Anyone ever heard of this?

[skiwee1]

DH and I traded his SUV in at a dealership 3 weeks ago and bought an Acura there. Tonight someone calls my house and addresses me by my last name as in Mrs. B. He then explains to me that he bought my DH's SUV at another dealership in another state. I was stunned. I had never heard of anyone giving this info about before. Am I wrong? I am at least happy that the guy was very nice and just wanted to know the history of the truck and if there was anything we could tell him about it that he might not know like what kind of oil we used and so on. I was just so shocked that this happened that I never thought to ask him how he got our name and phone number. I am calling our dealership tomorrow and find out. What would you do?

 

[Buckalew11]

We were offered the name of the guy who owned our Toyota when I traded my Volvo in at the Toyota place. I can't remember if DH called him or not. When Keith bought a used truck at a different dealer (way back when the 1st Gulf War started) he was offered the owner's name and did talk to him.

 

[skiwee1]

We were offered the name of the guy who owned our Toyota when I traded my Volvo in at the Toyota place. I can't remember if DH called him or not. When Keith bought a used truck at a different dealer (way back when the 1st Gulf War started) he was offered the owner's name and did talk to him.

I wonder of the former owner okayed it? No one asked us if a new owner could contact us. I was shocked. I have never had that happen before. Maybe it depends on the area?

 

[kilee]

A few years ago I had someone call me about a car I traded in. Turns out the radiator went and the dealer she bought it from didn't want to fix it. She called me asking if I knew it was bad, ect....
I was actually alittle dismayed that my info had been released.

 

[Pollito916]

This just doesn't seem right somehow.....

 

[dixipixi]

He could have found who owned the vehicle w/out any info from the dealership. All he would have to do is run the VIN number. If either he or one of his friends works for the DMV or any law enforcement agency, it's easy enough.

We once had someone call us on a vehicle we had traded in. Turns out he got our info from the owner's manual we left in the car.

 

[Patsfan7]

Someone we knew was concidering purchasing a traded in vehicle. They were offered the previous owners information so that they could have called and asked about the history of the vehicle. They did not do so, but I found it odd then too, because what if fifty people were interested in the vehicle before it was sold, would that previous owner have to field fifty calls of "prospective buyers"????

 

[Pugdog007]

You can probably get the info by searching the VIN.

 

[Buckalew11]

When we bought that Toyota, we were only given 1 key. I insisted on 2 (I might lock myself out, ya know!) Anyway, the guy promised me a second key. Then he couldn't find it and tried to tell me that I'd have to call the former owner and see if he had the other key!!! (What the heck?!) Supposedly, if you only have 1 key, you only have to turn 1 key in! (Of course, everyone starts out with 2 with a new car)

Anyway, the dealer then told me that I could just have 1 made. So, I did and of course, it wouldn't work. It needed that chip in it to work (the one in the fob). So, I call him back and he says to call the previous owner to which I reply, "No, you promised me a key." He ended up being made to feel guilty enough to have one made and he wasn;t happy. Those darned things are expensive! I wasn;t about the call the previous owner though. geez.

 

[Skywalker]

When we bought that Toyota, we were only given 1 key. I insisted on 2 (I might lock myself out, ya know!) Anyway, the guy promised me a second key. Then he couldn't find it and tried to tell me that I'd have to call the former owner and see if he had the other key!!! (What the heck?!) Supposedly, if you only have 1 key, you only have to turn 1 key in! (Of course, everyone starts out with 2 with a new car)

Anyway, the dealer then told me that I could just have 1 made. So, I did and of course, it wouldn't work. It needed that chip in it to work (the one in the fob). So, I call him back and he says to call the previous owner to which I reply, "No, you promised me a key." He ended up being made to feel guilty enough to have one made and he wasn;t happy. Those darned things are expensive! I wasn;t about the call the previous owner though. geez.

Same thing happened to my husband a couple of years ago, only he did call the previous owner, because it wasn't just any key, it was the fancy schmancy one with remote control doors and stuff! Turns out, he did find the key and we drove over to his place to pick it up! He was also really nice. We still get together with him now and then!

 

[kristen821]

this happened to us one time. They got the information from some receipt in the glove box for the breaks

 

[2buzzboys]

If they are giving out info I see it as either fraud or harrassment. Either way this is wrong. When I get rid of a car its gone. It then becomes the new owners problem and if they did not get a mechanic to check it out -again not my problem once sold. I would be making a major complaint with the car dealership on this issue. With all the problems these days with people stealing cc #'s and personal info this is not helping anything. What if you get some physco who shows up to your house.People get road rage -how do we know they dont get car rage.

 

[Swimnoid]

Several years ago we traded in a car and the new owner came to my work to ask about it! We left something in the car with our info on it so that part was our fault but I think she got my place of employment from the dealer. It didnt bother me and I was happy to talk to her but it was just weird!

 

[Nancy]

I don't think I'd want my info given out to the person that bought my car. Too many nut jobs out there for them to be randomly handing out my home phone number....and/or my place of employment, let's not even go there!

 

[QT Pooh]

I know people can sign up for CARFAX, which searches for information about your car (how many previous owners, etc.). I'm not sure how detailed the information is on there, but perhaps your name and city/town were listed on there?

 

[Bob NC]

I bought a used vehicle last year. I requested the previous owners name and phone number. The salesman called the previous owner and asked if it was ok for me to contact them. They ok'd it and I gave them a call. Of course I was worried that maybe the number he gave me was his brother or something, so, I asked some questions that I was sure ONLY the owner of the car would know.

 

[skiwee1]

I guess this makes me feel better that I'm not alone in this. I thought I was the only one in the world this happened to! LOL! The man was VERY nice. He had only compliments about the SUV and just wanted to know what kind of oil DH had used and things like that. He was very courteous and apologized for bothering me. I don't think I'll call the dealership now since I've heard it happening to others. I wouldn't want anyone calling the man and telling him I complained!

 

[C.Ann]

All you need is a VIN#.. Anyone can do it.. I wouldn't assume it was the dealership that gave out the info unless the new owner specifically said it was..