Car dealer lost my car history

kapisko1PL

So end of October I bought a used hybrid - a Passat GTE. I've test driven it, checked everything and made sure the documents are all there such as the logbook, maintenance history, user manual etc, UK logbook etc.

When I was picking up the car few days later the lad who brought the car outside for me and made it ready said that everything is inside the car. I took his word for it and drive home until later to find out I've been given a VW history booklet for a completely different car.

Fast forward one month later I've exchanged dozens of emails, rang them at least 4 times and asked about the update, but all they say is that they're looking for it and that they've sent a query to their vendor (?) to see if they mismatched it. Whatever this means, I thought the documents are stored in the garage since when I bought the car the history booklet was there.

So here I am, with a car without a history. The main reason I bought the car is that it had a really good history. All maintenance tasks carried out on time, oil changes, filter changes etc. All documented. It was also advertised as a car with full history.

Where do I stand legally? I feel like they just lost it and are afraid to admit it. I feel cheated on. Car will definitely be worth less in the future without a proper history. I can't get a copy from VW because it's confidential.

Del2005

VW will have a record of all the work carried out on the car. A service book can be easily faked. Contact/call into a VW garage with the VLC and they will be able to verify if it has a service history.

Seth Brundle

kapisko1PL wrote: »

I can't get a copy from VW because it's confidential.

How is it confidential? Surely it just identifies the car, not the owner.

kravmaga

If its a UK import check with DVLA in Wales to see when the car was exported into Ireland.

You should have or the seller a V5 c doc, was there a UK MOT cert with the car originally?

Also check the Vehicle Identification Number , VIN and get onto VW HQ in UK or Ireland.

VIN is underneath the bonnet.

https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

Spook_ie

I thought VAG service history for cars serviced in a VAG dealership or approved center are all on line?

seagull

I don't suppose it's something as simple as they swapped booklets, and yours is in the car that you have the paperwork for.

kapisko1PL

I've rang VW Ireland today but their lines are closed, it seems. I've rang VW UK but they said I need to ring any dealer and they would be able to do it. Great! I rang the dealer in UK (some random one) and asked about retrieving the history. No problem as long as I have proof of ownership and ID. The problem is we're not in the UK.

I rang Joe Duffy in North Dublin as well as another dealer in Liffey Valley. They said that if the car wasn't serviced there they can't do that as the service history they would have is from the time the car was actually in that specific garage.

I've tried logging into MyVolskwagen UK but it doesn't seem to work. It's asking me for a UK address to retrieve the service history but I have no idea where the previous owner lived. I have no idea what to do.

kapisko1PL

seagull wrote: »

I don't suppose it's something as simple as they swapped booklets, and yours is in the car that you have the paperwork for.

So what are you trying to say? That they didn't have it in the first place?

colm_mcm

FWIW I got uk and Irish history from my local Skoda garage.

Had it anyway but they printed it out and all.

kapisko1PL

colm_mcm wrote: »

FWIW I got uk and Irish history from my local Skoda garage.

Had it anyway but they printed it out and all.

I might have to shop around different dealers from VAG. Maybe they'll be able to do it. Was your car VW?

colm_mcm

kapisko1PL wrote: »

I might have to shop around different dealers from VAG. Maybe they'll be able to do it. Was your car VW?

No, Skoda but they use the same system.

Did you buy the car from a vw dealer?

kapisko1PL

colm_mcm wrote: »

No, Skoda but they use the same system.

Did you buy the car from a vw dealer?

No it was an independent dealer. Had really good reviews too which is why I'm surprised.

kapisko1PL

kravmaga wrote: »

If its a UK import check with DVLA in Wales to see when the car was exported into Ireland.

You should have or the seller a V5 c doc, was there a UK MOT cert with the car originally?

Also check the Vehicle Identification Number , VIN and get onto VW HQ in UK or Ireland.

VIN is underneath the bonnet.

https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

All checks out. It's marked as export but the documents you're talking about, the dealer should have it as they took care of the VRT etc. Already got to VW UK who said it should be ok but need proof of address and ID at the local dealer which means I should be there in person.

colm_mcm

kapisko1PL wrote: »

No it was an independent dealer. Had really good reviews too which is why I'm surprised.

Did you do a history check?

kapisko1PL

colm_mcm wrote: »

Did you do a history check?

I did a history check on the car itself and it came back clean. I did it on Motorcheck.ie. It still has a valid MOT till September next year but was just out of tax in October this year just before it got exported I guess. So just before I bought it.

My biggest worry is that if I ever want to trade it in or sell it after its going to be worth that little but less because I can't prove what has been done on the car other than what I have done.

colm_mcm

kapisko1PL wrote: »

I did a history check on the car itself and it came back clean. I did it on Motorcheck.ie. It still has a valid MOT till September next year but was just out of tax in October this year just before it got exported I guess. So just before I bought it.

My biggest worry is that if I ever want to trade it in or sell it after its going to be worth that little but less because I can't prove what has been done on the car other than what I have done.

Don’t worry about that part, if it’s had main dealer servicing it’ll be on VWs system.

grayzer75

Could you not just use a UK address to register on the UK App and download the history?

grayzer75

grayzer75 wrote: »

Could you not just use a UK address to register on the UK App and download the history?

Forget about the My VW app - it's no longer supported, I've just checked min for the first time in months.

I am able to view service dates and actions on the website but there's no great detail e.g. Haldex Oil Change 20/07/2020 Isaac Agnew Belfast

Apparently they are in the middle of changing to a new system.

Claw Hammer

kapisko1PL wrote: »

I did a history check on the car itself and it came back clean. I did it on Motorcheck.ie. It still has a valid MOT till September next year but was just out of tax in October this year just before it got exported I guess. So just before I bought it.

My biggest worry is that if I ever want to trade it in or sell it after its going to be worth that little but less because I can't prove what has been done on the car other than what I have done.

Make a claim to the Small Claims Court on the basis of devaluation and goods not being as described. You will find that the garage will gets its gloves on promptly in that event.

kapisko1PL

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Make a claim to the Small Claims Court on the basis of devaluation and goods not being as described. You will find that the garage will gets its gloves on promptly in that event.

I was thinking about it but this would be quite hard to prove. How much has the car lost since it has no history Vs if it had. Perhaps negligence on my part too that I left and haven't checked the booklet when picking up the car. Might have to consult a solicitor or a lawyer.

Claw Hammer

kapisko1PL wrote: »

I was thinking about it but this would be quite hard to prove. How much has the car lost since it has no history Vs if it had. Perhaps negligence on my part too that I left and haven't checked the booklet when picking up the car. Might have to consult a solicitor or a lawyer.

Hard to prove? Was it described as having a full history?@ Were you given a full history? What has negligence got to do with it? It is breach of warranty. In any event, if the garage has to send someone to the Small Claims Court for a day, it will make it worth their while to sort you out.

kapisko1PL

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Hard to prove? Was it described as having a full history?@ Were you given a full history? What has negligence got to do with it? It is breach of warranty. In any event, if the garage has to send someone to the Small Claims Court for a day, it will make it worth their while to sort you out.

So as an update, I asked a solicitor to help me out. The dealer has admitted liability for the missing history and has agreed to refund the car value if needed be. I got my solicitor involved and it definitely speeded things up. I am going to keep the car and if the history is not received from the vendor by say March next year I'll be looking to get my major service covered by them.

seagull

seagull wrote: »

I don't suppose it's something as simple as they swapped booklets, and yours is in the car that you have the paperwork for.

I'd say this is the most likely thing.