General The Punto i just bought has "no registered keeper" - suspicious???

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General The Punto i just bought has "no registered keeper" - suspicious???

wildcatstrike

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Hello good people of the Punto world!! I'm a little worried about my lovely little Punto and wanted any advice from all you switched on people as i am completely new to the world of cars!

I bought a 2000 Punto 6 weeks ago (first ever car!) from a mechanic who said he'd taken it in as a part exchange (he also sells cars, casually) and I have not received the log book back from the DVLA yet (the seller has just told me, after me emailing him twice, that he sent it the day i bought it). So i called DVLA and they say they have no record of receiving it... BUT also that there is currently no registered keeper of this car.

I was given the green New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2W) by the seller when i bought it, and there is someone's name and address written in pencil on the form (i vaguely remember the seller mentioning this and I'm sure he told me that was the person who either previously owned it or who previously taxed it - i can't totally remember what he said as it was all a bit confusing to me as a newbie) however, the DVLA have no record of the person on my form having anything to do with this car.

I'm now thinking there's something dodgy going on with the person i bought it from and am a little pissed off about it as the whole process of buying a car is totally new for me and i was trusting him to make sure everything was filled in and done correctly (he said he's sold cars for over 6 years so i thought he'd know what he was doing).

Does anyone have any opinions on this? Apparantly all i need to do is send DVLA a V62 along with the New Keeper Supplement part, but they told me not to alter it in any way so it's going to have this random person's name and address on it.

I have emailed the seller about this just now but i don't know if he'll reply.

Thanks for any help you can give! Sorry this is looooooong but i didn't know who else to ask!! :D
 
I wouldn't worry unduely just yet.

When you apply for the Log book, if there's no registered keeper you will get the log book, if they have any old details that don't tie up then they write to who they have on the system and say that you have applied for the log book and they have a period of time to write back and say if they still own it (stolen etc). However as they have no registered keeper on the system i very much doubt there is that to worry about.

Worth checking on the new log book when it arrives, there may be a note on the front page at the bottom about it being damaged repaired VIC check passed. This may indicate the reason why it has no keeper. It may have been damaged or stolen recovered and therefore in limbo until you apply for the log book.

Don't worry about this however as this age of car will not have been badly damaged as otherwise it would be impractical to repair. Usually just dented wing or door. If stolen recovered even better, as there is likely to have been even less damaged.

Hope that puts your mind at rest.

D.
 
Could have been written off and this is a different and stolen car with different plates on? You'd have to check the chassis number matches up with the reg plate. Although that will be on the log book so you'd need to check with DVLA if the chassis number is correct :p
 
I am sure the OP did an HPi check, so that will have shown up any identity problems and the OP will also be insured if something comes to light later.

Just do as the DVLA ask, and apply for a document, take a photocopy of the slip before sending. The 'trader' as that is what the mechanic has become, would not have his name on the doc anyway.

Cheers

D
 
thanks for the advice guys! really appreciate it.

i got a (very short) reply back from the seller answering my query about why the car had no registered keeper.

"Often when a car has been registered to trade with the yellow slip from the v5 it is classed as have no registered keeper."

that was all he said - even though i also asked who this random person on the new keepers document was and where he got the car from... he chose to ignore those queries which i thought was odd since if it was all above board there'd be no reason not to answer those simple questions.

hmmm.. i'm gonna send a V62 off and just see what happens, hopefully it'll work itself out :eek:
 
Where abouts did you buy it from because i had the same problem pretty much but the previous owner said they hadnt sold it so was basically saying it was stolen then i bought it from a trader and tried getting it back but i had all receipts and everything so i got to keep it. Pm me where abouts you bought it and see if its the same place seen as your in yorkshire too
 
You did HPi it?

Cheers

D

No i haven't, I'm not really sure how to do that to be honest - is there a free way of doing it by any chance?

I checked the VIN number on the metal plate under the bonnet and it matches the one under the carpet by the pedals so I was hoping that means the car is ok?

Thanks again for the replies and advice guys.
 
No i haven't, I'm not really sure how to do that to be honest - is there a free way of doing it by any chance?

Ah....No, there is not a free way of doing it, but its still cheaper than handing over money for a car you night not get to keep. They also insure you against anything going wrong if they have given the OK.

Get your card out and do it now, then at least you will know and can go and see the trader if there is an issue

http://www.hpicheck.com/

Cheers

D
 
Thanks for the advice.

I emailed the seller again asking why someone who the DVLA say has never owned the vehicle is on the New Keeper Supplement and he eventually answered me - does this sound normal??

"The person on your new keeper supplement is the guy that i took the punto in p/x from, he was a trader and he has filled in the form in order to tax the vehicle. This is not an uncommon practice within the motortrade, it prevents another owner being added to the v5 document. Who he is is irrelevent".

It seems to make sense but i don't understand why he wouldn't just tell me that in the first place. When i told the DVLA someone they didn't recognise as having anything to do with my car was on the new keeper supplement they said it sounded suspicious.

What a kerfuffle!! :eek:
 
Well, the seller's eventual explanation kind of makes sense, and the DVLA said there was no police interest in the vehicle when I gave them the details over the phone so I'm hoping I don't need to spend on a HPi check?

Would there be a significant advantage for me in having one done at this stage?
 
Follow the DVLA advice exactly. Give them all the info you can, but keep pushing them (by phone or by going in) if you feel they are taking too much time. I'm 99% sure you'll be ok, but keep hold of all DVLA correspondence and if you have problems at the end of it, send one (recorded, signed for and photocopied) letter to the seller asking for all of your money back, then go straight to trading standards.

Still think you'll be ok though!
 
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You can have a basic hpi check done on your mobile, It was about £3 and the send you a couple of txt messages back. Cant remember the number though.
 
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