Mark101

lol

Bloody hell you're all too kind. I bought an under 2 year old Range Vogue for £47,500, traded it in with same dealer after 3 months and took a £9,000 hit.

Was that you TV

Didn't need to Google that one

8 for me - 6 gone, 2 with holding deposits for collection before month end.

Again, I have had to Google IIRC

£140 is tops for me. Had a result with a Merc key, usually North of £200. I agreed to be gineau pig to trial his "new" software for Merc and he succeeded - new key, coded and my cost........ £70

I could have filled your spaces for two weeks, just considering "upping" my contracted number. Enjoy your hols mate

I always make sure there are two keys (unless it is a shitter or cheap PX). Costs around £140 but like you say, 1 key does look a bit shitty at hand over.

Try these guys http://www.carbodypanels.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home Very good from my experience

I've just had to Google HTH because you keep writing it and I had no idea lol (irony)

You were happy with the initial price, only increasing through frustration (we have all been there). Accept it, in effect you've only been chipped £89 - the extra £200 was never "real"

Exactly that. Insurance, Ltd No. and in 24 hours later

I print two copes confirming the transfer, one for them, one for that specific car file.

If we start using the PML as our general chat page, they will follow...... Most of the other forum headings don't get utilised, so just farm it all over to private.....please. Especially when one post the other day inadvertently left the customers phone number on a copied and pasted transcipt - whoops

+ 1 All done and dusted, filed - next. Worst case - + 1 keeper and a delay - happens once in a blue moon and rarely affects the cars value IMO. If is needs work, by the time it is done, readvertised, found a new buyer - then the log book shouldn't be too far behind. It's just part of the job.

My only criticism is of "us" not the mag/forum. This is a public forum and I think we should be using the Private room more often (I am guilty too). I hate the idea of a rogue trader, dodgy doorstepper et al benefiting from the free advice us tax paying, law abiding, warranty honouring, properly preparing traders do. I also don't like to share my wins and fails with everman and his dog, whereas occassionally I like to share my joy or tears with fellow traders outside of the public domain.

I always tell people to call me before they set off to ensure the car is still available, out of courtesy I give them a "reasonable" amount of time to arrive based on their starting point/distance to travel and temporarily "hold" the car until they have seen it. Easy to manage as a doorstepper/appointment basis - less so if you get a walk on at the pitch waving cash at you - what to do. I am currently holding a car until Monday (old boy can't do Internet banking himself) despite having another guy begging for the same car. I perosnally prefer the sound of the original guy anyway and believe he will be less hassle, so worth the risk.

OK, so what happens if punter pays in full for tax - returns the vehicle yet you havent sent the V5 off. Refund goes to registered keeper, no?

It just makes you feel that you're not "alone" when many of us are sole traders or sole directors. This job can be lonely, troubling even but knowing others have been there and survived is a great reassurance. Personally, I love this trade and I learn something everyday, partially through my activities but a lot from here too.

I really like Kia, Hyundai and the like but I wouldn't chose one becuase I am a petrol head, car snob or whatever you want to call me (stupid perhaps) even though they're probably better and almost certainly carry a better warranty than the types of cars I want/do/have own(ed)

If it were me and all presuming it's now back with me and indeed chucking out white smoke, no power etc. I would say; Sir, I am so sorry, we do everything we can to prevent this kind of situation. Would you like a refund or would you like me to perform the repair and then have the car back? This goes to court and the customer will win. Doesn't matter if it's 20 years old, done 500,000 miles and the owner has ragged it in 1st gear everywhere - you're going to lose in court because you can't prove his driving style with any certainty. Sorry to bear bad news but that's my opinion and a refund would be my preference (rather than have someone ringing every day asking when it will be ready).

I always Google - Sold a car tell DVLA - goes straight to the page and it is a doddle. I hand the customer the New Keeper Supplement, even if I have taxed it for them and I retain the actual V5 (you're supposed to destroy) with my records for that car (in case of any future discrepency.

The money saving expert?