Service History Advice Needed

[BB69]

Hello

I am new here! Hope I have posted in the right place

I am after some advice re my new (to me) & beautiful Fiesta. She is a 58 plate with 5000 miles registered October 2008.

Before buying the car from a main dealer last week I asked about full service history and was told all ok.

On the day I went to collect and sign paper work etc. I asked to see the service book etc. The salesman told me he would need to order one for me as it was lost, however they had the full service history on the computer. so it would be just be a case of restamping the book.

This sounded odd, but plausable and I asked to see print outs of the service history for my own piece of mind.

He said he would get them for me whilst I finished paper work and signed etc etc.

He came back and showed me a book which had the 1st service box blank and the second box had been stamped (Service done in Jan 2010) he said they just stamped it. He said that was all there was on the computer. I then asked whether this would affect my warranty (remaining manufaturer and additional 1 year I bought) he replied no.

I felt uneasy about this and since last week have been looking into things.

Ford customer care think its unlikely if I needed to claim they would honour this because the 1st service was late by 2 months. I have phone ford warranty and they are uncertain and advised me the incomplete service history would not affect the warranty I have just purchased (to start when the manufacturers ends) but to speak to the dealer re honouring the remaining warranty. I do not live near this dealership, but will use my local fords dealer.

I have since seen that the VIN number in the service book is different to my car. I have spoken to the dealer and expressed my concerns and asked for a letter stating they will honour repairs if the warranty will not pay, I have also mentioned that I will consider rejecting the car if this is not sorted out. I also mentioned that I will speak to the dealer principal if necessary.

Does anyone have any other advice please? I am very disappointed as I asked all the right questions, but still have been caught out. Fortunatley I have a columbo type personality and will leave no stone unturned if I think something is fishy :)

I absolutely love this car and really don't want to give her back! But want the warranty issue sorted.

Any help appreciated.

[benholden2008]

Sounds very dodgy to me, although this kind of thing happens alot. Usually the trick is to 'Send you the service book in the post', which you never recieve. unfortunatly i think you have to deal with trading standards and citizens advice, but if ford customer relations are willing to help then don't let it drop till its sorted.

Also you said its only done 5,000 miles? take it its a typing error?

[BB69]

Sounds very dodgy to me, although this kind of thing happens alot. Usually the trick is to 'Send you the service book in the post', which you never recieve. unfortunatly i think you have to deal with trading standards and citizens advice, but if ford customer relations are willing to help then don't let it drop till its sorted.

Also you said its only done 5,000 miles? take it its a typing error?

Hello

Thanks for the reply

I really didn't expect this kind of service from a main dealer. I'd have been better getting the car off eBay!

No I won't let it drop thanks - Customer service said I can call them again, but firstly I have left the ball in the dealers court.

I really love this car, exactly what I want and so far drives lovely (I know still early days)

No not a typo, car has done 5300 miles (ok a bit more than 5 lol) but the low mileage was another one of the selling points.

I traded in my car for this one. And really want to do my best to keep this car - but with all the papers in order.

I really hope this all works out

Any suggestions other than a letter from them?

Thanks

[benholden2008]

Main dealers are often no better then dodgy backstreet garages, full of dodgy sales men and cowboy mechanics, if they've got the money off you, trust me they

won't give a monkeys about your paperwork, speaking from my experience anyway, hopefully yours will be sorted without the need for ford customer relations or trading standards,

keep us posted on how it goes

[BB69]

Oh dear

Fingers crossed

[cyb]

I am after some advice re my new (to me) & beautiful Fiesta. She is a 58 plate with 5000 miles registered October 2008.

I asked to see the service book etc. The salesman told me he would need to order one for me as it was lost, however they had the full service history on the computer. so it would be just be a case of restamping the book.

I hear this so often I’m beginning to think on a future series of ‘Time Team’ instead of lost Roman coins they will be digging up service manuals. :)

Then to issue you one with the wrong vin number is just taking the pee.

Are there any details on the v5 of the previous owner? Could you give them a call and ask about the car, including ‘can you remember how many miles the car had done? - remember don’t tell them the mileage ask them.

I don’t suppose there’s any clues on the car as to which dealer originally sold it ( i.e. sticker in back window or name on number plate?) ? You could give them a call and see if they serviced it and at what mileage?

<_<

hth

Cyb

[pikestones]

I think you are dreaming if you think you can simply return the car,

As for the cars history ,well 5k miles over 18 months does seem a little on the low side.

Is the car an ex CI car??

The gap in the service history and "lost" service book would then make some sense.

Was the car sourced through Ford Direct?

If so it will have the Ford direct warranty ,so you dont need to worry about the late first service.

Dave

[BB69]

I hear this so often I’m beginning to think on a future series of ‘Time Team’ instead of lost Roman coins they will be digging up service manuals. :)

Then to issue you one with the wrong vin number is just taking the pee.

Are there any details on the v5 of the previous owner? Could you give them a call and ask about the car, including ‘can you remember how many miles the car had done? - remember don’t tell them the mileage ask them.

I don’t suppose there’s any clues on the car as to which dealer originally sold it ( i.e. sticker in back window or name on number plate?) ? You could give them a call and see if they serviced it and at what mileage?

<_<

hth

Cyb

Lol - Yes that sounds like a good idea.

Yes I completely agree, they must have thought they could pull the wool over!

I only have the retained portion of the V5 - I asked to see the document beforehand, but was fobbed off - my reasons for that was to double check only 1 previous owner. I have HPI details to confirm that though.

Good suggestion thanks

No clues just the standard DM logos

I have taken advice from trading standards and have written a letter to the dealer principal cc'd to the salesman and also the manager, and given a copy of the service book which I will send recorded delivery.

I will wait to hear from them.

[BB69]

I think you are dreaming if you think you can simply return the car,

As for the cars history ,well 5k miles over 18 months does seem a little on the low side.

Is the car an ex CI car??

The gap in the service history and "lost" service book would then make some sense.

Was the car sourced through Ford Direct?

If so it will have the Ford direct warranty ,so you dont need to worry about the late first service.

Dave

Hi thanks for reply

Lol I had read on other forums about rejecting cars under the sale of goods act, I think I just got carried away!! LOL I don't want to give back the car, as it meets every need hence the purchase, but I wasn't sure whether walking away would be the right thing. I also part exchanged my car, so apart from loving this car -I wouldn't have anything to drive!

Sorry what's a CI car?

No this was bought via a main dealer forecourt

[pikestones]

Hi thanks for reply

Lol I had read on other forums about rejecting cars under the sale of goods act, I think I just got carried away!! LOL I don't want to give back the car, as it meets every need hence the purchase, but I wasn't sure whether walking away would be the right thing. I also part exchanged my car, so apart from loving this car -I wouldn't have anything to drive!

Sorry what's a CI car?

No this was bought via a main dealer forecourt

A CI car is an ex hire car from Jersey/guernsey (Channel Islands)

Every year ford send thousands of cars to Jersey and Guernsey to be used as hire cars,as the CI are outside the EU the cars qualify for various tax reliefs when re imported to the UK.

As Jersey is only 15 miles by 12 miles and has a speed limit of 30mph,its pretty difficult for the cars to clock up the miles a hire car on the mainland would.

Thus when the cars are re imported (after about 1 year),thay are very low miles,some never even get used if they are at the back of the compound at Jersey airport.

The cars are then re registered from J xxxxxx plates to Uk plates and sold on in the uk,specialist dealers used to sell them on,but ford dealers now have acess to them,my local Polar ford had about 50 just before christmas.

The service book would often show "la motte" as the supplying dealer which would set alarm bells ringing to future buyers ,hence the tendancy to loose the service book.

The cars are returned to the mainland before the first service is due.

When you looked at the car,you must have asked the question as to why it had such low miles,what did they tell you?

Dave

[BB69]

A CI car is an ex hire car from Jersey/guernsey (Channel Islands)

Every year ford send thousands of cars to Jersey and Guernsey to be used as hire cars,as the CI are outside the EU the cars qualify for various tax reliefs when re imported to the UK.

As Jersey is only 15 miles by 12 miles and has a speed limit of 30mph,its pretty difficult for the cars to clock up the miles a hire car on the mainland would.

Thus when the cars are re imported (after about 1 year),thay are very low miles,some never even get used if they are at the back of the compound at Jersey airport.

The cars are then re registered from J xxxxxx plates to Uk plates and sold on in the uk,specialist dealers used to sell them on,but ford dealers now have acess to them,my local Polar ford had about 50 just before christmas.

The service book would often show "la motte" as the supplying dealer which would set alarm bells ringing to future buyers ,hence the tendancy to loose the service book.

The cars are returned to the mainland before the first service is due.

When you looked at the car,you must have asked the question as to why it had such low miles,what did they tell you?

Dave

Hello Dave

Thanks for the reply.

Hmmm not sure if CI to be honest, but now you have said that could quite well be.

I had looked into CI cars before, and alot tended to be 5 doors, mine is 3 - not sure whether that makes a difference?

To be honest I can't remember what they said about the low mileage, I may not have paid as much attention to that as I should have. I mean I did notice, but can't remember that part of discussions, as I was focused on asking questions re paper work etc.. fat lot of good that did me lol

I have sent a letter recorded delivery to the principal dealer, manager and sales exec.. I have outlined my concerns and given a copy of the service book.

I have asked for a response within 10 days.

[cyb]

Thinking on Daves point about it being a CI car – could it be an ex-mobility car?

These are cars that are adapted for disable drivers under a government scheme and are sometimes returned to be sold because they were unsuitable or unused/no longer required.

You can often tell ex-mobility cars as the have some strange small holes around the drivers side of the car where the steering/accelerator has been adapted, you might find for example screw head covers missing of the drivers door pull?

Or it could simply be someone who has returned the car because of a change in circumstances, i.e. redundancy, and they can no longer afford it.