For my sixtieth birthday final yr, I purchased a used Aston Martin DB9 Volante Convertible.
Nevertheless, as a result of Covid restrictions, we couldn’t make our deliberate dream journey round Spain and the automobile did not more than a few hundred miles.
For that purpose, I made a decision to promote it by We Purchase Any Automobile. My valuation went up thrice and on 1 October 2021, it sat at £36,660.
This was £2,000 greater than I paid so I made a decision to proceed. Whereas it was all going easily, the agent observed a discrepancy with the VIN quantity and the log ebook.

Shaken, not stirred: A We Purchase Any Automobile buyer was pissed off after there have been issues promoting his Aston Martin DB9 (inventory picture)
The digits on the automobile and repair guide have been appropriate however not on the log ebook. I used to be informed it was a typo and nothing to fret about so signed the paperwork,
However after that I didn’t obtain any communication from We Purchase Any Automobile so started to fret.
Days later, I acquired a cellphone name telling me the automobile must be handed again to me as a result of VIN error.
I had already cancelled the insurance coverage and acquired a letter from the DVLA to say I used to be not the proprietor plus had signed the paperwork so do not feel that is truthful. Is there a means for the sale to proceed? S.C., by way of e mail
Grace Gausden, client knowledgeable at That is Cash, replies: You have been definitely shaken, not stirred, after your dealings with We Purchase Any Automobile when promoting your Aston Martin DB9, a motor made well-known by fictional movie icon James Bond.
The dearth of communication with hundreds of kilos at stake made you more and more anxious, particularly as you were not certain when, or if, the fee could be despatched over to you.
Initially, all went properly and also you have been very happy with the worth that you simply have been provided – it has been properly documented that used automobile costs are going by the roof currently.
When going to signal the paperwork, one of many agency’s brokers observed the vehicles car identification quantity (VIN) quantity solely had 16 digits on the log ebook when there ought to have been 17.
A automobile’s VIN is the figuring out code for a selected car and no two vehicles in operation have the identical one.
Used patrons of vehicles want to concentrate on VIN fraud because the quantity can typically be changed or altered with vehicles stolen and bought on illegally.
Nevertheless, the agent informed you he thought it was a typo error by the DVLA and it was nothing to fret about.
The paperwork was signed and the automobile was collected however 4 working days later, the time agreed that fee could be with you, there was nothing in your account.
You tried to contact We Purchase Any Automobile however stated you discovered it not possible to get by.
Within the meantime, you had cancelled your automobile tax and had acquired a refund in addition to acquired a letter from DVLA stating you have been not the proprietor of the car. You had additionally cancelled your insurance coverage.
A couple of days later, you lastly obtained an e mail reply from certainly one of their brokers to say the problem was with the compliance division.
Turning into involved, you despatched an e mail to the one tackle you possibly can discover stating you’ll give them 48 hours’ discover to place the cash into your account.

The Aston Martin DB9 was a automobile made well-known by movie icon, James Bond & sells for hundreds
Shortly after this, you acquired the cellphone name from an agent who stated he had been informed to drop off the automobile again as a result of an error with the VIN.
Shocked, you informed him you have been not the proprietor of the automobile and wouldn’t be accepting it again, leaving you in limbo.
If the automobile was returned to you, you weren’t certain who would then be the authorized proprietor plus you would need to reinstall insurance coverage and tax – simply to try to promote it once more.
You argue that if We Purchase Any Automobile knew the VIN could be a problem, it ought to have suggested you of this earlier than signing the paperwork guaranteeing you didn’t quit possession of the car.
Due to this fact, I contacted We Purchase Any Automobile to search out out why you had been left with little or no communication and why the agency agreed to buy a automobile however then not ship over the funds – primarily holding on to a really costly car.

It replied to say it had regarded into the problem and has now rectified it – however didn’t clarify the way it managed to resolve the issue.
A spokesperson for We Purchase Any Automobile stated: ‘On uncommon events, some purchases are flagged for additional compliance checks, such because the car chassis quantity not matching the V5 documentation, which might signify a automobile is stolen or cloned.
‘In Mr C’s case, it was an error with the car registration and we have labored with him to make sure the problem has been resolved.’
Happily, you probably did have a Licence to Promote and have confirmed the complete quantity reached your account a day after I spoke to the corporate.
It did not say how this was resolved however added if it had finished so, it might assist criminals cheat the system if extra info was given.
Whereas We Purchase Any Automobile are proper to do all due diligence on the car, the times of ready for a response to replace you on the scenario left you more and more pissed off – particularly with such cash and a DB9 at stake.
No Time to Die? Extra like: an excessive amount of time to answer…

Downside: A Wren Kitchens buyer was delivered an AEG cooker hood with an EU plug socket (inventory picture)
Hit or miss: This week’s naughty and good checklist
Every week, I take a look at a few of the firms which have fallen wanting anticipated requirements in addition to those who have gone that further mile for patrons.
Miss: Robert has been left disenchanted by Wren Kitchens after the agency despatched him a cooker hood with an EU plug.
Robert and his spouse acquired a substitute AEG cooker hood from Wren Kitchens after the primary unit had a fault recognized inside 30 days.
Nevertheless, not like the primary AEG hood which had no plug, because it was hardwired, the substitute was equipped with an EU plug.
Clearly their house was not geared up with an EU plug socket in order that they have been unable to make use of the hood.
Except for this, it’s unlawful to promote a product within the UK with an EU plug, except it’s fitted with a conversion plug.
Robert was additionally not sure whether or not his guarantee could be invalidated if he was to get an electrician to transform the plug right into a UK socket.
He struggled to get solutions from Wren and so I contacted the corporate to ask why it had despatched over an EU hood, versus a UK compliant one, and what it was planning on doing to rectify the scenario.
A spokesperson for Wren stated: ‘The quickest and easiest method for this sort of drawback to be rectified for a buyer is for the producer to rearrange for a technician to go to the shoppers house, as they’re finest geared up to take care of faults onsite with out the necessity for elimination or disturbance of different gadgets throughout the kitchen.
‘This was provided to the shopper nonetheless, they didn’t discover this feature acceptable to them and as a substitute a substitute merchandise was ordered from AEG and delivered to them.
‘As you’ll little doubt bear in mind, home equipment comparable to this aren’t manufactured by Wren.
‘Wren don’t maintain inventory of any home equipment and they’re all ordered on a “Simply in Time” foundation straight from the producer, which suggests they’re ordered and delivered to our manufacturing facility prepared for supply to the shopper the next day.
‘AEG have carried out an investigation into the matter and have confirmed this merchandise was despatched from their manufacturing facility in error.
‘We’re very sorry this oversight has affected our clients and, as talked about above, have since instructed AEG to dispatch a substitute chimney hood.’
An AEG spokesperson added: ‘We take our authorized obligations severely and are investigating why the buyer was despatched this merchandise in error.
‘We’ve got taken steps to make sure that the buyer receives an acceptable substitute with the intention to resolve this matter.’
Happily, you are actually anticipating a substitute hood with a UK plug socket however it’s protected to say the 2 corporations have been definitely not cooking on fuel after they delivered you a non-compliant kitchen equipment.

One buyer praised agency, Freddie’s Flowers, after it delivered a brand new bouquet without cost
Hit: In optimistic information, this week, reader Laura praised Freddie’s Flowers.
She stated: ‘I purchased my mum a 3 month subscription to Freddie’s Flowers and phoned to request the flowers be lily free as we’ve a cat.
‘Nevertheless, after they arrived they’d lilies. My mum phoned they usually have been very apologetic and defined they’d bother with their system in order that they despatched her a brand new bouquet with out lilies without cost.
‘They have been very well mannered and pleasant on the cellphone.’ Most cat homeowners know that lilies are poisonous for his or her 4 legged associates – it sounds just like the agency has blooming good customer support.