So I bought my '93 max back in August of 2001 with 87,000 miles on it. By the way, did a carfax when I purchesed it, it was clean. Well a couple of days ago I get a letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saying my car had 165,143 miles on it when it was sold to a used car dealership back in July of 2000. They also sent a copy of a bill of sale with the vin # and odometer reading as proof. I also got a letter from the U.S. department of justice today saying they've caught the dealer and he has been proscuted. They say I may be able to get some restitution if sufficient funds are available. But, they want me to send information to aid in the sentencing, such as any repair bills and the vehicle bill of sale to me. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? If so, what bills did you claim and how did you figure the amount of money to claim? I kinda don't know where to go from here with this and any help would be greatly apprciated. Thanks

 

I doubt you'll be able to claim a certain amount. Most likely whatever funds are leftover will be split between the victims.

I had odometer fraud happen on my last Max, found out through carfax. It really sucks.

 

Doesn't carfax have a guarantee??? I thought they had like a $5000 gurantee.

 

That car probably didn't meet the requirements though, not all cars do...

 

Yeah, but I sure would check...and PUSH the issue even if it does NOT. That is the reason you RUN a carfax in the first place...and they FAILED you.

 

I would go online with Kelly Blue Book and determine the car's value at both 87,000 and 165,143 miles, and then request restitution for the difference.

 

Thats definatly the way to go. Also, you should push maintenance issues. Since the car really has 165,143 you should be covered for that too.

 

He is a victim.

I'd put a claim in for the difference in value with the added mileage.

 

a percentage of the difference:

CARFAX agrees to pay to the holder of a CARFAX Vehicle History Report (the "Report") making a claim (the "Claimant") ten percent (10%) of the Wholesale Value of the vehicle to which the Report relates -- up to a maximum of $5,000 (or $1,000 if the Report was run on or before January 18, 2001) - if:

The Report shows a clean title history for the vehicle, but a Branded Title actually exists. A "Branded Title" is a passenger motor vehicle ownership document issued by any of the 50 states of the U.S. (or the District of Columbia) which bears words or symbols signifying that the vehicle was: junked or salvaged; rebuilt or reconstructed; flood damaged; disclosed as damaged; bought back by its manufacturer; odometer exceeds mechanical limits; odometer was not actual mileage; or any other symbol or word signifying a similar Brand.

Specifically excluded from the definition of "Branded Title" are: titles originally issued without a Brand but later stamped with a Brand; salvage titles issued due to theft; Branded Titles that were issued in error and later corrected; titles issued by Canadian authorities.

The following additional terms and conditions apply to the Guarantee:



1. The Claimant must provide a complete copy of the Report with the Affidavit Claim Form. The Report must have been run prior to the date the vehicle was purchased by the Claimant.
2. The Claimant must provide proof of current ownership of the vehicle in the form of a bill of sale and a title issued by the motor vehicle agency of one of the 50 states of the U.S. (or the District of Columbia).
3. The Claimant must provide a copy of the Branded Title, or an acceptable alternative, certified by the issuing state authority. This title must have been issued at least 60 days prior to the date the Report was run.
4. CARFAX will review Claims if the Branded Title was issued by a motor vehicle agency from which CARFAX receives and loads data about Branded Titles in regular monthly transmissions.
5. If, prior to purchasing the vehicle, the Claimant knew, or should have known, from a source other than CARFAX, of the existence of a Branded Title for the Claimant's vehicle, CARFAX reserves the right to reject the Claim.
6. In determining the amount to be paid under the Guarantee, CARFAX will use the wholesale value of the vehicle reported by the Kelley Blue Book within 30 days of receipt of the Claim
7. If the Report in question identifies one or more Branded Titles, the Guarantee will not apply, even if other existing Branded Titles do not appear in the Report.
8. CARFAX will accept only one Claim per Vehicle Identification Number under the Guarantee, or any other CARFAX guarantee.
9. Each household or business may submit only one Claim per calendar year.
10. The Guarantee will apply only if the vehicle to which the Report relates is an automobile or light truck and was manufactured in model year 1981 or later.
11. The Guarantee will expire three (3) years after the date of the first Report run by or for the Claimant relating to the vehicle
12. Employees of CARFAX and its affiliated companies, and members of their families, are not eligible.
13. CARFAX may, at any time and without prior notice, change the terms of the Guarantee, or discontinue the Guarantee.
14. The Guarantee will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm also going to send them the recipts of all the maintence work I've had done to the car.
Thanks for all the help!