QuestionQUESTION: my question is almost IDENTICAL to the one someone {Carlos?} asked Ray awhile back:
I purchased a car about 6 months ago (2006 ford mustang , at the time the car was 16 months old and had 22,306 miles). It was priced about $900 less than similar models on the lot and was told because it was in a fender bender but nothing major. They printed a carfax showing one accident with the previous owner but nothing big. I had a new exhaust system and bumper put in and the body shop said the whole passenger side looked like it had been worked on and that at least the hood,front bumper and both fenders were replaced. Also everything under the engine bay looks BRAND NEW and there are several stickers from both doors that are missing. I was a bit suspicious so I went to a several dealers to get a trade-in apraisal. THEY ALL came back with an autocheck stating clear as day that prior to my purchasing the car, it was sold to the dealer at auction AND announced as a frame damaged vehicle AND that it was only worth about a third of what I payed for it (3 different dealers, same story) . The dealers were offering me from $4-5k for the car,while it was sold to me for $14k. One dealer recommended I go back to the original dealer, which I did. I explained everything to the owner and he gave the car a 5 second walk-around and quickly offered $10k! I didn't accept and left.
Do I have any rights?? Anything I can do??
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The difference was I registered for buyback with AutoCheck and am told by them over the phone {nothing in writing or even by email} its the dealers responsibility that the initial report was not accurate. *shrugs*
always full of fun times like this in Florida!
ZIP 33771, by the way
ANSWER: When it comes to history reports the two main players are AutoCheck VS Carfax, and my vote goes to AutoCheck, if you care to know why you will find a full explanation on my website http://www.usedcartips.org/ I cannot give you a proper answer as to the response you got from AuotCheck as I don't know the full details, but I trust their decision.
As for you having any rights navigate to this link http://www.usedcartips.org/dispute.html
Now lets be honest and face some facts, buying any vehicle is a process of steps that many consumers don't follow, in your case, step one, why did you not take vehicle for an independent inspection prior to purchase ?
It tick me off the salesman got away with telling you, a fender bender, nothing major, knowing quite well about the frame damage, you will have rights if you can prove misrepresentation, but only legal counsel will know,enter your complaint in the link I provided.
007
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QUESTION: hello Ray
regarding your question on independent inspection, the thing is, when I had the car inspected at Carmax to see how much they would offer, they went through it for about an hour and a half... the appraiser said he never would have found the damage had the new report he pulled not said 'frame damage'.... that is when he started taking all the interior panels in the backseat and trunk apart
Answer I find your post very interesting and will add some content to the website about independent inspections
1, Where a vehicle has got a report of accident or any issues, no matter how small, get an inspection by a qualified body shop " a perfect example is the appraiser in your case could not find the damage and would have passed vehicle as clean except for the report in hand, this tells me a mechanic most likely would also have passed having expertise with mechanical issues only.
2, Your last entry made me think back and come to realize it did happen to me a few times over the years appraising vehicles with reported damage that I could not detect, but the body shop in each instance was quick to pinpoint the area.
Thanks for the question
Ray
