Car clocking and how to avoid it

Car clocking and how to avoid it
Clocking - What Is It?
It is the reduction of a vehicle's odometer reading to show a lower
mileage than that actually travelled. It is estimated that 'clocking' costs
consumers £100 million per year. Just compare the price of identical
models of cars of the same year, one with a mileage of 80,000 and the
other with 20,000. There will be an obvious price difference.
How can you be 100% sure a car isn't clocked? Put simply you can't.
Even some 'new' cars have been clocked!! However you can take steps
to reduce the odds of buying a clocked car.
The Car
What to Look For:
1.
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Excessively shiny steering wheel
Pedal rubbers worn
Seats showing signs of wear, especially drivers
Scuffing and wear on carpets and mats
Bear in mind 1 - 4 can be replaced at no great cost.
5.
Odometer digits not aligned
This sometimes occurs naturally and is also the sign of an amateur
clocker.
6.
Bodywork with serious stone chipping
Bodywork can often be blown over with a thin coat of paint to hide those
marks.
The Seller
Whether buying from a dealer or private seller don't be afraid to ask
questions. Ask:
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How long have you had the vehicle?
Is there a service history?
Is there an MOT?
Is there a DVLA Registration Document?
Did you buy from the Registered Keeper?
Are there any previous MOTs to substantiate the mileage?
Is the mileage correct?
Can I have that in writing?
The Documents
 Registration Documents - Make a note of the previous registered
keeper(s). Phone them before you buy the vehicle.
 Ask them to confirm the mileage of the vehicle when it was in their
ownership, and any other details they may know about the vehicle.
(E.g. has it been in an accident?)
Service History
 Examine it carefully - there are forgeries about.
 Make notes of the supplying dealer and any servicing dealers names
and numbers - phone them - they may not exist!! Is the handwriting
the same throughout?
 Have the staples holding the pages together been interfered with?
M.O.T
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Cars require an MOT if over three years old.
Has the car been very recently MOT'd?
Is it due in relation to the car's original date of registration?
Did the current seller have it MOT'd?
The Targets
Cars at risk are generally reliable makes which last and hide their age
well, particularly high mileage ex-company cars and lease scheme cars
where penalty clauses operate if cars are returned in poor condition.
If an odometer reading is incorrect an offence may have been
committed under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading
Regulations 2008 if the vehicle was sold or offered for sale by a trader.
If a private seller 'clocks' a motor vehicle then an offence may have
been committed under the Fraud Act 2006.
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Once you have bought your car you may well find you are stuck with it,
even if it turns out it has been clocked.
A breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations
2008 is not a breach of contract. If the trader is successfully prosecuted
the courts may award you compensation, being the difference in value
between the true and false mileages. It is very rare that the courts order
complete reinstitution.
Remember
If buying from a dealer look for a 'disclaimer' to the effect that the
mileage is incorrect and not to be relied upon. If there is one it shouldn't
be too hard to see, it should be bold, precise and compelling. This
should be displayed adjacent to the mileage reading.
If there isn't then the trader is saying that the mileage is correct.
To follow are a few examples of some disclaimers used:
 If the vehicle is displayed for sale whilst enquiries are being made:
"CHECKS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT TO VERIFY THE MILEAGE
RECORDED ON THIS ODOMEMETER AND IT MUST CURRENTLY
BE CONSIDERED INCORRECT"
 If the mileage reading cannot be verified, having carried out the
checks:
"WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO VERIFY THE MILEAGE RECORDED
ON THIS ODOMETER AND IT MUST BE CONSIDERED INCORRECT"
 Where a mileage reading is known to be incorrect, this should be
stated together with any other information known about the mileage.
For example, if the vehicle has gone round the clock then the notice
should reflect this, such as the following:
"THE MILEAGE RECORDED ON THIS ODOMETER IS INCORRECT.
THE ACTUAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED BY THIS VEHICLE IS
XXXXXXX MILES"
Or
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"THE MILEAGE RECORDED ON THIS VEHICLE IS INCORRECT.
THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELLED NOT LESS THAN XXXX MILES"
Where can I get further help?
This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is
intended only for guidance. Any legislation referred to, while still current,
may have been amended from the form in which it was originally
enacted. For further information, please contact Citizens Advice.
The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free, confidential and
impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or
call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.
If you are a business, contact us by any of the following methods:
Derbyshire Trading Standards Service
Chatsworth Hall
Chesterfield Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3FW
Telephone:
Call Derbyshire
01629 533190
Fax:
01629 536197
Website:
www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
We want everyone to be able to understand us. On request, we will
arrange:
 Language interpreters, including for sign language
 Translation of written materials into other languages
 Materials in large print, on tape or in Braille.
To ensure that you are looking at the most up-to-date version of this
leaflet, please visit our website at
http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/images/ca06_tcm44-8165.pdf
or telephone us on 01629 536166.
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