Snazy

Just wondered what other peoples opinions were.
See its a bit of a story and a sensitive one really, but a friend of someone "known to me" was selling her car recently and it was posted on a forum. After running an HPI on the car it was noted it was a Cat C, but this did NOT appear in the Ebay auction.

On posting this info the response was that the seller was aware the car was a Cat C, and was going to wait until people got to the offering stage, before telling them. These were people considered to have "serious" interest. That in itself if a time waste, a money waster if they HPI and wrong in my eyes. However it was made clear this info would be disclosed.

On a couple of people contacting the seller, making ballpark offers, and asking was there anything to know, the Cat C was STILL not disclosed.

On asking about the Cat C status, the seller then said she had NO idea it was a Cat C and could she have any more info on that. So the HPI report was supplied.
A day later the item was removed by Ebay.....

Thats a few weeks ago.... Today........... ITS BACK!
STILL no mention of a Cat C.

So, after all that, is it right, wrong, or dont matter if the seller knows but fails to disclose the status of the car they are selling?

PS I know ultimately the responsibility for running HPI checks etc lays with the buyer, but isnt it wrong to let people run checks when you could tell them?

jods

Caveat Emptor.

bugeyeandy

The seller is obviously not mentioning the cat C status in the hope the buyer won't check and will pay over the odds.
It is up to the buyer to ask or to do a HPI check but it's still a shoddy way to shift a car.

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

imho if its a CAT C it should be stated on the advert. have you a link michael?

Snazy

Short and sweet summary, why didnt I think of that lol

Maybe Caveat venditor should also apply in this case

Snazy

Andy, spot on, thats the general perception of it all. The whole fact its NOT even stated as known cat c when openly asked is just bad taste!

Shaggy, you have PM mate

Dont really want the thread turning into a witch hunt, just wondered if I and a few others were being a little over emotional about it lol.

fatherpierre

I'd be pissed off if it wasn't listed and then found out.

I'd walk, and deem the seller untrustworthy.

cossie-nutter

iTrader: (45)

Yes it is wrong! It will also be on the log book under section 3 so any good buyer will see it anyways. unless its a old logbook

jods

Caveat Venditor could apply, unless the seller says "Sold as Seen" or some such comment in the advert.

Either way - I wouldn't take the risk as a buyer, I'd run an HPI check and would also get the car checked out by a qualified mechanic before purchase.

You got a link to the Flea-Bay auction?

Snazy

FP, I think thats the main thing that people were worried about, the sheer fact that when you see the comments on the log book as CN says, it will be there in black and blue lol
The fact that the car was only bought less than 6 months ago, and the accident happened long before that, means the car was a repaired Cat C on purchase (as her friend originally said was the case) which also means its on her copy of the log book now, and even less believable that she does not know.

I would run an HPI too, when spending that much money, but personally I would be pretty annoyed that the seller could not even have told me it was a repaired C BEFORE spending my money on a check.

Chris.B

iTrader: (4)

The bottom line is the buyer will find out in due course. For her sake I hope she doesn't sell it to some lunatic who might take it very personal.

Disgusting IMO.

fatherpierre

If they don't disclose it, then it just makes them out to be almost a liar, and dodgy.

Snazy

Only almost ? lol
Oooh how did yours go the other day ?

Chris, yeah in theory the buyer will indeed find out, but will be a sad state of affairs if they pay a deposit etc.
At the end of the day its misrepresented, and she is lying on the replies to messages when being openly asked if there is anything to know about.

The exchange of messages was something like this..

Look at the bottom of your log book!

fatherpierre

Well not disclosing it isn't a lie - but just as bad.

Picking my Cat D up tomorrow! That was fully disclosed to me, so that's fine and what I'd expect from any seller. Plus, it means it's way cheaper!

Ta for the help with that

PaulC72

I think unless it is asked in a way like has it been in a crash etc then it is up to the purchaser to check. Obviously when they do they will walk away as they won't trust the seller, so if he disclosed it first then he would only get serious buyers who want the car as a cat c.

Snazy

Aaah true enough Better with your choice of words than me lol.

Good stuff mate, glad to hear it worked out, and my pleasure sir

True enough Paul, would certainly sort out the serious buyers, and save the seller some time too.
Either way, even her reply to the whole question where its pointed out its a Cat C, and she still plays dumb to it !
Just dont see the need for it.

jods

Cat A. A vehicle which should have been totally crushed, including all its spare parts.

Cat B. A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should have been crushed and the car should never return to the road.

Cat C. An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.

Cat D. A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.

Cat F. A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair.

Theft. These vehicles have not been recovered and ownership rests with the insurer who made the total loss payment. They are able to repossess the car as soon as it is identified, even if it has been bought innocently.

richie001

iTrader: (3)

Sorry to hijack this thread but,does it show on a cars log book if it Cat C/D and if it does where will it be.

gazza-uk

can you post a link?

apples24

iTrader: (1)

only cat c as it shows he fact its had a vic chick on the logbook, botton of the front page.
cat d's have nothing on the v5


a private seller does not have to disclose the fact.
caveat emptor

but they can be had on missrepresentation, ie if adverised hpi clear blah blah blah

toigye

long and short of it is if seller as not declared it he must have some thing to hide or is after alot more than car is worth .....buyer should always do a hpi check to find out any history of a car it costs from as little as 4.00 pound these days online.... imho seller is not tustworthy and buyer is not very bright....




just to add i have had a cat c before and it was not on the logbook .

but i checked the car out first all over and contacted previous owners and asked about crash and repairs.... cat c is not the end of the world.......

Snazy

Totally agree, Cat C is far from terrible, but its only fair to advertise it as one, especially if your asking top dollar for the car.

Richie, its on the bottom of the front page of the V5, Section 3
Says on mine "substantially repaired and/or accident damaged, identity checked on X date."

LUCKO

iTrader: (3)

there is a service by text message you can use

i did it on mine and it contained no mention that finance was outstanding which i thought was a key factor in why i paid for the hpi check

avoid these text services imho

Snazy

Fair play mate, I have always been dubious about what exactly those services showed, and surely finance is quite an important point.
Will give them a swerve in future for sure. Glad I have access to HPI as a whole.

Snazy

Oops !! Appears its been sold.
Aaah well, good luck to them I say.

LUCKO

iTrader: (3)

it had a 'logbook loan' on it
i called them and settled the £512 outstanding and took the value off the sale price

good job i paid for a hpi