Misled with clocked car

[Scammed1]

Hi everyone. We recently purchased a car 2 weeks ago, it was re-registered with an NI reg and motd here also therfore no previous mileage recorded. Hpi checks came up clear, So we purchased. After purchase we called dvla and found out the original reg and discovered it had done 233k miles as of last June.

The seller advertised it with 90k less and the odometer also showed this, as does the service history. Since our purchase, we took the car in for a check with the dealership and they found the car had the wrong size tyre on the front, one tyre cracked, two suspension bushes needing replaced, the heater has broken and it urgently needs brake pads, there were a few other issues too. This car passed MOT 2 weeks ago. I phoned the mot centre and they said it wouldn't have passed with a different sized tyre but that's what was on the car when we got it. The seller was posing as a private seller, but took a part exchange, offered us finance and was selling 10 other cars.

Unfortunately we paid bank transfer and cash for the car. We've sent an (unsigned) solicitors letter (my fault) to the seller as he won't communicate with me and is refusing to give any money back. I have reported him to trading standards and the police but pursuing him legally seems pointless from what we've been told. Is there anything else we can do to try and get some money back?

[Scammed1]

I forgot to mention we also discovered the car is an ex taxi.

[echat11]

Hi SCAMMED1

From your description he is essentially a dealer..

What are Trading Standards doing about it?

They aren't there just to signpost people to other avenues of complaint.

Have you tracked him down on social media? Has others experienced the same as you?

[Scammed1]

Trading standards also deem him a trader but are unable to help me get my money back. I have forwarded a lot of information to them, copies of the ad, his other cars for sale, he removed them from fb marketplace and relisted some on gumtree under another name. I reported these to gumtree and they have removed 3 out of 4 so far. Trading standards have said they will investigate, if they have the time. Our bank is still investigating but have said its complex as we willingly transferred the money. So far I seem to be the only one who has purchased from him. There's one review on social media of the garage he works at, whereby their car was left in a dangerous state by them and they could've been killed.

[echat11]

Have you got the correct name and address for him? Did you transfer the money directly to him?

If you have, you could take him to the small claims court to recover some or all the monies paid.
The only caveat is has he got the assets to pay you?

You seem to have a lot of evidence:

Car clocked, ads, report on car, dealer, crime reference number etc.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rig...t-avaeF3Q5CcZt

[Scammed1]

Hi. Yes I do have his name and address. I've been told I may or may not win in small claims court despite the evidence I have. The police have said i could never prove it was him that clocked it (even though he's a mechanic and he re registered it in February and allegedly purchased the vehicle without seeing the mot certificate, but wouldve known the original reg and apparently never hpi checked it.) It's hard to say if he would have the funds to repay even if we did win, he has several cars for sale but I guess that doesn't mean much.

[echat11]

I think it might be an idea to send him a Letter Before Action (normally you should only do this, if you are certain that you want to take action), it might make him engage with you. On the letter, write Trading Standards Reference: XXXXXXXXX.

Depending on what / if any communication is received, you can decide to proceed or not.