A warning to all private buyers

[Blackbird]

Our daughter is a post-grad student at Canterbury University and we're lending her some money to buy a car. She saw a 1995 Toyota Corolla being sold privately and it looked good so I suggested that she get it AA checked. It came away with a clean bill of health when inspected today so she decided she would like it. Almost as an afterthought, I told her to check whether there was any money owing on it (see below from LTSA site). She rang back and said that there wasn't any money owing on it, but was staggered to find that the rego identified it as a Ford Laser . If you buy through a dealer, there are additional safeguards but I'm not entirely sure what the liability is in the latter case. As it's only just happened, we still have to get to the bottom of what's going on but it's a cautionary tale when buying a private vehicle - do your checks or get burned!

Geoff

Is there any money owed on the vehicle? You can search the Personal Property Securities Register online (www.ppsr.govt.nz) if you become a registered user. Searches cost $3 and can be done by the vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number, found on an aluminium plate on or near the engine block) or chassis number or registration plates.

[WildBoarMouse]

The VIR website is bloody brilliant... compiles everything in to one report. Worth it for the $25... even though the bike did come up clean.

example report

[DingDong]

so you didnt pay for it?

[WildBoarMouse]

so you didnt pay for it?

Who are you asking? The example I posted is the example link on the VIR website. The report I did came up 100% clean and even told me where my bike was manufactured. Random bit of info, but interesting non-the-less

[DingDong]

Who are you asking?

sorry dude, I ment the car...

[Zed]

She rang back and said that there wasn't any money owing on it, but was staggered to find that the rego identified it as a Ford Laser .

I'm glad she/you didn't get ripped off there Geoff! It certainly pays to have all the checks done these days, it's just too risky otherwise. I hope you can report the loser to the powers that be!

Thanks for the warning reminder and PPSR link.

[Blackbird]

Hi Matthew

No money changed hands and daughter is following up with the authorities tomorrow. Might be able to post more info tomorrow.

Geoff

[gav]

Huh? what did the rego sticker on the window show it as? Thought the AA might have picked it up? I work in a car yard in Chch, what sort of money you looking at spending?

[Biff]

Thanks for the advice Geoff, and I'm glad your daughter didn't go through with the trade.

As an aside - I do find it rather unsettling to know that anyone can note my registration number then find out who I am and my address. Am I paranoid or have I been fortunate enough to be cosseted by the data protection act in the good ole UK for too long?

[FROSTY:Me]

biff dont be too concerned --as of 2 years ago -or so anyone seeking rego details of a vehicle has to give clear personal Id --so ya do have some protection.

[placidfemme]

Buying second hand cars privatley is VERY dodgy... a work mate of mine went to some car sale flea market type thing and decided on a car... took it to the mechanics (Home tune or something) on site that offer to do checks before you buy... they OK'd the car and told them there was no financing on the car... a week later they brought the car... went to pick it up and on the way home... the car died... turned out it had been in an accident and was totally messed up... the guy selling the car said they broke it... took 2 months and 3 small claims court sessions to get thier money back...

[Blackbird]

Well, our daughter is nothing if not tenacious! She rang the vendor last night to ask what the hell he was up to and it transpired that the AA had transposed one of the licence plate digits on the inspection report which is what she used when making the check. That was a bit embarassing but when she re-checked using the proper plate, there was still a small amount of money owing on the vehicle. This is being addressed today.

Soooo.... not as bad as first thought but it's still proof that the system works well and it's one that I'll definitely use in future.

Gav - many thanks for the offer. If this goes pear-shaped, I'll be in touch.

Geoff

[unhingedlizard]

oddly enough all the private vehicles i have brought have been sweet but the first dealer one turned out to be a lemon! I do still buy vehicles through dealers these days though as you do have some comeback.

An example might be my wifes nissan. Brought and then a year later failed a WOF for illegal spacers (was WOF'ed at VTNZ at 6mths and passed?!!?), we took it back to the dealer and he swapped the wheels later that day.

[marty]

i bought a $35000 car off 'respectable' people, and when i subsequently traded it in, found there had been a charge registered against it the day after i bought it! for $20000!!!! i wasn't very happy, and it took a few unannounced door knocks and various threats before it was re-financed. (this included me threatening to take a $50000 race car off his hands....with a transporter and a few mates waiting in his driveway) must say that pacific retail finance were bloody good about it. he'll never get finance thru them again.