Potential Coupe buyers BEWARE!!

I have been asked to post the following message of caution for all potential Coupe owners:


We recently had a call from a new Coupe owner enquiring about a service record on the car and proof of recent cambelt replacement. We at Allitalia only had one record on our customer database for an exhaust manifold change a few years back on the vehicle but the owner insisted that we had stamped his service book for 2 services, one which included a timing belt change. Upon receipt of a copy of the service book it was obvious that it had been stamped and signed by someone with our details, neither the stamp or the signature resembled our own Allitalia stamp or signature of any of our employees. Someone has blatantly misled the new owner in the process.

We are concerned for any new or pending Coupe owners out there looking at the cars that this may not be an isolated case and would warn people to be cautious even if the car has a full history and especially with regards to cam belt changes.

Our advice would be to ask for proof to back up the stamps in the book in the form of receipts and/or call the company named on the service book to confirm that the work has been carried out, I am sure that the majority of specialists will have a record and/or will know the car personally to allow piece of mind for the owner. We at Allitalia keep full records of all customers cars on a new database back to Jan 2003 and are happy to check the history on a car if requested.


Hopefully, any work carried out on your Coupe will have been genuine, but please bear the above in mind when looking to buy a Coupe.

Theresa

That's a pretty mean trick Theresa, not uncommon, but nasty all the same

Yes, it's the first time we've come across this, but still worrying all the same.

Worrying for the company that has 'supposedly' done work to the car and worrying for the new owner

Possible sticky?

I personally would never have thought someone would do this.

Could you take them to court? As this is false information to mislead you to buying something that you would have never bought without it?

Ross

If the new owner of the Coupe finds out who forged the stamp and signatures in the book, etc, then he could possibly take them to court, yes.

I would imagine it would be a long and complicated process though, of trying to prove things and actually finding out who did it, etc.

Allitalia would happily back the new owner if it came to that though.

Good post T,well done to you and your garage,

Scary thing is people do this all the time. I had one guy offer me £200 for a Fiat stamp in 1998.. at 19years old I had to think twice...

its a shame but they are easy to come by really, and/or have made.

like most things these days.

so you took the money?

This sort of thing has been happening for decades.

The old trick was if a car came into a garage with lots of history noting problems these were simply ripped out and any missed service history stamps were then stamped and just signed. Long long time ago mind but that did happen.

Hence why buing purely on service history is a bit of a non issue, instead you always buy on condition.

i agree ican get any ford service books stamped by a main dealer for the price of a pint! this is why allowing yourself the time to examine everything document wise before even looking at the car is a good move being sure to check dates

another good thing to check is the location of the service stamps agent versus any other receipts at the time.

I think that this is the point I always look for the proper documents of any repairs etc.. There should be lots even down to wiper blades from a good owner.

I saw a Mazda 626 book once which every stamp and sig looked identical! Looked like the whole lot was stamped at the same time.

I also check to see if the colour of the stamps and shape changes!

where would you stand legally if that happened to you? out of interest? im guessing it would be different in a private or non private sale?

Also, check that the stamp has an address and phone number. Its easy enough to get stamps made up

Jef_Uk has informed me that there are fake rubber stamps for sale on Ebay and look very much like Fiat dealers stamps.

One of the fake ones are for:

PICCADILLY MOTORS LIMITED
DALLAMIRES LANE, RIPON,
NORTH YORKSHIRE HG41TT.
TEL: (01765) 6006600 FAX: (01765) 609609

Please could potential buyers please check with any dealers or garages to see if they have records of the car before they buy it.

Thanks.

I heard there are a few more of these stamps about now good advice to ring the garage especially if all the comprehensive sevice history all look like fresh stamps