Main dealer 'lost' my manual & service history - replacement?

Basically my car was returned after a service minus the manual which includes the service history. When I noticed and phoned them, they insisted I must have lost it because it isn't in their garage and if they had found it they would have contacted me. However I never have cause to remove the manual from the car and no-one else has access to it so I'm fairly sure it was misplaced during the service.

I don't use the dealer for servicing any more after they also 'lost' the manual and service history for a newer car I bought with them a couple of weeks ago. It miraculously disappeared between the test drive when I looked at it and when I collected the car,

I'm trying to sell the older car which is why I need the service history for it. In my experience they seem to have a habit of losing the manuals, but they are adamant they didn't. I'm stuck in the middle and need to offload the older car sooner rather than later.

Am I likely to get anywhere with them on this and if not, how do I go about buying a replacement manual? Thanks.

Mr Benevolent

Dodgy stuff, especially the service history disappearing between test driving the newer car and collecting it. Very dodgy, but I can't put my finger on why they'd take it. Which dealer was it, OP?

Edit: I'd get someone to go to the dealer and see if they have a similar car, ask for the service history (as an interested buyer) and just maybe you might find it...

Henry Ford III

To put a serrvice history on another car?

Sounds very suspect.

EPM

Has the car always been serviced there? They should replace the booklets, re-print the invoices and re-stamp the book...if they admit that htey lost it. Something doesn't quite ad up though

Mr Benevolent

Could they clone the car from the details in the service history I wonder?

KTRIC

Confab wrote: »

Could they clone the car from the details in the service history I wonder?

Not directly but it would certainly help.

EPM

Confab wrote: »

Could they clone the car from the details in the service history I wonder?

Well most service books have full car details on a little sticker, similar to ones found in the engine bay and boot floor. I would think it *could* be possible...

I checked out the service history on the newer car while I was test driving it and it was all legit - services carried out regularly and the book stamped etc. I am pretty sure it was that main dealer who had done all the servicing and whilst they didn't stamp the book to confirm the entire history, they did stamp it for the pre-collection service they did. I thought it was v. dodgy at the time too but figured a big VW main dealer would (fingers crossed) not be up to any shenanigans.

With the older car I didn't actually notice it was missing for a month or so as it's been off-road and garaged for the duration. I could get duplicate receipts I'm sure for the servicing I had carried out on the car, but it had a previous owner to me in another county so where the servicing was done at that point is anyone's guess. I'm also sure people would be wary of buying a car with no manual or service history which leaves me in a predicament.

I've been told I can buy a new manual and take it around the various garages who serviced the car while I owned it - but that's gonna cost me quite a bit. The garage are still saying it's nothing to do with them.

mickdw

Was the history booklet you looked at in the new car definitely for that car. Did you check the front to be sure. Maybe your new car has no history and they just stuck the book from something else into it. Either way, they are dodgy and you shouldnt have anything to do with them!