What Car? Q&A - Have I bought a lemon?

Q: I bought a Vauxhall Astra recently in some haste but am now not very convinced about the solidity of my purchase. The VIN number under the bonnet doesn't match the VIN on the inside of the door frame, and there's very little service history.

The invoice for the car has one company name, the credit card slip has another and in our local directory the garage is listed under a third.

The engine bay is VERY clean. The mileometer reads 56,000 miles, but the top of the steering wheel has been worn bald.
Paul Chambers

A: Unfortunately, it sounds like you've noticed a lot of the warning signs too late. Any one of the problems you've mentioned might have been reason enough to walk away from the car.

An HPI check (0845 123 2617) can reveal much about the car's history. While it might give you more headaches to deal with, at least you'll know if it is two cars welded together or one that's carrying a false identity. Do either of the VIN numbers match the one on your V5 registration document?

You're right too to be suspicious about a very clean engine bay and a low mileage that doesn't tally with the poor condition of the steering wheel.

If the dealer you bought it from made any misleading claims about the accuracy of the mileage you might be able to demand a refund on these grounds.

The Sale of Goods Act also allows you to reject the car on the grounds that it's not fit for the purpose for which it was sold.

As the dealer is trading under three different names, however, it sounds as if they might not be so happy to play ball.

Visit your local Citizen's Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) with the paperwork you've got and get some more help and backup. Your local Trading Standards Office (www.tradingstandards.gov.uk) might also be interested and may also be able to help.