Computer History From Mercedes Refused

[Lordjellybelly]

My car has all Mercedes stamps but knowing in detail work previously done would be helpful so I called the original selling Merc dealer who serviced it through the previous three owners also, to request and pay for if required, the history.....personal details deleted.......to be told NO!....Data protection Act!!

Has anybody ever been able to obtain such info from Mercedes?

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[television]

It does nothing for your confidence does it, could have been a pig, and there is no way that you can find out

 

[hawk20]

My car has all Mercedes stamps but knowing in detail work previously done would be helpful so I called the original selling Merc dealer who serviced it through the previous three owners also, to request and pay for if required, the history.....personal details deleted.......to be told NO!....Data protection Act!!

Has anybody ever been able to obtain such info from Mercedes?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Yes, but they should not give it to you.

 

[Alfie]

My car has all Mercedes stamps but knowing in detail work previously done would be helpful so I called the original selling Merc dealer who serviced it through the previous three owners also, to request and pay for if required, the history.....personal details deleted.......to be told NO!....Data protection Act!!

Has anybody ever been able to obtain such info from Mercedes?

Thanks in advance for any advice

I'd write to them quoting the freedom of information act and also politely ask Mercedes Benz Uk!

 

[BeeJay]

If the Personal Details have been removed from what is sent to you then the Data protection Act does NOT apply.

The Data Protection Act considers Data Subjects. These are living (dead people don't sue) identifiable, individuals. If there are no references to any Data Subjects in the information sent, then there is no problem.

Too many organisations hide behind the Data Protection Act, as an excuse for all sorts.

I would advise you gently push them on this.

 

[hawk20]

I am glad the Data Protection Act gives some protection as I believe it does.

Work done under guarantee, during the first 3 years, is an example of one kind of data which is protected. You might not want others to know all that had been done and it is your right to privacy.

Freedom of Information Act relates to public bodies not privately owned cars BTW.

 

[jberks]

As Beejay says
"The Data Protection Act applies to personal information. This is information about living, identified or identifiable individuals and includes information such as names and address, bank details, and opinions expressed about an individual."
A car is not a legal individual so is not covered by this act. Explain, politely that their excuse is complete cobblers and ask them to print off the car's history.

That said, the freedom of information act is also irrelevant as a) the car is not a legal entity so is not covered by the act and b) the information held is not about you.

Legally they don't have to provide the details however, so you technically have no legal right to it either.

 

[deejaybee]

I also had a similar experience and was told that the detail history could not provided. However, they did say that if I obtained a signed waiver from the previous owner authorising them to release the information they would do so - I haven't got around to doing this to date so don't know if they will keep to their word?

Anyway, I wonder if they keep records with customer signatures on anyway and if they would check this if a letter was produced?

Dave

 

[steveharris746]

Merc Dealer

I have just had delivered a replacement service book, fully stamped and invoices to support as the folder got lost in a house move.
Had to pay £15, yet they gave me the previous owners invoices and even sent it too the other dealers to obtain the correct stamps from where the service occured.

Sounds like you my have got hold of a "jobs worth"

 

[Lordjellybelly]

Wrote to M.D. complaining as per initial post and offering reasonable payment for info. Had phone call from secretary explaining not been Merc authorised dealer since 2002 but would send service details from then onwards for £50.00. I agreed and stuff received today. No particular shocks but some surprise to notice a slight problem on cruise control I had recently [109k miles] was reported exactly the same four years and 40k miles ago and a very slight head gasket leak I know about was reported at the same time. And presenter motors were replaced at 75k and 87k.

 

[stats007]

I've never had a problem obtaining prior history of the MBs I've bought. MB Lancaster group and Jacksons very helpful in this respect.

 

[television]

Having found out one issue with my car, MB SW told me yesterday that the original dealer doing the work can give a print out of something that was done.

MB SW could not give it

 

[jon_harley]

As Beejay says
"The Data Protection Act applies to personal information. This is information about living, identified or identifiable individuals and includes information such as names and address, bank details, and opinions expressed about an individual."
A car is not a legal individual so is not covered by this act. Explain, politely that their excuse is complete cobblers and ask them to print off the car's history.

That said, the freedom of information act is also irrelevant as a) the car is not a legal entity so is not covered by the act and b) the information held is not about you.

All correct, but since you know the previous owner of the car from your V5 certificate, providing service history from the period when that person owned the car does constitute information about an identifiable individual... so I wouldn't be surprised if the DP Act does cover it.

 

[hawk20]

All correct, but since you know the previous owner of the car from your V5 certificate, providing service history from the period when that person owned the car does constitute information about an identifiable individual... so I wouldn't be surprised if the DP Act does cover it.

Precisely; that is exactly the grey area. It is inforamtion about a car in theownership of an individual shows what they had done to it, guarantee work, servicing etc etc. Could even show that tyres were illegal when came in for service.

 

[Hedonist]

Hawk

Hawk, I have read a lot of your posts, and I would surmise you are typicall of the type of buyer Merc main dealers love !

Someone who buys new, pays for the extra warrenty, pays up with a good heart and a bulging cheque book, etc, etc.

For the rest of us it's a different world ! when spending ones hard earned cash and wanting to find out some previous history!

Breathing different air springs to my mind !

 

[hawk20]

Hawk, I have read a lot of your posts, and I would surmise you are typicall of the type of buyer Merc main dealers love !

Someone who buys new, pays for the extra warrenty, pays up with a good heart and a bulging cheque book, etc, etc.

For the rest of us it's a different world ! when spending ones hard earned cash and wanting to find out some previous history!

Breathing different air springs to my mind !

Just shows how wrong you can be. Bought my car secondhand, with my own money, and have no extra warranty. And did all I could to check out its previous history.

 

[benzo]

My C class was previously owned by DCUK. They obliged immediately to my request for all work done on the car. They sent me a complete print out free of charge. (Even included details of light bulb changes...)

Also have to add that though I don't always agree with what Hawk20 writes , I did take his advice when shopping for my W211 E class and plumped up some extra cash to buy one within warranty from a main dealer. I am very happy I did.

 

[television]

Its very different buying one from MB and no previous owners

 

[stats007]

Not in my experience Malcolm. I've had three SLs - all privately purchased, all with at least 2 previous owners.

 

[television]

Not in my experience Malcolm. I've had three SLs - all privately purchased, all with at least 2 previous owners.

OK,Thank you, MB SW did not want to give me details of what MB Brentford had done, but they did say that they will probably give it to me.