Barbados Underground posted two blogs highlighting a concern of a CarMax customer the gist of which:
In 2014 the Barbadian purchased a pre owned Kia Sportage 2000 cc diesel 4WD Engine# D4EA5H112253. Within the first year of purchase the vehicle had begun to ‘hard start’ and overheat. Despite changing air, oil, diesel filters, radiator, thermostat and hose, as well as all parts recommended by a mechanic the problems persisted. After an exhaustive process the mechanic discovered that the engine D4EA9H903688 mounted in the vehicle conflicted with the number on the sale contract, invoice, insurance, and road tax.
see – CARMAX DEALERSHIP TO BLAME!
Today Barbados Underground received a copy of correspondence sent to the CarMax customer from law firm LEX Caribbean acting on behalf of Ansa Motors/CarMax. In the interest of what is fair and transparent a copy of the letter is shared with the BU family which has already solicited a response from the CarMax customer Mr. Blackman.
Reply by CarMax customer (Blackman) to the letter from Lex Caribbean.
Dear Sir/Madam
I am at confused, I thought these contentions were about a defective engine with an incorrect number sold to me, how did a VIN number become the subject.
The difference in engine numbers arose because of negligence and misrepresentation that there are no excuses. I was under no obligation to take my vehicle to MQI for service or maintenance if the truth be told, the said 2005 Kia Sportage vehicle, was serviced and maintained by MQI. The engine lasted 4 years before becoming faulty.
Your client should have made his investigation with due diligence before he sold the vehicle or during the sale in 2014. I did not make any allegations, I stated a fact that CarMax Manager Mr. Spencer knowingly sat beside me and signed a sales contract, the sales contract recorded an engine number D4EA5H112253.
Mr. Spencer had an obligation to disclose the true condition of the engine. When I asked about the condition of the said vehicle engine he did not, had Mr. Spencer told me the truth, we would not be here today. Mr. Spencer was negligent in 2014. If due diligence was carried out in 2014 before or during the sale of the vehicle to verify the correct engine number we would not be here.
Mr. Spencer as manager has the responsibility to make sure the documented engine number and the installed engine number were exactly the same number, he did not do such, and if he is claiming he did, that make this situation worse.
Mr. Spencer or other officials of CarMax for who he is responsible typed an engine number on the sales contract which he and I signed in 2014. Ms. Smart gave me the exact number on a Proforma invoice to obtaine my insurance. CarMax official carried-out the registration of the said vehicle at Barbados Licensing Authority.
After the vehicle engine became very faulty and was removed the different engine number was discovered. In my justified complaints Mr Spencer took 3 weeks to respond by email “Without prejudice“.
Your client, Mr. spencer admitted to resorting in 2014 to the Dealers Management System for a previous engine number of the said vehicle, he made an excuse of “innocent error” because the truth of the defective engine and hidden number was revealed, but, at the same time denied me the opportunity to used his admission in seeking my legal right in court for damages.
Whatever, I said about your clients is the truth. My complaints to the Royal Barbados Police Force is a genuine case of any person or company that carried-out wrongful action to get cash from another person.
The Barbados Licensing Authority is the placed to report illegal registration such as the registration your clients made.
The Nation, Barbados underground, Barbados Today, Facebook, and any other media websites, only highlights the facts of what happened in the sales contract between your clients and I.
Your clients in general and CarMax Manager in particular actions were and still are not fair, just, or legal. Your clients action has taken advantage and sold me a vehicle for $35.500 with a defective engine, unjustifiably depriving me of private transportation and implicated me in insurance fraud.
I am not harassing your clients, I am merely seeking redress with constant reminders
. I don’t know how to retract the truth with untruth. Your mighty law firm just like the mighty Ansa motors Barbados /CarMax can never stop me from justly agitating with truth for my rights.
I refuse to be bully.
Best Regard
Alden Blackman
I was searching for a comment where I linked this to the water course without knowing it was our friend Mr Blackman.
It was the constant effort of trying to work the channels that made the stories seem similar.
It is unfortunate a matter such as this has to ‘blow up’ in the way it has because we have no credible consumer or regulatory oversight bodies to intercede on behalf of the consumer. Although there is a recognition all parties have to be protected it is usually the consumer because of lack of resources and ignorance of procedure that get chafed. Caveat emptor will be the cry but let us be practical, there is a reason why enlightened countries have relevant consumer laws and watchdog bodies.
Customer protests against poor customer service and rather than amicably rectify the issue……….. company uses a lawyer from a ‘big law firm’ to intimidate consumer into silence.
But customer’s methods of protest has perhaps achieved the desired objective…… from their lawyer’s letter, it’s clear the company isn’t ignoring customer any longer.
People have been complaining about McEneary’s vehicles and customer service for several years. A few years ago, there was a guy going public to complain about the difficulties he was receiving to have problems with a Mazda BT50 rectified.
Stop buying vehicles from MQI.
No comment.🤐
There is some irony here that Minister Kerri Symmonds is the minister responsible for Commerce and Small Business AND the MP for the Black man in the struggle against an ex pat allowed to drop blockage on a water course to affect same Black man.
Never got an answer but will try again how many kilometers are on the vehicle now after , and that work order from 2009 who provided you that in the sense of was the owner given that as paperwork at time of sale.
The blog was updated with Mr. Blackman’s reply to the legal notice he received from LEX Caribbean yesterday.
@ David Bu at 4:24 AM
There you go again expecting government agencies to do the work that consumers can do for themselves. What kind of citizens do you want to develop? Good grief!! Can intelligent people do nothing for themselves? Do you not see a conflict between educated citizens and your proclivity for promoting mendicancy.? Just holding up a mirror before you. Do you like what you see? Cheez on bread!!!!
@Vincent
The statement was clear that we need an active consumer watchdog body. This does not mean the regulatory framework should not support. Everyday we have to listen to ordinary Bajans being taken to the cleaners by utility companies, lawyers, contractors etc. what we are discussing here is a system that needs to be improved, on all fronts. Are you happy with lawyers and utility companies jucking out your eyes?
@ David Bu at 9 :47 AM
No I am not. But by their behaviour they encourage it. Emptor caveat. Trust but verify. These are aphorisms that our generation was brought up on.. Why do you think that politicians and administrators are not drawn from the same genetic pool.?
Please cut out the “bleeding heart” syndrome that is replacing courage and common sense. That is not who we are.
@Vincent
How do we hold players accountable for misrepresentations when they occur? What is the purpose of oversight bodies?
Caveat Emptor is generic.
“There you go again expecting government agencies to do the work that consumers can do for themselves.”
Sometime you lose me. It is clear that consumers are not making much headway when they seek correction for some problems. Doing it for themselves is not working. At some stage a government agency must and should intervene.
Two things you never buy in Barbados.
vehicles …because you never know what type of inferior quality 4th rate reject junk they will import to sell ya.
house and land….because ya never know who they TIEF IT FROM and rename it crown land…or who bought stolen property/estates and years later, desperate to offload them when THE REAL OWNERS found the buyers of stolen property, and want back what was stolen from them…
BUYERS BEWARE..it’s a trap..
Theogazerts at 11:28 AM
Did you read and understand each stage where the buyer was negligent.? There are already a GoB agency that advises on these matters. It was not intended to replace the vigilance of purchasers.
One last comment.
Sometimes, I reached a stage where I get a mental block.
My mental block started at the point where the VINs are different. My mind immediately go to fraud.
I bought used and new cars and did not have to go searching for the VIN. I cannot give the company a pass. This is an established company in the used car business.
It would be good if we could get some estimate of how frequent this ‘mistake’ occurs and when it does, if the buyer ever benefited.
Seeking a legal opinion.
General question.
Can ‘fraud’ be explained away by ‘buyer beware’.
I think not.
Fraud?😯
Negligence, mistake, error, deception, possible fraud ….
There really is no need for us to have the same perception or opinion or use the same words.
Lets say you wanted a wife, and you spied a woman lets for all intense and purposes we call her Donna , she was the right color, figure and age of what you wanted and went to her religious father and asked for her hand , and he said yes telling you she has been saving herself all her life for a man of your stature. You take her home and ride her a lot for the next seven years you got her teeth fixed, a boob job some liposuction but you have noticed she is getting a little slower, tired headaches etc . So one day you are surfing on line checking out the babes and you find pictures of her banging the Bermudan soccer team at Harrys bar and the date on the pictures was 10 years ago. So you drag her back to her dad after 7 years and say she was no virgin, do you honestly think he should give you her sister.
If you check the VIN and it was the sister’s.. Hell, yeah
I am unsure why the odometer readings at various times have been omitted and seem irrelevant.
Unfamiliar with Barbadian laws, I don’t know if there is a time limit factor in play. ( Statutory Limitations)
What the lawyer terms “an inadvertence” is a failure to disclose information very factual to the product being sold. Given the same entity installed the new motor and sold the vehicle, it wasn’t as if another entity failed to disclose the significant alterations to them. A significant error was made, whether inadvertently or intentionally.
Yet isn’t this par for the course, on the standard of accountability existing in Barbados today? We made a mistake but we didn’t set out to make it? Ipso facto…it en we fault.
The mere fact they have engaged a lawyer, on what is otherwise a small potatoes issue, piques my interest.
@NO
Could not have framed any better, there are consequences when mistakes are made.
@ David,
An agricultural friend has given me the name of a law firm whose name has cropped up several times in BU. I believe it is to do with probate. Are there any clean law firms in Barbados? Is it possible to hire a UK law firm to carry out probate in Barbados?
@TLSN
Of course we have good law firms in Barbados.
Your UK law firm should be able to recommend.
@ David,
Could you or somebody else explain further your comments?
They are named in ICU documents.
“Your UK law firm should be able to recommend.”
think big
@TLSN
Lawyer is only one piece of the probate puzzle. Other links in the probate chain are rustier, and don’t move too quickly. One of those things you hear stories about, laugh at the seemingly unbelievable, until you experience it yourself.
@ David
A consumer protection agency would ensure the existing legislation is enforced to ensure the consumers’ safety and legal protection against unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in various transactions with business operators and take action against those companies that break the law.
Companies such as MQI never want to admit liability. So, they retain attorneys from ‘big law firms’ to write threatening letters to the complainants, in which they describe what transpired between both parties as though they were present when the transaction was being processed…….. perhaps believing it’s the norm for poor Black people to become scared and ‘back down’ when they hear the words ‘lawyer, law suit and Court.’
I agree wholeheartedly with the stance Mr. Blackman has taken of this issue. The attorney’s letter has basically outlined what he has been saying……… only difference is, they are portraying the issue as though he is being defamatory and libelous.
He should not allow himself to be intimidated into silence.
A few years ago, the St. Vincent branch of Republic Bank announced an increase in their banking fees. Several Vincentians formed a long queue at the bank early the next morning that stretched as far as Gonsalves Street, waiting to withdraw their money.
In Barbados, we would leave our funds on the bank, grumble and suffer in silence, while trying to find all kinds of excuses to remain loyal customers of Republic Bank.
Mr Blackman is probably shaking in his boots. A letter with about 16 lawyers, all with LLB (Hons) and about 4 countries mentioned.
$35,500.
Was this vehicle with the wrong VIN worth the same amount of money charged. Bait and switch is one of the tricks used car salesmen employ.
This seem like a very extreme case.
@ Northern Observer,
Thanks for your reply. I will start posting in the Lawyers in the News column.
I have tried to warn a family member of dealing with probate in Barbados. This law firm is well known. My advice to them was to stay clear of this firm.
What advice would you give them?
Is it possible to settle probate using a UK company?
@TLSN
Yes you need a local lawyer.
https://www.hg.org/law-firms/will-and-probate/barbados.html
“Could you or somebody else explain further your comments?
They are named in ICU documents.”
do you really want to put yourself through those vicious beasts in Barbados, the last person who tried to recover their inheritance through probate after they found out officers of the judicary, police officers and others had already taken it upon themselves to steal the whole estate including their father’s body from QEH, and elaborate scam involving many, the person was arrested and still have a case for trying to recover what is rightfully theirs and it still got stolen, they went through the PM on a public stage in London….but was set up anyway…you will need protection from those thieves, prepare to do battle, long and drawn out and walk with proper armor..
that’s the short version.
you will need protection from those thieves, prepare to do battle, long and drawn out and walk with proper legal ARMOUR..you will need it…..
Now I understand Lawson’s problem! His wife’s name is Donna!
Sorry she lied to you. We’re not all that way.
You reading my stuff again, like a moth to a flame eh lol.
YOU got burned this time though, didn’t you?
@TLSN
Much depends upon the complexity of the estate. The specific challenges encountered related to getting things done, which were often beyond the lawyer’s control. One can wait months to get the simplest matters executed. And the various charges, not only by the lawyer, are not for the feint of heart.
The best advice I can offer anyone who is an executor of an estate, is to appreciate their role begins long before death, and that is to understand what is there, where it is located, and to be forceful in getting the missing pieces corrected. It is far easier to execute many things when a person is alive!!!
To all, thanks for your assistance. If you have any advice could you please do so in “The lawyers in the news” column.
@ Waru,
In Jamaica, it appears to be the lawyers who require armour. I have read that some of their disgruntled clients are literally disposing of them. I hope that this trend is not followed in Barbados as it has been with Jamaican dancehall music.
“I hope that this trend is not followed in Barbados”
actually something needs doing with those legal savages, they overdo it then act as though they are some gift to the world and many are among the dumbest to be found anywhere and only know how to tief, keep valuable information from and betray their clients…i heard they have been disposing of the likeminded ones in Jamaica.,…good for them..
not a soul will shed a tear, everyone is sick and tired of those frauds, starting with the ones in the parliament and coming down….left a decades-long trail of helpless victims…
There was one years ago who was chased down Pinfold Street by a client with a machete.
He was known for holding on to client’s money. A former workmate’s father died while working at a sugar cane factory and the damn man held on to his settlement even though there was a young widow and children waiting desperately for the cheque.
No need to tell you that he became a prominent MP. And all now he still has no shame, airing his mouth weekly on all matters political and constitutional.
General comment
One thing that I found interesting in posts like this one is there are always a few who want to give big businesses the benefit of doubt.
Practices that should be examined carefully are not given a second glance. Mistakes will always be made, but with advances in technology we would hope that there are checks in place to minimize serious errors.
You would be horrified to discover that after taking a newborn home and bonding that the child was not yours
(insert distraction/cheap joke here… I am not talking about a ready-made jacket. Why insert nonsense? That’s what a comedian does).
I used a newborn as a reference, because in purchasing a vehicle, the VIN is the most importance piece of information there is. This is the one bit of information that should be double/triple checked.
Transcription errors occur and we expect a VIN may be off by one or two digits. When it is completely wrong, then the possibility of fraud must be considered.
Put yourself in the seller’s position where the VIN is completely different. What are the possible responses for the seller …
Oops! I sold you the wrong vehicle by mistake; it’s not a mistake, I was cheating you; or correct vehicle, but we changed the engine and forgot to document it.
I know which answer I would give. It amazes me that the response of big business often go unchallenged.
Okay Donna no I dont know the mp who was it??? theo I have bought at least 30 cars and whether the motor number is the same as the vin has never been relevant because motors are swapped out all the time.
@lawson
The licensing authority needs to keep tabs on engine numbers to discourage vehicle theft.
Lawson,
You are wrong here. I am willing to bet that your 30 vehicles VINs matched their paperwork.
All who need to know do know. I bet David knows.
I believe absolutely nothing big business tells me. How can I when I know that making money not customer satisfaction is their priority?
Based on the letter exchanges and the timeline, Mr. Blackman does not have a leg to stand on and should use this situation as a buyer beware lesson to teach his kids and public at large about what steps need to be performed when buying big ticket items like cars and property. Unless he can trace the engine number and prove some sort of crime took place, this is a buyer beware lesson where the moral of the story is
1) Take the time and money to do all the necessary checks upfront before buying
2) Try and find all the problems during the warranty period.
@Lawson June 23, 2021 4:36 PM colorful comment perfectly describes exactly why he has no leg to stand on and should move on. He bought a 9 year old vehicle, had it for seven years and is now looking for a new car or other significant compensation; this is Barbados, not USA where companies do a financial calculation with lawsuits. It was an old car when he bought it and it still is an old car now in its 16th year. Major vehicle maintenance costs usually start around the 10 year mark.
If he were successful in this fight, the most he could get is an apology or a cheque small enough to buy a cheap bicycle. He should instead focus on enjoying his remaining time since he has been fortunate enough to reach pensioner status and put his money to better uses instead of further pursuing what seems to be an honest mistake that does not appear fraud or theft related.
I’ll bet anything if what happened to Mr. Blackman was done by a used car outlet owned by another Mr. Blackman, the “few who want to give big businesses the benefit of doubt,” would be shouting ‘fraud, t’ief, call the police, lock he up, wuh part my gun is, bring my sword….’
I’ll also bet, knowing Gordan Spencer…….. if Mr. Blackman was Mr. Redman or Whitehill………. this issue would’ve been solved long, long ago.
And, another thing, David’s June 25, 2021 9:17 PM contribution reminded me of an important point. The vehicle would have been originally registered at Licensing Authority with its original VIN and engine number. Since the engine was changed, a letter would have to be submitted to LA indicating the new number and why it was changed.
If that procedure was not followed, it would be almost impossible for Mr. Blackman to register the vehicle, because the LA’s records would indicate the original numbers. In other words, he would be attempting to register a vehicle with its original VIN and a different engine number.
CarMax usually register and license vehicles on behalf of its customers.
@Artax
This is the point. CarMax neglected to follow an important procedure that would have facilitated the buyer beware argument. We cannot give Anaâs Motors a pass.
Theo how much……. I have swapped my buicks engine 3 times just sold my gmc truck with a newer engine and I will check to see if the used rav I bought has only a vin or both and get back to you.
Secondly who in there right mind lets donna own a machete
@Artax @David
Under normal circumstances, the VIN and Engine Number mismatch is not going to be found unless the person buying the car or finance company actually looks at the physical engine number instead of taking that information from the previous owner’s documentation which usually ends up being their insurance certificate.
Since both the car’s brand dealer and used car dealer are under the same umbrella and the vehicle was serviced by the official dealer from inception based on their response, they would most likely just have shared documentation or simply pulled it up on the computer instead of doing a physical check.
That is why it is a buyer beware issue because the onus is on the car purchaser to ensure the numbers on the documentation match their vehicle. Finance companies now do that check since that huge car problem years ago to cover themselves but you should also do that check yourself as well when buying any car, new or otherwise.
We bajans like to put the blame on others for failing to do what we were supposed to do.
@CA
The explanation you have given adds currency to the argument that CarMax was in the best position declare for the sake of transparency the engine switch and for it to be have been reflected on the relevant documentation at sale.
Two things who puts 42000 miles on a 26 foot long island in 4 years , sounds like he bought an old taxi.
secondly how many miles in the last 7 were put on simple question
@Lawson June 26, 2021 7:36 AM
Even Lawson who seems to know the procedure has to go and check his vehicles now.
Who in their right or wrong mind would stop Donna from buying a machete. I pity the fool. She probably already have a machete room and special one beneath the pillow.
Who in their right mind would try indeed!
But I lived for years in a house with a licensed gun. Never even felt the need to look at it. Don’t know what it looked like.
Oh, and I do not own a machete and sleep with no weapons under my pillow.
No burgler bars either. A few motion sensor lights and I good.
@David June 26, 2021 7:40 AM
Which they acknowledged in their official legal response.
Mr. Blackman should count himself lucky as it seems he got a newer engine when he bought the car unless his investigation turns up a stolen or older than 2005 engine.
Had I been the company’s lawyer writing the letter, I personally would have replaced the demands at point 3 and 4 in the letter with a ‘Knock your out making it an issue’ but all lawyers the world over like to feel they have all the power and their letters can intimidate and scare people so I guess that’s why I’m not one.
@CA
The acknowledgment and glib reference to the inadvertence must have consequences in this instance.
Buyer beware
If he was buying a Rolex from a man on the street then the buyer beware argument would have strength, but the purchase is from an established Rolex dealer and the buyer got less than what was expected then we have entered the neighborhood of fraud.
We must hold these large companies to a standard higher than buyer beware. We should expect them to deliver what was promised and not hide behind some cheap lawyering phrase. The free pass is revoked
——–x——
Comedian alert
@Lawson
Let me put this in a way that you can fully understand.
Buyer beware would be applicable if you are getting your Viagra supply from a man on the street. Your local pharmacy has to be held to a higher standard.
Silly me. Going to get the boot and the buzz off again, but here I come.
Would be careful disclosing some information.
We keep strange hours at my house. When I am asleep, my son is awake and vice versa. It is not planned. That’s just how it is. I fall asleep early and wake up in the wee hours. He goes to sleep in the wee hours and wakes up in the late morning.
It is not a long way to my study or my kitchen or my laundry room where everyday weapons are readily available.
There is a man who breeds dogs at the back of the perimeter of my house. I cannot step into my back yard at night without causing an uproar. A stranger at night would soon find out his mistake.
Your concern for my welfare was never in doubt. I am not stupid.
@TheOGazerts June 26, 2021 8:12 AM
Large companies are held to a higher standard but if you get aggressive with companies making claims you can’t firmly substantiate, don’t be surprised if they make use of their legal dept or retainer fees and get their lawyer to use one of their standard form response letter, write you and push back.
The buyer has to bear some level of responsibility in the matter. The same way you would check to make sure you got your Viagra and not the previous customer’s panadol whether it be the man on the street or your pharmacist, mistakes will happen so we must always check we got what we paid for and cannot blame anyone but yourselves if we did not check before we left the shop or warranty ran out.
@ CA
I understand the points you’re making. However, you are speaking on ‘hind sight.’
In this particular case, CarMax would have probably registered and licensed the vehicle on behalf of Mr. Blackman. If he had done the registration process himself, and, as you ‘said,’ “actually looked at the physical engine number” and VIN to enter that information on LA’s registration form, he wouldn’t have known the vehicle had a different engine, unless CarMax informed him of the change.
If he was not informed, he would have gone ahead to insure the vehicle, believeing both the VIN and engine number were original.
So, under the circumstances, he essentially “did not fail to do what (he was supposed to do.”
A problem would’ve arisen when during the registration process at LA, their records indicted the engine number was not original to the vehicle.
@Artax
Correct. Who guards the maguffy at the table.
Bajans are so meek and mild, we hate to test 50:50 plays.
I think your example works against you.
You have forced me to continue down the track that I prefer.
My experience with Panadol and Viagra is limited. Major lawsuit, if I laid there all night hoping …
“………… if I laid there all night hoping …”
………… for a séance?
https://media.tenor.com/images/b056d7d835ff43ee381a6efbbf1f14db/tenor.gif
@Artax
He did fail because he should have taken some time either at delivery or within a few days after he had the car home to check it himself or get his mechanic or friend to verify the VIN and Engine matched his insurance certificate/cover note.
Had he registered the vehicle himself, the same thing would likely have happened since we may check the VIN but hardly anyone checks the engine number since that is harder to find.
I could have been him as I myself have purchased several second hand cars over the years and never once checked the VIN and Engine Number except for the one time the LA cashier told me my engine number was wrong because I copied it wrong on the registration form and it was quicker to check the car than to search my files for the document.
😃😂
Loose ball.. despatch to the boundary.
@Lawson
Since you have experience.
What is the value, or better yet, how do you assess the value of a used vehicle with a swapped engine/motor?
Often we find in the sale listings, “body has 260K, engine has 45K”. Personally I don’t touch them, for I am an ignoramus, and have no way of knowing who did the swap or what the status of the swapped motor was.
Hence I don’t know what a ” Short engine” is?
From my observation the asking price is frequently less than a vehicle with original components. Sellers trying to get a premium or equal value for a swapped motor, even if new and done by an authorised shop, doesn’t seem to work.
Hence this “inadvertence” by the dealer, did it net them a better price?
It would seem to me, that at best, the current owner may be eligible for 15% of the sale price, in light of the age/kms on the vehicle.
“It would seem to me, that at best, the current owner may be eligible for 15% of the sale price, in light of the age/kms on the vehicle.”
I have no idea of the amount he should awarded/eligible for, but this is a much better approach than ‘buyer beware’. This lies somewhere between my claim of fraud and those who claim it’s the victim fault. A reasonable stance.
Theo what are the k on the vehicle right now ,you seem to know. Northern the truck I just sold with a swapped engine didnt matter because they only made 148 of that model so even if a matching number was more valuable it still commands a good price. When I buy a car I test drive take it to my mechanic for a compression test and a good once over brakes, oil, etc and if seems good drives good and the price is right I buy it, The last thing I would do is drive it for seven years then try to get a new one or money back because the numbers dont match. The rav I bought part of the warranty is the dealership does the oil changes the regular inspections or any issues that arise, he went somewhere else case over
The issue is not how long the man drove the truck, it is the fact the dealership with access to the history was not transparent with pertinent info.
@ CA
Please…… don’t insult our intelligence with nonsense.
If you’re registering a vehicle in Barbados at Barbados Licensing Authority, especially one that’s the age of the Sportage, insurance companies require road worthy and/or valuation certificates from a reputable company. In some cases they recommend the companies or do it themselves.
The person preparing the certificates would check the VIN and engine number to verify they match the information that’s recorded on the vehicle’s documentation.
RE: “Had he registered the vehicle himself, the same thing would likely have happened since we may check the VIN but hardly anyone checks the engine number since that is harder to find.”
Surely you can’t be serious. You cannot go into LA with the VIN only, expecting to have the registration process completed, because the engine number MUST also be included on the registration form.
RE: “I could have been him as I myself have purchased several second hand cars over the years and never once checked the VIN and Engine Number except for the one time the LA cashier told me my engine number was wrong because I copied it wrong on the registration form and it was quicker to check the car than to search my files for the document.”
‘See wuh I tell yuh.’ You’ve gone ‘full circle’……… only to return to contradict yourself.
Yes, Mr. Blackman should’ve probably checked the VIN and engine number himself. However, he believed CarMax’s agent was acting ‘in good faith,’………. that he/she was sincere and honest during the agreement…… and there wasn’t any desire to defraud him.
@Lawson
Let’s assume the Kia in question is not a limited quantity edition, to excite the car buffs.
Does a swapped motor affect value?
NO if after four years and 68000 k were put on an engine on a small island hardly highway driving a new engine may put the resale value up.
Whats curious is no-one is saying what the odometer read at 2009 on the engine replacement what it was at 2014 or what it is now . I wonder if a new engine was installed in 2009 would they legally be able to roll the odometer back or even if it is a new motor does the gauge have to reflect the miles on the rest of the car.
@Lawson,
My knowledge of engines is zero, but your statements have me wondering… I now repeat some of what you stated
What should the odometer read,
mileage from the old engine
mileage from the new engine
And as you stated the rest of the car and the mileage would be out of sync.
Some used car dealers without changing the engine roll back the odometer (dishonest and illegal).
Your note points out why the buyer beware argument is inadequate. Mr Blackman would have to be aided by an ‘investigative journalist’ to go down these many avenues. Buying a used car from reputable dealer should not be hard work.
There must be a difference between an established dealer with qualified staff and a man selling watches around the corner and under a streetlight.
As the discussion continues, the ‘theometer’ is tilting towards outright fraud.
I agree there are issues that could be resolved if someone supplies the mileages, if not it sounds like someone wants something for nothing. What if the new owner put 200000 k in his seven years of ownership would you feel the same, should he be compensated for what has been a well driven vehicle.
Without information we can both go down the what if road..
What if…
200000km
30 visit to his mechanic
7 major repairs
Numerous calls to the dealer
The car was well driven and he was driven crazy.
There are tons of details that would clear up the picture, until then the theometer’ is in the fraud zone.