Member Since: 04 Oct 2010
Location: Beautiful Yorkshire
Posts: 613
So, I bought a cloned discovery 3 and have lost everything.
I thought long and hard about making this post as the pain, as you can imagine, is still a little raw and couldn't really face the inevitable 'told you so' posts.
Despite a full HPI check, a V5 certificate [with watermarks], MOT certificate and paying in the guys living room the car I bought was cloned.
As soon as it hit me [I had arranged to sell my existing car to a friend and noticed very subtle differences in the V5 text, along with the same on the MoT certificate] I phoned the police immediately and, following my own detective work, located the actual car of which mine is being cloned.
It's currently for sale in South Yorks and somewhat incredibly, was sold by someone three miles from me in the next village.
I know people are going to say I should have known better at the price I paid but I expected to have some problems with it for which I had a budget ready.
The HPI doesn't cover me for cloned vehicles so I've no hope of recovering my money.
We took it to a Land Rover dealer on Tuesday morning and they couldn't immediately ascertain it was cloned from the three VIN positions [bonnet, wheel arch and windscreen] so this is an experienced organisation.
I'm now left in a situation where I'll be back in a position to buy a D3 in a couple of years but wanted to post this, my last post, as a warning to others.
Our savings have now been wiped out.
There isn't really a chance of doing a deal with the insurance company as I suspect this car has only just been stolen.
I would bet the same amount again that someone within the car dealer in South Yorks [for obvious reasons I can't name them] are selling the V5 details of the original car and then this organisation are going to steal a car to match the details.
Funnily enough, the sat nav on the way home was pointing me to an address in Doncaster, before I reset it to my home [as I believed the car was mine].
The only good news is that someone will shortly be getting their pride and joy back.
I would imagine people may take some pleasure in telling me I was a fool at the price I paid but trust me, the damage this has caused to my young family is not something I would wish on anyone.
I spent the first night after I realised with a bucket by my bed as the feeling of going to be sick at any second was immense.
People I know tell me I should have sold it, done this done that etc. but I would never do to someone what I've just suffered.
Anyway, the welcome I recieved when I joined was appreciated, take care all.
Best regards,
Last edited by Will Hay on 14th Oct 2010 2:13 pm. Edited 5 times in total
14th Oct 2010 1:37 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6266
sad news to hear feeling for you
14th Oct 2010 1:40 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Nightmare, absolute nightmare - sorry to hear that
14th Oct 2010 1:48 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
I don't think anybody will say "I told you so".....you did everything right, a HPI and had the documents. I wouldn't be able to spot fake ones as normally they are good.
I feel for you, and your families financial strain. Good luck with the authorities, and maybe there still could be a remedy for you.
Jason
14th Oct 2010 1:49 pm
ZacSmith
Member Since: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Dover
Posts: 709
I am sorry
14th Oct 2010 1:51 pm
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
Firstly, I'm very sorry for you.....and also glad that you could get yourself together enough to post on here about it...
What have the police said?
You mentioned that you went to the sellers house and paid him in his living room? Apart from being able to pick him up pretty quickly, I can't imagine why someone would knowingly sell a cloned car would meet the seller at their own house.2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
What a truly horrendous situation to be in.As you slide down the banister of life
may no splinters point your way
Disco XXV
RRS2 Autobiography Dynamic MY16
Discovery Sport HSE Lux MY17
Evoque HSE Dynamic MY16 (Gone)
RRS2 Autobiography Dynamic MY14 (Lovely car but preferred the Disco!)
Disco 3 Tdv6 HSE MY05 (owned for 11 years and now gone)
Range Rover Sport HSE MY11 (Gone)
Freelander2 SE (Gone but the most reliable car we've ever owned)
Disco 2 V8 (Gone)
14th Oct 2010 2:03 pm
chalky
Member Since: 22 Aug 2008
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 3145
I am very sorry to hear about your bad experience !
Feel free to get it off you're chest by all means, I know for certain I would not be as calm as you in such an event !
Are you saying that the vehicle was stolen from Doncaster ?
Or the people garage etc were fron there ?
Worried as I live in Doncaster !
How much was the purchase ? I see u put that you thought it was too cheap, all of this is irrelevant now though as the veh is gone. A friend had this happen about 4 years ago with a Nissan nirvara.
He didn't find out about it till the police came and knocked on his door. !
Best wishes with getting this sorted and I hope for an outcome that you are happy with !
14th Oct 2010 2:04 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
Not good fella.Welcome "Lola"
14th Oct 2010 2:06 pm
Will Hay
Member Since: 04 Oct 2010
Location: Beautiful Yorkshire
Posts: 613
chalky wrote:
I am very sorry to hear about your bad experience !
Feel free to get it off you're chest by all means, I know for certain I would not be as calm as you in such an event !
Are you saying that the vehicle was stolen from Doncaster ?
Or the people garage etc were fron there ?
Worried as I live in Doncaster !
The proper car was part exchanged to a Ford dealer in Leeds against a Ford Fiesta.
I spoke to the previous owner and my wife went over to see him [next village] to confirm what we already knew, the car I have is not the one he sold.
The Ford dealer subsequently sold it to a car lot in Doncaster, who still have it for sale.
I suspect someone there passed on the original cars details to a gang, they went out and stole a similar looking D3 and cloned it, and sold it to me.
I suspect, based on the original home destination of the sat nav, 'my' car was stolen from the Doncaster area.
I bought it in Warwickshire although the auto trader advert reported it was ten miles away from the destination I was in when I veiwed the car online.
I was in Barnsley, ten miles away would suggest Doncaster.
When I told him it was ten miles away he said no, it was nearer Coventry.
I wrongly assumed he had simply put the wrong postcode in when creating the advert.
As for the sellers own home, there's not a chance that's where he lives.
I suspect it's a couple of crackheads who were given £500.00 to make themselves sparse for an evening.
Last edited by Will Hay on 14th Oct 2010 2:15 pm. Edited 2 times in total
14th Oct 2010 2:12 pm
crwoody
Member Since: 09 Mar 2009
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 2109
That's so sad, I really feel for you. 12½ grand is no small sum to just walk away from.Clive
14th Oct 2010 2:13 pm
Budweiser
Member Since: 04 Jan 2009
Location: Essex
Posts: 193
Could happen to anyone. Thank you for posting, that couldn't have been easy.
Really sorry to hear that.The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
14th Oct 2010 2:24 pm
Blobby
Member Since: 28 Feb 2009
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 277
What a complete and utter nightmare. I feel so sorry for you Will Hay. I really wish you and your family all the very best.
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