What constitutes 'Service History' with a Mercedes?

[ErrorInConnection]

I am on the lookout for a good used vehicle and often encounter sellers claiming full or partial Mercedes service history that only exists in the form of stamps in a service book. Clearly, that shouldn't be taken as solid evidence in light of what's been said here but the challenge with accessing the DSB service makes it hard to independently verify such claims even if they are genuine.

Yes, and lack of knowledge about DSB before buying a Merc made things more difficult once I bought the car

 

[ErrorInConnection]

Unfortunately invoices are usually destroyed when a car is part exchanged or sold to a dealer or trader, as it’s the easiest way of avoiding the risk of passing on personal information. Without the invoices, stamps are just stamps.

It did come with other receipts for brakes and tyres - but nothing to back up the photocopies of the 'stamps'

 

[ErrorInConnection]

Also, personally I would mind buying a car without service history, I'd buy on condition, and there are many tell tale signs to show if a car was well looked after (in which case it's unlikely that the previous owner didn't service it), but the key issue here is that this affects the car's value. No service history is no service history, and prospective future buyers will tell you that. So it has to be reflected in the buying price.

That's my concern - someone looking for one would go for a car with full/near full DSB over my non DSB car with no hard copy of service book

 

[markjay]

I was given a copy of the DSB from the garage I bought it from, and it only had the service they had just completed - no previous ones.
I then spoke with 2 Dealers who confirmed it was just that one recent service

As said, this is highly unusual. I would want to know why the first owner didn't use a garage that had access to the DSB. Perhaps it was a fleet car, or a rental car, and the company did all the services in house - no idea. And, if they did that, they practically gave up their warranty.

If the first letter of the registration plate is K, bu any chance? If so then it's likely (though not certain) that it was supplied to a business via MB Financial Services.

What about paid car searches - will they reveal the identity of the previous owners?

Which route will your car take?

Get an instant vehicle history check today and receive vital vehicle history information and advice from industry experts with RAC.

www.rac.co.uk

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , it looks as if the seller is in a catch 22 position.

I would not purchase a car without a full service history ( depending on the asking price ).

I would prefer to buy a car with a full Mercedes service plan than just a Mercedes service history.

 

[Smiley]

It did come with other receipts for brakes and tyres - but nothing to back up the photocopies of the 'stamps'

From what you have described it sounds like the seller has deliberately set out to mislead you. It may be that the service book that was photographed belonged to a different car. It is very strange that the car did not go to MB for it's first few services - and then it looks like the seller has known this, represented the car as having a main dealer history and hoped that a buyer (you) would not investigate. You are doing the right thing but with hindsight you should have carried out more due diligence BEFORE you bought the car.
Did you buy the car from a dealer with a reputation to retain or a small sole trader?
Personally I would be returning the car to the dealer and getting my money back.

 

[Smiley]

Hi , it looks as if the seller is in a catch 22 position.

I would not purchase a car without a full service history ( depending on the asking price ).

I would prefer to buy a car with a full Mercedes service plan than just a Mercedes service history.

It's the buyers problem now - he has bought the car.
It sounds like the seller is on the dodgy side of arthur daley

 

[ErrorInConnection]

If the first letter of the registration plate is K, bu any chance? If so then it's likely (though not certain) that it was supplied to a business via MB Financial Services.

No, its not K

 

[ErrorInConnection]

From what you have described it sounds like the seller has deliberately set out to mislead you. It may be that the service book that was photographed belonged to a different car. It is very strange that the car did not go to MB for it's first few services - and then it looks like the seller has known this, represented the car as having a main dealer history and hoped that a buyer (you) would not investigate. You are doing the right thing but with hindsight you should have carried out more due diligence BEFORE you bought the car.
Did you buy the car from a dealer with a reputation to retain or a small sole trader?
Personally I would be returning the car to the dealer and getting my money back.

I bought the car from a Mercedes Specialist.

I was told that 'they were waiting on the service book to arrive' - no mention of the DSB before I bought, so just assumed the physical book was the SH, and I would be sent it on. Which it wasn't, and they won't be trying to find it or send it on.

I have tried to return it but they completely refused

 

[markjay]

I bought the car from a Mercedes Specialist.

I was told that 'they were waiting on the service book to arrive' - no mention of the DSB before I bought, so just assumed the physical book was the SH, and I would be sent it on. Which it wasn't, and they won't be trying to find it or send it on.

I have tried to return it but they completely refused

The strength of your case for rejecting the car based on 'not as described' will depend on whether you can prove that the car was advertised as having full service history.

Do you have a screenshot of the sales ad? Copies of email with the seller where they describe the car having full service history? Etc.

Either way, you'll need to get some advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau, or from a solicitor.

See also:

Everything you need to know about your right to reject a #car - Motor Claim Guru

Article written by Georgia Petrie and car of HonestJohn https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/legal-motoring-advice/2017-08/everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-right-to-reject-a-car/? We get plenty of questions...

www.motorclaimguru.co.uk

 

[ErrorInConnection]

The strength of your case for rejecting the car based on 'not as described' will depend on whether you can prove that the car was advertised as having full service history.

Do you have a screenshot of the sales ad? Copies of email with the seller where they describe the car having full service history? Etc.

Either way, you'll need to get some advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau, or from a solicitor.

See also:

Everything you need to know about your right to reject a #car - Motor Claim Guru

Article written by Georgia Petrie and car of HonestJohn https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/legal-motoring-advice/2017-08/everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-right-to-reject-a-car/? We get plenty of questions...

www.motorclaimguru.co.uk

Unfortunately I tried that, but their lawyers refused it.

Also been to Citizens Advice and Trading Standards

 

[markjay]

Also been to Citizens Advice and Trading Standards

And what did they say?

 

[ToeKnee]

Which Mercedes specialist was it??

 

[ErrorInConnection]

And what did they say?

They told me to write a 'goods not as described' letter, and they would pass my concerns on to Trading Standards, but with no guarantee of response

 

[ErrorInConnection]

Which Mercedes specialist was it??

I am not allowed to say, for fear of them trying to sue me again

 

[Spider10]

Again?

 

[markjay]

They told me to write a 'goods not as described' letter, and they would pass my concerns on to Trading Standards, but with no guarantee of response

OK, but why can't you take legal action against them? What's the value of the car?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Again?

Again

 

[AMGeed]

This one is going to run and run

 

[ErrorInConnection]

OK, but why can't you take legal action against them? What's the value of the car?

They stopped talking to me and told me to speak with their 'lawyers', so I did via email. I tried Goods As Not Described, but they shot me down on a technicality. I also tried on another point but they stopped me in my tracks.

I checked with my home/car/work insurance, and don't have legal cover, so to pursue further alone would have put me very quickly more out of pocket than the loss in value from no service history

Again?

Yes. I put up reviews online outlining my experience, and the joy of finally receiving a brown envelope with what I thought may have finally been my V5 (after 6 weeks), turned out to be a County Court letter threatening to sue for a LOT of money, unless I took down the reviews.

If I name them, they will go after me AGAIN, and leave me even more out of pocket than just losing value from no Service History