Buyers beware: Scam dealerships

RowenaBCAMC replied on 24/10/2018 16:45

RowenaBCAMC

Posted on 24/10/2018 16:45

Following on from the November 2018 magazine feature ‘Ask your Club’ and recent discussions on Club Together about scam dealerships, we wanted to start this discussion in order to have a prominent place to list the websites that we are aware of that are scam dealerships.

The current scam is based around a very credible-looking website which uses dealership and caravan/motorhome information that has been copied from legitimate dealers. A key warning sign is that vehicles that are listed for sale are advertised at low prices. If you enquire you will be encouraged to put down a deposit by bank transfer. Once your money has been sent there’s no further communication.

The Club has been raising concerns over scam websites with Trading Standards (via Citizens Advice) and with the police ActionFraud service.

As general advice for anyone looking to buy a caravan or motorhome, always be cautious of deals which appear almost too good to be true. Be sceptical of any requests to pay a cash deposit to secure a vehicle you haven’t seen. If you must pay a deposit, use a credit card for at least some of the cost – that secures you ‘Section 75’ protection should you lose your money, meaning you can claim from the card company for the full amount paid (not just the amount put on the card) up to £30,000. Check the seller’s actual possession and legitimate ownership of the vehicle before making full payment. While everyone likes to get a good deal, never get carried away by the chance of an apparent bargain. There will always be the opportunity to buy something else should you miss out through being cautious.

Here is a list of the current know scam websites:

http://pp-caravan.co.uk

http://floud-motorhomes.co.uk/

https://brett-caravans.com/ (now closed down)

Please let the Club know by emailing technical@camc.com if you think a website is suspicious and we will investigate and link below.

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43 replies

ABM replied on 30/11/2018 22:41

Member

ABM

Motorhomer

Posted on 30/11/2018 22:41

As some people on this forum mention from time to time :-- Every Day Is A Learning Day !

I do hope your not so upset, Pippah, that it spoils your use of your motor

mickysf replied on 30/11/2018 22:50

Member

mickysf

Motorhomer from South Humberside

Posted on 30/11/2018 22:50

To be fair Pippah it could well be the dealership and not the salesman who is to blame! Wonder why he moved himself to that dealership in Doncaster, to escape? I for one got out of a place of employment which I soon did not wish to be associated with, did take me a few weeks mind to work it out!

Oneputt replied on 30/11/2018 23:12

Member

Oneputt

Caravanner

Posted on 30/11/2018 23:12

When I brought my current car I had the salesman put everything we agreed on an email to me whilst I sat in front of her. After I received it I paid the deposit, by credit card.

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rayjsj replied on 25/12/2018 09:43

Member

rayjsj

Motorhomer from Dyfed

Posted on 25/12/2018 09:43

Agree, a verbal agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.

ValDa replied on 26/12/2018 08:06

ValDa

Caravanner from North Yorkshire

Posted on 26/12/2018 08:06

I've just read this post, and none of the 'scam websites' mentioned in the first post are still operational, but readers should be aware that they scammers may have set up different websites, and should be just as vigilant in not paying deposits to these scammers.

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Millerman39 replied on 10/01/2019 17:52

Member

Millerman39

from South Yorkshire

Posted on 10/01/2019 17:52

I wonder how much checking is done or to be fair can be done by the club on adverts on their 'Classifieds'? I raise this particularly with reference to caravans, It just seems to me, having checked 'Classifieds' quite extensively recently, that ( without any definite proof) some dealers are advertising as a 'Private Ad'.. Having been interested in one caravan I made enquires but 'lost out' to someone ho had an earlier viewing than me. That was fine as the advertiser did 'phone & tell me. However, a week later I asked for details about another caravan shown again as a 'Private Ad' in the same area of the country (close to me). The contact details were exactly the same as the first 'Private Ad' which gave me the impression that it a a dealer advertising as a private individual. I may be wrong but it has made me much more sceptical & cynical. A shame really because I think there are many genuine people from whom I would love to buy privately.

BTW I am not accusing this particular advertiser a being a 'scammer' but simply to question if some less reputable dealers are using the 'Private Ad. because obviously there is less protection advertising this way.

Tinwheeler replied on 10/01/2019 17:59

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 10/01/2019 17:59

I believe the classifieds are outsourced. If so, the club itself probably checks nothing at all.

LeTouriste replied on 21/04/2019 10:57

Member

LeTouriste

Caravanner

Posted on 30/11/2018 21:56 by Pippah45

There are all sorts of scammers out there - I was recently looking to replace my 3 year old tow car. I went round to a load of different suppliers - and every last one told lies about the suitability of their cars for towing! I ended up doing a decent deal - or so I thought with a replacement for mine - I was told the deal included 3 free services and number plates (I needed three). The deal was to include tow bar and the car was to be ready for a planned trip. Ha Ha! It arrived 2 days late with no number plate. I had only gone about 200 miles when the buzzer warned me the car needed service. I had bought it with a little more than 12,000 on the clock and foolishly assumed it would be serviced for a while! So my trip kept being interrupted by the service buzzer which wasn't very relaxing! So when I got home I booked it in for it's "free service" perfectly accepted by the person who booked me in. Come time to collect the car I am asked to pay over £300 for the pleasure!! They pointed out the service plan wasn't recorded on the contract - well I had been sitting there for 2 hours waiting for the tow bar problem to be solved - and then had to reschedule! It turns out that the salesman made promises the dealership wasn't prepared to honour - and he was no longer employed there! Watchout anyone who is buying an Audi in Doncaster as that is where he is now!

After pointing out that I had booked in for the free service and everything and asked who would expect to need to service their car after 200 miles. I also pointed out that I was internet savvy and perfectly capable of using social media to berate the place - they finally offered for me to pay the £50 odd for the spare parts fitted at the service. To give her her due the person handling the whole thing was clearly very embarrassed - but it was a true case of "Buyer Beware". I might have been a bit more careful to check everything if I had been buying from some obscure garage or privately but this was a Mitsubishi dealership!

Obviously this isn't as bad as the cases Rowena highlighted but it was a lesson to me!

Posted on 21/04/2019 10:57

Did you not get written details of the deal which you accepted? Because, as an employed agent for the dealership, the Company would be legally responsible for honouring the contract to which you had agreed with the salesman.

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