Hire of my car!

[thboxster]

I had the strangest letter arrive through the post yesterday. It was from the VCA (vehicle certification agency). Apparently, in there environmental testing they have not yet performed the tests on a 3.2 987. They've written to me asking if I would be willing to hire my car out to them, for it to spend 3 days at Millbrook being put through all manner of emission tests.

This is supposedly to see if Porsche have got their information correct in their sales literature and perhaps make some recommendations to them if the tests are not squeeky clean.

Anybody else had one?

 

[Popolou]

What's stopping them going direct to Porsche UK?

Sounds very dodgy.....[&:]

Pop

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: thboxster

This is supposedly to see if Porsche have got their information correct in their sales literature and perhaps make some recommendations to them if the tests are not squeeky clean.

Anybody else had one?

Sounds like a scam.[&o]

How would they know if your car has even ever seen an OPC for a service and set up check since it left the factory way back whenever.

If they contacted me I would tell them to "swivel" []

 

[Fred Hindle]

The car could go a long way in three days, either whole or in bits. Insurance wouldn't cover you as it would be classed as 'Hireor reward' plus you had given them the keys.
Contact them and say you would be interested then contact the police - they may be already aware of this scam.
Cheers

.

 

[thboxster]

The odd thing is, they are correctly identifying my VIN on their paperwork.

Or can this be obtained from anywhere other than off the car itself (or logbook).

 

[Mark_Bennett]

The DVLA have been accused of selling our data to far too many people...[:'(]

 

[Guest]

Worth a telephone call to the Police and ask them?

 

[Physci]

You could also contact the VCA (a real agency per direct.gov.uk) at http://www.vca.gov.uk/ and see what they say although even if a real request not sure that I would lend anyone my car when they could surely go direct to Porsche to borrow a car.

 

[Guest]

Do they crash test it too!!!

Rodney

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Rodney Collins

Do they crash test it too!!!

Rodney

Yes but only the once I believe

 

[GeoffB]

Sounds like a scam, we had all certification testing witnessed by VCA at point of test prior to data being allowed to be inserted in sales literature. Suggest you give details to Police, (they probably wont be interested though!)

 

[RSGulp]

ORIGINAL: thboxster

The odd thing is, they are correctly identifying my VIN on their paperwork.

Or can this be obtained from anywhere other than off the car itself (or logbook).

Your car's VIN can be easily obtained by anyone doing an HPI check and supplying details of make, model and registration number. HPI will then supply the VIN and engine number details along with the other usual information they supply e.g. Cat C Insurance claim, etc.

 

[Buzz]

Hi all,

I had the same letter. It was from the VCA and offered me "approx" 500 pounds for 3 days of use of my car.

It stated that insurance would be arranged by them.

Straight in the bin it went...... 500 quid for 3 days in my toy? Nice try.

Dont know if it was genuine or not and could'nt care less.

Regards,

Buzz.

 

[RSGulp]

It sounds very much like a scam if others have had the same letter. At least one of you should tell the VCA (who may act, or may not) and/or the police. Might stop another Porsche owner being sucked in.

 

[DavidSaunders]

I got the letter too. It all looks very official and convincing, but I've never heard of this kind of thing before. It seems the intention is to test whether the fuel consumption and emission standards are maintained during the first five years of the car's life. My car is about two and a half years old and is also a 987S.

I will contact the VCA to ask whether this letter really did come from them. But I'm not planning to lend them my car even if it can be proved to be a genuine offer.

David

 

[Guest]

I think it's certainly a scammer!

 

[thboxster]

I did ring last Thursday but there was nobody in that department then. I was told to call again on Friday but was too busy.

 

[DavidSaunders]

I emailed the VCA and got a response today. It seems that the letters are legitimate. Here's what they said:

This project runs each year to help ensure the robust systems are in place at the vehicle manufacturers with regard to the Euro 4 emissions requirements. Any manufacturer found to have problems would be required to take field action on all vehicles in the market place to correct any issues found. The possible use of your car in this process would be appreciated.

It sounds like a worthwhile cause and it would be good to help out. But somehow I can't bring myself to hand over my car for a few days of testing at Millbrook, even though it's on a rolling road and not the bowl.

 

[RSGulp]

I'm amazed this is for real. Why don't they approach independent dealerships local to Millbrook, I'm sure they would be more than happy to have a car earning £500 for 3 days rather than sitting on a forecourt earning nothing.