Two's not company - Vehicle ringing

[Dave Black]

Girlfriend bought a lovely used SLK230K early this month 1 owner full history etc etc, she'd had her eye on the car for about 5 weeks, guess the only reason it hadn't sold was, people being skint at Xmas. Went for a test drive and bought it. Sent V5 off to muppets at DVLA. V5 returned in new owner name but showed 2 previous owners and not 1? last owner details showed up nowhere in history or at Merc? At this point got a call from London Vehicle crime unit, some wide boy had nicked a car of similar spec / colour and applied for log book from DVLA on same Reg No. 1 day before Girlfriend bought the real thing. The thief had simply searched the internet for a used dealer stock vehicle showing the Reg plate and hey presto ligit looking vehicle. Luckily we have the real thing and Police are sorting out V5 with DVLA so it tells the truth.. worrying that some unsuspecting punter could now be the proud owner of a stolen 1999 SLK because the police found the dodgy paperwork in a house raid, but not the car - so far!
Moral of story is, never post your reg plate. All i got was a bit of hassel, but it could have been so much worse..
Cheers
Dave

 

[jwarren]

Sounds like you were very lucky (if that makes sense) - think of the other hassles such as speeding tickets / Congestion Charge / other crime related stuff. Close call, but a valid lesson for all!

 

[Rory]

Jeepers - that made the hair on the back my neck stand up.

There was a story just like on our local TV a couple of wks ago where the same thing happened on a Mini - but the people featured got the dodgy one

The scary thing was they'd done a HPi check but of course it came back clear (as it would). HPi said tough luck - the info was valid for the reg number given.

 

[Shude]

The scary thing was they'd done a HPi check but of course it came back clear (as it would). HPi said tough luck - the info was valid for the reg number given.

This is easily confirmed with the chassis number. If the "ringers" have done a good job then the chassis number will also have been changed or obscured, if they're lazy then it probably won't.

 

[Rory]

This is easily confirmed with the chassis number. If the "ringers" have done a good job then the chassis number will also have been changed or obscured, if they're lazy then it probably won't.

I don't think they had changed the VIN plate and they did a good job of pointing that out (and pointing out that there's 2 of them) in the story.

I've never had an HPi done - but do they (and, and if not, shouldn't they) advise customers to cross-check with the VIN number?

 

[Flash]

This is easily confirmed with the chassis number. If the "ringers" have done a good job then the chassis number will also have been changed or obscured, if they're lazy then it probably won't.

It's easy to spot "tampered" vin/chassis details as these are now displayed in the dash visible from the windscreen and should be in perfect condition. But again, thieves can go up to any new (ish) MB parked on the street now and make a note of the chassis/vin details that are etched on to the dash/windscreen on near side.

When buying a used car the engine no. should always be checked against the V5 as well.

 

[Shude]

I don't think they had changed the VIN plate and they did a good job of pointing that out (and pointing out that there's 2 of them) in the story.

I've never had an HPi done - but do they (and, and if not, shouldn't they) advise customers to cross-check with the VIN number?

I've had two HPis done for the two MBs I have bought, both came back with the recorded VIN in the paperwork so you can check very quickly if it's genuine.

I already had the VIN for my current car before even looking at it because I rang the dealer for it but naturally you need to confirm this when you see the car for real.

If you buy an inspection from the AA or RAC (if they even still do them) with an HPi check included the inspector should examine the VIN plate and documentation to make sure it's all correct, this will be on the report and often only costs the same price as the HPi check on top of the report price.

 

[janner]

HPi check is essential for anything over a couple of grand. Always money well spent.

 

[Rory]

HPi check is essential for anything over a couple of grand. Always money well spent.

The point I recounted in my post was that the people mentioned DID have a HPi check done but still ended up with stolen car (and a shrug from HPi).
OK, they didn't check the VIN numbers, but not everyone is clued up to do that, and I'm surprised that HPi (apparently) don't get people to cross check them.

 

[janner]

HPi do check the VIN as well as the reg. It's up to the buyer to confirm the VIN matches the one on the car.
You should check the car thoroughly yourself first, then use HPi as a final check.

Edit.
Hpi is always worth doing but not all damaged cars make it onto the register. eg.C220

 

[glojo]

Sent V5 off to muppets at DVLA. V5 returned in new owner name but showed 2 previous owners and not 1?

Hi Dave,
A very nice post but why are the folks at the DVLA a bunch of muppets? What did they do wrong

Thanks for the post,
John

 

[Shude]

Hi Dave,
A very nice post but why are the folks at the DVLA a bunch of muppets? What did they do wrong

They accepted and processed a fraudulent change of keeper request presumably.

 

[Swiss Toni]

They accepted and processed a fraudulent change of keeper request presumably.

They contact the registered keeper and inform the Police when a form requesting a "lost" or duplicate V5 is requested.

The thing is, they aren't about to tell everyone what else they do to prevent car crime because it would assist the real muppets who nick the cars...

Better that we think the DVLA are muppets (and not know what they do to identify the crims) than to know everything they do.

Don't believe everything you read in the Daily Mail!

 

[Ian B Walker]

Hi Dave,
A very nice post but why are the folks at the DVLA a bunch of muppets? What did they do wrong

Thanks for the post,
John

John Muppets are small humorous characters that make you laugh. DVLA? are they not the same. They always make me laugh with their silly questions and answers