Service Records and PRIVACY - problem?

mdrexler · 05-07-2008, 07:04 PM

I am looking at purchasing a 95 993. The dealer appears to have a big stack of service records for the car, but says he can't release them to me because of privacy legislation. This is in NJ. Has anyone had this experience? Could he be right? There must be a way around this issue. Ideas?

flmont · 05-07-2008, 07:11 PM

If the dealer now owns the car I dont see the issue,...maybe someone else's stack of PPWK Frank

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

sounds a little strange, but there is a way around it if you know the previous owner. Most states DMV will allow you to fill out a form that they send to prior owners wit your contact info. It is not a timely or guaranteed response from these priors, but it is legal.

OR.. if the dealer is motivated to sell the car, they can black out the personal info on the copies of the repair orders. This is what we do to protect the privacy of the owners. The serial # and lic. plate are a matter of public record when the car is offered for sale, so it should not be an issue because of this

rw229 · 07:21 PM

I've run into this with other vehicles. Kindly ask them if they will redact any personal information from the print out. If not, sometimes they will be willing to read you the history over the phone. Also, a long shot but you may be able to get your local dealer to pull the info for the vin from the central system, but I'm betting that they will want proof of ownership.

ETA... I'm assuming that you're trying to pull service history on a car that is not for sale by this dealer. If the car is for sale by the dealer refusing to provide the history, call BS, tell him his deal depends on it and walk if he doesn't provide it. I would think that the history would be a selling point unless they are trying to hide something.

the · 05-07-2008, 07:18 PM

I can't really see there being a privacy issue, depending on the facts.

If a guy takes his car to a dealership for service, and he later sells the car through some other channels, I could see where the dealership would not release their records to you. They have no contract or connection with you.

But if a guy sells his car to a dealer, and gives the dealer the service records along with the car, the dealer should be able to give you the records with the car. I would think that any privacy rights were waived by the guy when he gave the dealer the records.

Cooper911SC · 05-07-2008, 07:21 PM

Hmmm...Interesting.

I bought my SC in 2001 and just contacted the shop that had been doing the service. I explained that I didn't live in the area and that I'd gladly send a S.A.S.E. if they would provide copies of all of the old work orders... They were more than happy to help out.

Good luck with the dealer...It seems strange to me.

Cooper

tmctguer · tmctguer's Garage

i got the same response from a local Porsche dealer when i tried to get the prior owner's name of my 911 Speedster. i was trying to put together a history of the car and they would not release the info.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

New Jersey? Sounds the service and sales manager needs a white envelope with a "tip"....

Dantilla · 05-07-2008, 08:51 PM

One Porsche I bought came with a big stack of reciepts- Including a former owner's credit card numbers.

mdrexler · 05-08-2008, 01:28 PM

So the conclusion is that the Dealer still has not given me the records, although to make the sale he has said they will if the PO's info is removed. We'll see. PPI was great, and I called the shop whose oil change sticker was on the windshield, and he gave me a computer print out of every service performed on the car over last 40K miles, back to 2000. I am now happy.

dw1 · 05-08-2008, 06:08 PM

I've run into this myself here in NJ.

My experience was with a very reputable Saab dealer. There are laws that prevent the dealer from revealing the name and address of the previous owner or lessee of any vehicle they are selling.

It makes sense. If you trade in a vehicle, would you want a potential new owner of that vehicle to find your name and address?

All of this being sad, the Saab dealer was able to supply the complete service records (it was a leased car, so they had the records) with the lessee's name removed.

I can see a problem if the records are in the form of receipts from a variety of sources - I don't know if the dealer would be willing or able to remove all of the previous owner's information from the receipts by censoring all of the information.

Or, of course, they could be B.S.ing you about having all of the records, or trying to hide something.