Dodgy dealings
Author
Discussion

markupton

Original Poster:

30 posts

228 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Does anyone know the best way to report a potentially fraudulent car dealer?

When I say potentially, I was lucky enough to be warned off using the dealer in question at the last minute otherwise it would have cost me a lot of money.

I just had a post removed due to the "name and shame" nature of it but would like to take action against a car dealer in order to prevent others from suffering in a way I almost did this morning.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Needless to say I won't be mentioning any names.

Deerfoot

5,073 posts

200 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Trading Standards?

STW2010

5,864 posts

178 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Can you give any further detail on your experience? Without names of course

phumy

5,798 posts

253 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
If he didnt defraud you and you were lucky enough to get out of a deal then he has done nothing wrong and you can do nothing against him legally, just thank your lucky stars he didnt get your money

Top lurking by the way....

markupton

Original Poster:

30 posts

228 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
I was about to purchase a LHD car from a UK dealer (works out much cheaper) and the dealer, being a long way away offered to deliver the car once a deposit had been paid, with the balance payable on delivery.

The company checked out fine at companies house and the website, although not the greatest in the world was fine with address, company number, contact details etc.

However, due to being a bit cautious I thought I would call a couple of businesses, car dealers in the local area for their opinion, just to be on the safe side before transferring any money.

I was warned by the locals not to deal with this company as;

1. Their premises do not exist and,
2. If I paid them a deposit not to expect to either receive the car or be able to contact them or get a refund.

I obviously did not send the money but the thing is, if this company is actually dodgy and not a victim of local rivalry how do I stop others from falling victim to such a thing?

Or, should I just walk away and leave them to it?

soad

34,039 posts

192 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
These are merely allegations at this point.
Check that premises do not actually exist? But I don't see much you can do.

A205GTI

750 posts

182 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
So the Company check out fine on Companies House, But you decide to ring the competition and they warn you away from him!?

What did you think they would say, "yes hes a great guy"

You say yourself they are just what local traders say.

Taking 3rd party gossip instead of facts!!!

tim2100

6,287 posts

273 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Is there premises on Google Maps?

markupton

Original Poster:

30 posts

228 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
The competition are not LHD car dealers and therefore not competition. They didn't say, "he is a thief why not buy from me instead" they all warned me against them in a friendly "you may be better off not dealing with them" way.

I don't believe that many people make up stories or slate their fellow local residents for no reason, especially if this happens more than once.

Do you really recommend that I should send the money anyway and wait and see what happens?

halo34

2,890 posts

215 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
I don' think anyones suggesting just send the money.

But it doesn't really ring true does it - companies house registered then somehow scamming loads of people - wouldn't there be more press about it?

That being said if in doubt walk away I would say.

Dab of oppo

543 posts

202 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Why do people post st like this.
If its more than a couple of hundered quid you are stupid for not seeing the car before putting a deposit down.
You know the answer as you had your suspicions in the first place hence pulling out of the deal and posting on here.
However reporting someone to trading standards for doing something that they didn't do, proberbly wont get you very far!

Edited by Dab of oppo on Friday 10th December 12:54

BeeRoad

684 posts

178 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
markupton said:
The company checked out fine at companies house
Did they?

The company you referred to in your earlier post "D****t Motors Ltd" does not exist according to companies house. Perhaps your first port of call should be to Companies House and tell them these people are advertising a LTD company that does not exist.

R360

4,448 posts

222 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Where is this dealer based? It might be local rivalry. Maybe ask a local PHer to check it out.

confused_buyer

6,865 posts

197 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
Pay the deposit on a credit card, that way you're protected should the car not show up.

At the moment all you've posted is pure speculation to be honest.