contacting the previous car owner

deepriver · 21-01-2013 10:36am #1

I'm buying a 09 fiat from a SIMI garage, the car is one owner and low mileage, but when I asked for the log service history.. they told me it was all on their computer (car was originally sold by the garage new and serviced).

I want to verify its a 1 owner car and the mileage, and the log book doesn't hold this info, the dealer said he would give me the SIMI report. I might run a cartell as well...

Any idea how I can get the previous owners name.. the dealer doesn't want to give it to me for client confidentiality etc.

This might be covered in a sticky but they are over 1000 posts long...

Thanks

Sam Kade · 21-01-2013 10:39am

It's the fiat part that would bother me.

djimi · 21-01-2013 10:40am

If the service information is all on their computer then why wont they just show it to you. If they are acting suspiciously about it then walk away; no need to deal with someone that you are not 100% happy with.

MidlandsM · 21-01-2013 10:43am

under data protection, they can't give you details in fairness.

also, the SIMI garage thing means nothing...........totally useless to you.

MuppetCheck · 21-01-2013 10:49am

deepriver wrote: »

I'm buying a 09 fiat from a SIMI garage, the car is one owner and low mileage, but when I asked for the log service history.. they told me it was all on their computer (car was originally sold by the garage new and serviced).

I want to verify its a 1 owner car and the mileage, and the log book doesn't hold this info, the dealer said he would give me the SIMI report. I might run a cartell as well...

Any idea how I can get the previous owners name.. the dealer doesn't want to give it to me for client confidentiality etc.

This might be covered in a sticky but they are over 1000 posts long...

Thanks

The VLC holds this information. I think it's section J7. Ask to see just that section.

deepriver · 21-01-2013 10:52am

Fiat 500.. are they as bad as the punto? I thought they ran ok if Wikipedia is anything to go by..

I wouldn't take anyone's word for it that why I'm gonna contact the previous owner, just not sure how to!

endacl · 21-01-2013 10:56am

deepriver wrote: »

Fiat 500.. are they as bad as the punto? I thought they ran ok if Wikipedia is anything to go by..

I wouldn't take anyone's word for it that why I'm gonna contact the previous owner, just not sure how to!

You certainly don't have to take my word for it and I couldn't advise you on the ex-Fiat owner in question, but based on the majority if ex-Fiat owners I do know, I'd be looking at something else.

deepriver · 21-01-2013 11:04am

MuppetCheck wrote: »

The VLC holds this information. I think it's section J7. Ask to see just that section.

Ok thanks I will look into that, for some reason I thought the new format vlc didn't have that.. thanks!

mullingar · 21-01-2013 11:28am

SIMI means absolutely NOTHING. Its just a lobby group run by car dealers for car dealers.

Have a look at the car to see if there is any Fiat dealer stickers on windows or reg plates etc to show where is was bought from, then contact that dealer to ask its service history. Im not sure if Fiat have a central database or not for car histories.

deepriver · 21-01-2013 11:33am

mullingar wrote: »

SIMI means absolutely NOTHING. Its just a lobby group run by car dealers for car dealers.

Have a look at the car to see if there is any Fiat dealer stickers on windows or reg plates etc to show where is was bought from, then contact that dealer to ask its service history. Im not sure if Fiat have a central database or not for car histories.

I agree..

They actually are a Fiat dealer.. just contacted them and they won't give me the last owners contact..

I'm not sure its on the VLC anymore..

The car does come with a warranty and Nct garuntee so some assurance I guess

_Kaiser_ · 21-01-2013 11:36am

deepriver wrote: »

I agree..

They actually are a Fiat dealer.. just contacted them and they won't give me the last owners contact..

I'm not sure its on the VLC anymore..

The car does come with a warranty and Nct garuntee so some assurance I guess

NCT guarantee (as in "it'll fly through the NCT") or it IS NCT'd? If the latter, how long ago? I'd still check it out to your own satisfaction though as the NCT cert means very little really.. just that the car was OK on the day it was presented.

Is it a full warranty or just engine/gearbox for 3/6 months? Also worth confirming.

mickdw · 21-01-2013 11:37am

The 500 is not a bad car.
The number of previous owners is on log book. If the garage have the log book, demand to see it to check owners. If it is the log book belonging to the last owner, their name will be on it.

monkeypants · 21-01-2013 11:43am

The dealer should be able to print you the service history. They can always redact the personal information for the previous owner.

bazz26 · 21-01-2013 2:39pm

Sam Kade wrote: »

It's the fiat part that would bother me.

endacl wrote: »

You certainly don't have to take my word for it and I couldn't advise you on the ex-Fiat owner in question, but based on the majority if ex-Fiat owners I do know, I'd be looking at something else.

There is nothing wrong with the 500, it is a great little car.

goz83 · 21-01-2013 3:34pm

bazz26 wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with the 500, it is a great little car.

Except that it has a Fiat badge

bazz26 · 21-01-2013 3:50pm

goz83 wrote: »

Except that it has a Fiat badge

If some people are foolish enough to judge a car by the badge it wears then maybe they shouldn't be offering advice here.

readytosnap · 21-01-2013 5:15pm

even if you do find out the original owners name and address, will they admit ownership?

biko · 21-01-2013 5:18pm

Did you check the service history? Often has mileage noted.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 21-01-2013 5:31pm

Ask to see the registration certificate. The previous owners name is on it if the garage haven't put the car into their name. Make a note of it and google, directory enquiries or Facebook the owner if you can find them. Failing that write to them and ask them to contact you