Corolla T2 Write Off - Summit Dodgy Going On....

[thesealeyboy]

Hi Everyone

Been a while since I been on here, infact MONTHS. I am posting this really to make people aware, as I think something dodgy is happening with my old Corolla, written off in January of this year.

Last december I crashed my car, gutted, in fact I wrote it off. I ended up skidding off a road on a bend, going down a small bank and flipping the car over in a field. Fortunatly I walked away without a scratch, although the Christmas shopping I had in the boot had seen better days.

See the pictures...

I'm not fussed about the identity of the car, because I want as many people as possible to know about this. The car was taken to a local garage, where it was inspected by Direct Line, and they decided to pay out. (policy states that cars under a year old will be replaced like for like, however they claim as I had purchased the car pre-reg I was not the first owner, therefore that part of the policy did not apply - you can't imagine how chuffed I was <_< ) I have today received a letter written in fairly poor english from a guy in birmingham asking me to send him and spare keys and docs I have for the car.

The first thing I did was to contact my local police to check if this was normal, and although the guy I spoke to didnt think it was dodgy, he didnt really think it was legit either. Anyway, I then spoke to Direct Line, who informed me that once they had paid out they take ownership of the vehicle, and then sell it onto a slavage yard. Which left me somewhat baffled as to how this 'geezer' had got my name and address because at worst case, the V5 would detail the salvage yard as the keeper and Direct Line as the registered keeper? Direct Line have asked me to send them the letter.

Next I called this guy to inform him that I did not have any keys or docs, and also asked him how much he paid for the car. He told me he paid the salvage yard £3000 for the car, and had spent a further £1800 on the car and was looking to sell it for around £5500. How on earth can this guy have carried out repairs on the car for £1800?!?! Is this car seriously going to be roadworthy for the person that buys it? Is it even my car? Is it just my number plate? I have asked the guy if I can come and see the car next weekend with a view to buying it, obviosuly I wouldn't dream of buying it, it sounds as dodgy as a £9 note. There are a couple of identifying marks which would probably have been missed if the car has been repaired, things like a dent that lifted a small area of paintwork off just inside the boot door etc, so if I do go down I would be looking out for those to see if it genuinly is my old car.

My concerns are now that if someone buys it it's either gonna be a dodgy repair job and end up injuring someone, or its actually a stolen car with diff plates on it. I have the VIN number somewhere so if I do go down to see the car I would compare, does anyone have any advice if I think the car is a diff car and possibly stolen? Can I do anything to stop someone buying it if I think it's not safe? I know buying a written off car isn't illegal, but doing a dodgy repair job and flogging a deathtrap is surely?

[Matthew_McNally]

what category was it when it was written off?

[thesealeyboy]

Sorry, fogive me for being dumb, what do you mean by category?

J

[Matthew_McNally]

a car is written off as a category A, B, C or D.

If it is category D for example, it was written off as being "Beyond Economical Reapir"

[MJG]

Hi Everyone...........

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Cars damaged in this way can go back on the road subject to them being inspected and registered correctly.....

Check out this DVLA link which sets out the regs.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regrebil.htm

Worrying yes,

illeagal no (unless any stolen parts or vehicles are being used)

If I read the regs correctly the original (not in your case looking at the pics) bodyshell must be used or a brand new one. Not sure how much a new Corolla Shell would be to buy I would have thought he is pushing a it a bit at £1,800 for the total reapir.

Certainly a case of buyer beware...

[thesealeyboy]

Thanks for your comments MJG. Matthew McNally, they wrote the vehicle off due to it being beyond economical repair.

The insurance guy was pretty fair to be honest, he spent a day phoning round and getting prices for other 'rollas for me. However, I still think they should of replaced the car!

J