buy the wheels back from the insurer after plod recovered them. Your risk might be that plod take the car. Your other option is money claim but this is more as a threat as the timescales are not great. However, a formal letter followed by actual small claims paperwork may prompt some action. Just be sure you have the correct details for the dodgy dealer and it’s also worth looking him up on companies house if he has any limited companies. A lot depends on where the dealer is on the dodgy scale as he sounds very dodgy.