Lost service record between purchase and handover - any attributable loss in value of MoHo?

[Carpmart]

So the dealer I’ve bought my MoHo from at the point I was making the buying decision waved a nicely stamped up service book in front of me which I applied a modicum of diligence to reviewing as part of my final decision process; I’m sure many have been in the same position.

Roll on a month and it’s collection/handover day and all is good two huge box files with all paperwork in them duly handed over with two huge sets of keys etc

Roll forward a month and I’m slowly familiarising myself with the van, review all the docs etc when I suddenly decide I will apply a little more dillengece to the service history and review it properly. To my frustration it’s not in the box files. I carefullywork my way through all the booklets and find a new booklet with the dealer stamp on it and the pre delivery service record (as we had agreed would be done) duly stamped in a new service record/booklet.

A friendly email to the dealer from me was dispatched asking for them to kindly forward the service record booklet as it wasn’t in the box files I received at handover. At this point I made no reference to the new service booklet.

The reply was something along the lines of please check again as we don’t have the service book. I replied explaining that at the point of purchase the MoHo had a service record, at the point of handover you’d started a new service record and one could assume that this was done as you couldn’t find the original. I’ve asked for a formal reply to this.

I’m currently waiting on a response.

My view is that this has a material impact to the value of my MoHo and as such (and with them knowing this at the point of handover) they had a duty to make me aware of this! Anyone agree?

Further, anyone’s view on the value impact to this assets value? 1%, 5%, 20% or am I being picky and unreasonable and it’s such a marginal thing I shouldn’t concern myself?

I think undeniably it will make the MoHo harder to sell!

Appreciate people thoughts please?

 

[Captain Pants]

Tricky one....I guess value could be affected but the older the van, probably less important as condition is king. I think it’s worth a pop at negotiating some discount based on the missing document, after all it was available at the time you agreed to buy so technically part of the contract.
I suppose you could ask them to warrant the previous service history and acknowledge the circumstances for it being missing. You could ask them to pay for a full independent mechanical evaluation to confirm the condition of the vehicle?

 

[Pausim]

The fact that the dealer waved the service record under your nose means that he knew it was an important consideration in making a purchase. Ask him to reconstruct the service record by contacting previous dealers and agents to get copies from their service records.

 

[27 TUG]

Hi I have been working in the motor trade all my life full service history is very important to you and the sale of MH so keep on at them Andy

 

[68c]

Was the service record you saw really for your van, perhaps it was not. The question then is did the seller show you it knowing it was not for your van or if did they make a genuine mistake.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carpmart]

Hi I have been working in the motor trade all my life full service history is very important to you and the sale of MH so keep on at them Andy

Andy, as I thought and you’re clearly someone who would know better than I. Much appreciated!

 

[pappajohn]

The reply was something along the lines of please check again as we don’t have the service book. I replied explaining that at the point of purchase the MoHo had a service record, at the point of handover you’d started a new service record and one could assume that this was done as you couldn’t find the original. I’ve asked for a formal reply to this.

Close..... More likely they never had a service book for that van to start with and just waved any old service book around.

 

[Carpmart]

The fact that the dealer waved the service record under your nose means that he knew it was an important consideration in making a purchase. Ask him to reconstruct the service record by contacting previous dealers and agents to get copies from their service records.

This is a really important point, in-so-much as it was material in my decision making.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You may also need it for any ongoing warranty work.

 

[Carpmart]

Was the service record you saw really for your van, perhaps it was not. The question then is did the seller show you it knowing it was not for your van or if did they make a genuine mistake.

Again, a very good observation; who knows in the heat of the negotiation battle...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carpmart]

What are people’s thoughts on what impact it has in the real world to:
a) my ability to sell easily without substantiated service history
b) material value, is the asset worth less in the real world without this history? If yes, by what margin?

 

[joka250]

It is possible that if main dealer serviced a computerised record is available. Depends a bit on the dealer, our local Fiat Proffessional dealers are quite good on that. What base vehicle do you have.

 

[Westbarn1]

Would the base vehicle service record not be computerised and held on a central database, that certainly is the case with Mercedes.

SNAP! (with above)

 

[Carpmart]

WRT computerised Service records, I doubt it! It’s an Iveco Daily based vehicle. It’s 10 years old this year and as you’ll appreciate, RS Motorhomes are a niche manufacturer. It’s still a relatively lumpy investment in this kind of vehicle, even at this age!

 

[63720]

Who's it's good to see a stamped up service book I also like to see receipted invoices.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[lorger]

I’d doubt it was the correct service book he showed you, however depending on the age of the van check old MOTs as good chance who ever did them also serviced the van.

 

[Carpmart]

I’d doubt it was the correct service book he showed you, however depending on the age of the van check old MOTs as good chance who ever did them also serviced the van.

That’s a great idea!

 

[ramsthom]

Have to agree receipted invoices are more important as they are a record of the service work carried out. Service books can be stamped by anyone.

 

[MikeD]

I would not buy a modern motorhome without a full service record.

The fact someone keeps a fully documented record of all the monies that they spend on a van is very important to me.

It shows a caring owner.

If it is around ten years old then as someone mentioned condition is more important.

 

[Geo]

I would not buy a modern motorhome without a full service record.

The fact someone keeps a fully documented record of all the monies that they spend on a van is very important to me.

It shows a caring owner.

If it is around ten years old then as someone mentioned condition is more important.

It really shows a rubbish van in my view if its needed loads spending on it

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Spriddler]

I’d doubt it was the correct service book he showed you, however depending on the age of the van check old MOTs as good chance who ever did them also serviced the van.

It sounds very much to me too that it wasn't the book for your vehicle and the seller probably knew that.
For me a service record helps a lot in making the buying decision.
The previous owner will be shown on the V5 as the dealer probably didn't register it in his name so you could contact the PO for any help re. serviceing etc. whilst in his ownership.
It has happened to me once after the new owner became suspicious of my old m/h that he bought from a dealer.

 

[Northernraider]

This is the very same thing that happened to my sister when she bought her motorhome from knoweparke caravans in Livingston....one previous owner full service record including all hab checks and a load of receipts for extras etc which I looked through at the point of sale as it was Inside the van in a cupboard

When she collected the van the following week it was all missing , dealer claimed it never existed... and then upon our insistence changed his story to well perhaps the cleaners have lost it or moved it we will check

Sister took the van anyway ....and a week or so later the dealer said cleaner hadn't seen it and claimed it was perhaps another van we were looking at etc

Never did get it , and no form of compensation either , sister took legal advice and was told it would be difficult to prove etc so she dropped it

She got 4.5k less for that van selling it 18 months later as no proof of having ever had a service or hab check

If you know where it was serviced etc you may be able to get copies but in her case we didn't know

 

[the1andonly]

value will be affected but other info will be more important, how the dealer reacts is crucialu
i recently traded inanAudi A4 and lost a couple of hundred because i wouldnt supply the forged service book i was given. (check the vin numbers) the vehicle i bought had piles of invoices worth more than stamps. stamps too easily forged.
my cars have no stamps after ive bouhht them but invoices and photos.

 

[Carpmart]

This is the very same thing that happened to my sister when she bought her motorhome from knoweparke caravans in Livingston....one previous owner full service record including all hab checks and a load of receipts for extras etc which I looked through at the point of sale as it was Inside the van in a cupboard

When she collected the van the following week it was all missing , dealer claimed it never existed... and then upon our insistence changed his story to well perhaps the cleaners have lost it or moved it we will check

Sister took the van anyway ....and a week or so later the dealer said cleaner hadn't seen it and claimed it was perhaps another van we were looking at etc

Never did get it , and no form of compensation either , sister took legal advice and was told it would be difficult to prove etc so she dropped it

She got 4.5k less for that van selling it 18 months later as no proof of having ever had a service or hab check

If you know where it was serviced etc you may be able to get copies but in her case we didn't know

Sorry to hear of your sisters situation. You mention £4.5k, can you give me a rough indication of what that was as a percentage of the purchase price?

My situation is slightly nuanced from your sisters and shows deliberate deceit and acknowledgement of the loss of the original service book and or deliberately trying to deceive me at the point of sale. If they don’t play ball, I will find legal precedents for breach and material loss in value through breach and pursue to a maximum value through small claims court!

Despite being nearly ten years old, the monetary value is high, this is a £65k purchase!

 

[Minxy]

If you go on the below website you can check the MOT history which should be able to tell you where it was MOTed and an advisories etc that may have needed dealing with, it may also be that the MOT station serviced it too in which case you can contact them and ask if they have any records.

Broken Link Removed

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[2x2camper]

A similar thing happened to us when Mrs 2x2 bought her current car. The dealer stated that it had a full service history, when I looked at the service book after she picked it up it was missing the first page of stamps, it had been torn out, never got to the bottom of it. The sales guy left the business soon afterwards.

After a couple of months of arguing about the fact the car was worth less without the full service record, we issued a court order for the loss in value. They settled out of court.

 

[Captain Pants]

Sorry to hear of your sisters situation. You mention £4.5k, can you give me a rough indication of what that was as a percentage of the purchase price?

My situation is slightly nuanced from your sisters and shows deliberate deceit and acknowledgement of the loss of the original service book and or deliberately trying to deceive me at the point of sale. If they don’t play ball, I will find legal precedents for breach and material loss in value through breach and pursue to a maximum value through small claims court!

Despite being nearly ten years old, the monetary value is high, this is a £65k purchase!

Wow, didn’t realise that we were talking that sort of money for a 10yr old van. In that case, you absolutely must factor in value implications for non-production of service record.

 

[Northernraider]

Sorry to hear of your sisters situation. You mention £4.5k, can you give me a rough indication of what that was as a percentage of the purchase price?

My situation is slightly nuanced from your sisters and shows deliberate deceit and acknowledgement of the loss of the original service book and or deliberately trying to deceive me at the point of sale. If they don’t play ball, I will find legal precedents for breach and material loss in value through breach and pursue to a maximum value through small claims court!

Despite being nearly ten years old, the monetary value is high, this is a £65k purchase!

Hers was only a 25grand van.

What van have you bought at 10 years old for £65k ? That's a lot of coin

 

[Minxy]

Hers was only a 25grand van.

What van have you bought at 10 years old for £65k ? That's a lot of coin

RS Endeavour - specialist build MH ... they cost well over £100,000 new.

 

[Northernraider]

RS Endeavour - specialist build MH ... they cost well over £100,000 new.

Yeah but there are other Van's that cost £100k new that at 10 years old are around 40k

65k seems high .....and with no service history now I think I'd be walking fast in the other direction

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}