can the police help?

[seanism]

I recently bought a Peugeot 206 Sport 1.4 2005 reg from a dealer. for £1550 with only 61k mileage, sound great? I thought not, should have done the checks before.

But he said he has no service history for the car, therefore it is cheap. Now after doing HPI and MOT history check online, there is a mileage discrepancy, it should be over 150k!!!

Because the MOT history says the mileage was all genuine up to the last one which is Sept 2011, suddenly dropped to 60k from 149k.

He said he doesn't know, is this fraud? Can I report him? More so, is this car even roadworthy? just don't know what I can do with this mess

thanks for the help in advance!

[Ross_K]

Yeah, you really should have done a hpi BEFORE handing over the money...

Cops don't want to know about this kind of stuff.

Offer the seller the opportunity to buy the car back. If there's no joy go to trading standards. I've heard of dealers being prosecuted under the Proceeds Of Crime Act.

[tiptronic]

May be a slim chance that a new engine was fitted some time in its life & for some reason the clock has been zero'd . Or maybe a new dash & clocks were fitted due to some serious malfunction. Check the engine number on the car , with that on the reg document--you may have to do a little detective work!!

[seanism]

Ok, thanks for the above advice so far, really appreciate it.

I am getting the impression reporting to the police is pointless? I guess no one can prove it was the dealer who fiddled with the clock or the seller who sold it to him...

or even indeed like the above poster said, a different dash. If I check the engine number, and to see it matches the doc, that is bad news I take it??/

[tiptronic]

I know its a pain , but are you happy with the car?? Does it run well?? is it economical ?? is it comfortable ?? do you like it ?? is it in nice condition???

If its high milage chances are a lot of gear has been replaced & has not done high miles . See if dealer you got it from will be willing to give a bit of an extra " Goodwill " discount!! Did you get a decent warranty ?? If so just bite the bullet & enjoy owning your 206!! Good Luck !

[bettyswollocks]

Sell it

[CAB]

Local Perry's now put a sticker on dash saying they can't guarantee the mileage on any used cars.

That's why I like the auctions I go to all mileage is guaranteed.

[jmkent]

If new clocks had been fitted, it would have naturally gone to the higher mileage - assuming it does have the digital readout.
Thought the 'new' digital readouts were supposed to prevent winding them back.

[clanless]

He is a dealer, he sold you a car purporting to have done 61k so yes it is fraud.

Will the police be that bothered - no - you bought the car cheap.

Will the courts rule in your favour - probably not - difficult to prove that the bloke clocked it and you did get it for next to bugger all. What loss have you suffered - not much - you got a 150k car for the price of a 150k car.

[307pugpete]

Your local trading standards office will be very very interested in this ! (well they would be in Rotherham)

This is a criminal offence by whoever has done it and not sold it as so. But even proving it as an aside it is the dealers responsibility to ensure that the car is as advertised.

You have proven it isnt and as it is over £600 sold as seen does not apply. Take it back (If this is what you want) and demand your money back nicely at first stating the above.