Change of ownership

silverwood

Looking for a bit of advice here guys. I bought a used car from a south Dublin dealer 2 weeks ago today. They are a reasonably large used car outfit with about 50+ cars for sale at any one time.

I live in Cork and travelled up to collect the car. The salesman told me that he does all of the change of ownerships online (I'd never heard of this before) so I didn't have to complete the part on the back of the VRC, just confirm my details with him. I got a receipt and a warranty and all the paperwork and happily went on my way.

The problem is that to date, the VRO still have not received a notification of change of ownership from the dealer. All messages to the salesman (both text and voicemail) have gone ignored. There is only a mobile number to contact this guy. In the meantime, I obviously cannot tax the car and don't really like driving it around and using onstreet parking whilst it's untaxed.

If I was in Dublin, then I'd simply call in to see what the story was but obviously, being in Cork, that's not possible so I can only call the guy.

Should I give him the benefit of the doubt until after the long weekend or am I making a fuss out of nothing. Any ideas or advice would be appreciated.

AltAccount

Is it a one-man operation?

silverwood

AltAccount wrote: »

Is it a one-man operation?

Think that there's two of them. Big enough operation though with cars ranging from €10k to €100k.

bazz26

I think you might need to make an unannounced visit to the dealer in question. Failing that then maybe a few parking fines will get the previous owner on his case also. Two people on his case and a number of parking fines might make him get the finger out.

I just hope you don't need to get these guys to actually fix anything under warranty. Sounds like they would be a nightmare to deal with.

silverwood

bazz26 wrote: »

Failing that then maybe a few parking fines will get the previous owner on his case also. Two people on his case and a number of parking fines might make him get the finger out

That's a good point actually, could get away with loads of stuff!!

pcardin

silverwood wrote: »

The salesman told me that he does all of the change of ownerships online.

Never heard that before and don't think it's possible. Most likely stealer doesn't have logbook at all. So to save your time do this:

pcardin wrote:

just went trough all this process when I bought a car from "respectable scumbag family" in Newcastle West that never bothered to send a logbook to Shannon.
Basically none of the previous mentioned forms will do. First you need to get in touch with Dept. of Transport which isn't simple task due to their automatized phone answering system, tell your problem and they will send you a form called STATUTORY DECLARATION. Then you need to fill all the required information and do 2 steps - a) you have to visit authorized dealer of whtever car brand your car is who will verify VIN number. b) get it signed and stamped by solicitor or piece commissioner or Commissioner for Oaths.
Dealer may or may not charge you. Frank Keane BMW which I used didn't charge me at all. Solicitor charged fixed fee of €10 but afaik Commissioner for Oaths isn't allowed to charge anything for this.
Then send it to Shannon. They will then send a letter to previous owner which have then 2 weeks to respond or not to. After two weeks of waiting time Shannon will issue logbook on your name.
I have a copy of the required form available to save your time of getting in touch with Shannon. PM me if you need it.

Mycroft H

Yep my Dad got caught by this except the other way around. He traded in a jeep into one of these dealers along the naas road and kept getting M50 fines through the post box. It was a major hassle to sort out. We had to go to a commissioner for oaths to swear that the vehicle was no longer in our possession.

silverwood

silverwood wrote: »

The salesman told me that he does all of the change of ownerships online.

pcardin wrote: »

Never heard that before and don't think it's possible.

It is definitely possible alright because i checked. It's called MotorTrans. Have a look here:

https://www.motortrans.ie/CVO/start.do;jsessionid=0aa0114730d50600f8650a5741389574ee835e8a6bc6.e38PaNaSbh0RaO0QaNv0?page=welcome

I have thought about the statutory declaration but think I'll hold off until middle of next week. At least it's an option alright though. BTW and for what it's worth, I did a Cartell report before purchase and it came up clear.

djimi

BX 19 wrote: »

Yep my Dad got caught by this except the other way around. He traded in a jeep into one of these dealers along the naas road and kept getting M50 fines through the post box. It was a major hassle to sort out. We had to go to a commissioner for oaths to swear that the vehicle was no longer in our possession.

And its for this reason that you, the seller, personally send off the change of ownership form to Shannon. Maybe not such an issue with a main dealer, but anyone who looks even remotely shady I wouldnt trust in the slightest.

AltAccount

silverwood wrote: »

Think that there's two of them. Big enough operation though with cars ranging from €10k to €100k.

Can you try and get through to the other guy, or otherwise give someone "hassle" - accounts person or whatever. There must be more than just single mobile contact number.

bazz26 wrote: »

I think you might need to make an unannounced visit to the dealer in question. Failing that then maybe a few parking fines will get the previous owner on his case also. Two people on his case and a number of parking fines might make him get the finger out.

Surely once everything is sorted out, all those fines would become your responsibility. Sounds like a potentially expensive way to get a result.

pcardin wrote: »

Never heard that before and don't think it's possible. Most likely stealer doesn't have logbook at all. So to save your time do this:

All they need is the VLC number to do it online, not even the original document.

djimi wrote: »

And its for this reason that you, the seller, personally send off the change of ownership form to Shannon. Maybe not such an issue with a main dealer, but anyone who looks even remotely shady I wouldnt trust in the slightest.

That doesn't work if you're selling to a dealer, it's a different set of paperwork.

pcardin

AltAccount wrote: »

All they need is the VLC number to do it online, not even the original document.

Interesting. Can only dealers use this? And what happens to the original logbook?

silverwood

pcardin wrote: »

Interesting. Can only dealers use this? And what happens to the original logbook?

AFAIK the dealer must pre-register with the site to avail of this service. I assume that the old logbook is simply binned and a new one is printed and posted to the new owner. In theory, this is what should have happened to me. :mad:

pcardin

silverwood wrote: »

AFAIK the dealer must pre-register with the site to avail of this service. I assume that the old logbook is simply binned and a new one is printed and posted to the new owner. In theory, this is what should have happened to me. :mad:

Well, then take a gun and come to Dublin again.

aujopimur

Afew spins on the M50 should speed it up.

inabina

worth checking the status of the vehicle with the motor tax office to see if they have been notified? you can key the reg in here to get status

https://www.motortax.ie/PSE/start.do;jsessionid=0aa0114730d84da4777cb01a45aaa99abae97e0a814a.e38PaNaSbh0RaO0Qb350?page=welcome

pcardin

inabina wrote: »

worth checking the status of the vehicle with the motor tax office to see if they have been notified? you can key the reg in here to get status

https://www.motortax.ie/PSE/start.do;jsessionid=0aa0114730d84da4777cb01a45aaa99abae97e0a814a.e38PaNaSbh0RaO0Qb350?page=welcome

for the last car I had status was available two days after new logbook was received in post.

silverwood

inabina wrote: »

worth checking the status of the vehicle with the motor tax office to see if they have been notified? you can key the reg in here to get status

https://www.motortax.ie/PSE/start.do;jsessionid=0aa0114730d84da4777cb01a45aaa99abae97e0a814a.e38PaNaSbh0RaO0Qb350?page=welcome

OP here. I have been checking on the above site alright but no joy. I emailed the Motor Tax office directly and in fairness they have been quite helpful. I'll follow it up again on Tuesday and let ye know what happens. Thanks for the comments.