MY VIN # IS WRONG!!
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10
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From: Wheaton, Md. USA
Dennis...
I hope it doesn't turn out that way either but if it does I, and the police, have a "trail" to follow... I know who I bought the vehicle from (I even have my canceled check!), I know where he lives and I know he owns a home, which means he has assets to go after. I also know who the original lien holder was (that's who I actually wrote the check out to) and I know who the selling dealer was.
I guess my first recourse would be to go after the original owner who would in turn go after the selling dealer... faced with this prospect, perhaps the dealer would be willing to correct the problem.
98SCREAMER...
As far as the insurance problem goes, I think I've got that covered... already informed my agent. The detective also gave me his card and told me to refer any officer who might pull me over and discover the discrepancy to him until I can get this corrected.
I hope it doesn't turn out that way either but if it does I, and the police, have a "trail" to follow... I know who I bought the vehicle from (I even have my canceled check!), I know where he lives and I know he owns a home, which means he has assets to go after. I also know who the original lien holder was (that's who I actually wrote the check out to) and I know who the selling dealer was.
I guess my first recourse would be to go after the original owner who would in turn go after the selling dealer... faced with this prospect, perhaps the dealer would be willing to correct the problem.
98SCREAMER...
As far as the insurance problem goes, I think I've got that covered... already informed my agent. The detective also gave me his card and told me to refer any officer who might pull me over and discover the discrepancy to him until I can get this corrected.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10
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From: Wheaton, Md. USA
Ok,
Had my truck inspected By the State Police Auto Theft Detectives at the DMV last Tuesday. What an experience! Had no Idea what I was in for... signs were posted prominently on the entrance to the garage announcing in bold lettering...
"Warning, any persons found to be in possession of stolen vehicles will be reported to the State Police immediately."
It was only upon entering that I discovered the inspections were actually conducted by the State Police who, by the way, were equipped with their sidearms and hand cuffs!
I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure the man ahead of me in line was indeed arrested... The police grilled him about where he got the vehicle and his story changed several times. Finally, they put his vehicle in the impound lot, pulled him into a back room and I never saw him again.
The place was full of, for lack of a better term, LOSERS... and I got the distinct impression that most of them had obtained their vehicles in some sort of less-than-legal manner and were hoping against hope that they could pull this off and have their ownership "legitimized" by the State.
My truck passed the scrutiny of the detectives and they determined that the manufacturer had indeed mis-stamped the VIN plate (ie. all the other "hidden VIN's" were correct).
The Detective informed me that he had never seen a situation like that before and the only solution he could offer was to remove the factory VIN plate and affix a State issued serial number plate to the driver's door pillar. He added that doing so would "significantly reduce the resale value of my truck as 99% of all vehicles bearing that sort of identification were either home made (as in a home made trailer) or salvage vehicles (ie. vehicles "totaled" by insurers and rebuilt with spare parts from other totaled vehicles)."
In the end I asked if the Department could supply me with some sort of document that indicated the error was the fault of the manufacturer and allow me some time to persue a remedy through Ford, to my surprise, they said yes!
So that's where I am now. Hopefully, armed with this document, Ford will now accept responsiblity for their error and offer to correct the problem.
Will keep you all posted...
Had my truck inspected By the State Police Auto Theft Detectives at the DMV last Tuesday. What an experience! Had no Idea what I was in for... signs were posted prominently on the entrance to the garage announcing in bold lettering...
"Warning, any persons found to be in possession of stolen vehicles will be reported to the State Police immediately."
It was only upon entering that I discovered the inspections were actually conducted by the State Police who, by the way, were equipped with their sidearms and hand cuffs!
I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure the man ahead of me in line was indeed arrested... The police grilled him about where he got the vehicle and his story changed several times. Finally, they put his vehicle in the impound lot, pulled him into a back room and I never saw him again.
The place was full of, for lack of a better term, LOSERS... and I got the distinct impression that most of them had obtained their vehicles in some sort of less-than-legal manner and were hoping against hope that they could pull this off and have their ownership "legitimized" by the State.
My truck passed the scrutiny of the detectives and they determined that the manufacturer had indeed mis-stamped the VIN plate (ie. all the other "hidden VIN's" were correct).
The Detective informed me that he had never seen a situation like that before and the only solution he could offer was to remove the factory VIN plate and affix a State issued serial number plate to the driver's door pillar. He added that doing so would "significantly reduce the resale value of my truck as 99% of all vehicles bearing that sort of identification were either home made (as in a home made trailer) or salvage vehicles (ie. vehicles "totaled" by insurers and rebuilt with spare parts from other totaled vehicles)."
In the end I asked if the Department could supply me with some sort of document that indicated the error was the fault of the manufacturer and allow me some time to persue a remedy through Ford, to my surprise, they said yes!
So that's where I am now. Hopefully, armed with this document, Ford will now accept responsiblity for their error and offer to correct the problem.
Will keep you all posted...
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,751
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From: Waltham Ma.
tedoca
I am glad you did not get your truck impounded, and that you were not arrested. Now that you have propper documentation from the state DMV I hope Ford steps up to the plate and makes things right.
Let us know how Ford responds now, and good luck bud
Don
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip, K&N FIPK Intake.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Alpine CDA-7845, ADS P640 Amp, Focal Poly Kevlar seperates.
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING on order
http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html
I am glad you did not get your truck impounded, and that you were not arrested. Now that you have propper documentation from the state DMV I hope Ford steps up to the plate and makes things right.
Let us know how Ford responds now, and good luck bud
Don
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip, K&N FIPK Intake.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Alpine CDA-7845, ADS P640 Amp, Focal Poly Kevlar seperates.
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING on order
http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,233
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Tedoca, I bet you're relieved, especially after seeing those signs and drivers getting arrested! I would have been sweating bullets and trying to figure out some kind of fail proof cover story.
Why do you have to remove the factory VIN plate and install a state plate in the door? Why not leave the original VIN and install the state plate too?
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-19-2001).]
Why do you have to remove the factory VIN plate and install a state plate in the door? Why not leave the original VIN and install the state plate too?
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-19-2001).]
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Wheaton, Md. USA
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dennis:
Tedoca, I bet you're relieved, especially after seeing those signs and drivers getting arrested! I would have been sweating bullets and trying to figure out some kind of fail proof cover story.
Dennis...
I was a little nervous... I had my title with me, a copy of the original owners title, the original widow sticker from the vehicle, the lien release from the original owner's bank, and even the canceled check I wrote for the purchase of the vehicle at a fair market price just in case. (The inspectors did examine all of my documents as well as the vehicle) But still... had it been discovered that my truck was in fact a stolen vehicle I imagine I would have been arrested, even if only as a formality because I was the one in possession of the vehicle at the time.
Why do you have to remove the factory VIN plate and install a state plate in the door? Why not leave the original VIN and install the state plate too?
I asked about that but was told it's just standard operating procedure, at least in the State of Maryland.
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-19-2001).]</font>
Tedoca, I bet you're relieved, especially after seeing those signs and drivers getting arrested! I would have been sweating bullets and trying to figure out some kind of fail proof cover story.
Dennis...
I was a little nervous... I had my title with me, a copy of the original owners title, the original widow sticker from the vehicle, the lien release from the original owner's bank, and even the canceled check I wrote for the purchase of the vehicle at a fair market price just in case. (The inspectors did examine all of my documents as well as the vehicle) But still... had it been discovered that my truck was in fact a stolen vehicle I imagine I would have been arrested, even if only as a formality because I was the one in possession of the vehicle at the time.
Why do you have to remove the factory VIN plate and install a state plate in the door? Why not leave the original VIN and install the state plate too?
I asked about that but was told it's just standard operating procedure, at least in the State of Maryland.
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-19-2001).]</font>
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 979
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From: Tampa Bay Area - FL
Ok, so...
Here's mine...still missing 4th & 12th digits explanations...
1 = USA
F = Ford
T = Truck
R = ?????
X08 = SuperCab 4x4 Flareside
L = 5.4L
6 = Check Digit
Y = 2000
K = Claycomo, Missouri assembly plant
B = ?????
35548 = Production number
Cool software for decoding basic VIN numbers.
www.vindecoder.com
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--Lariat4WD--
2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; GSP black Safari Grille Guard; GTS TailBlazerII Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round; Cranked torsion bars; Removed lower striping; Replaced factory ORP decals w/ silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm
Pending
Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series single to dual exhaust w/ 18" SS tips out back; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; Build house w/ huge garage with a drain and a lift.
Please Visit My Web Site (Updated Daily) and Sign My Guest Book
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-12-2001).]
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-12-2001).]
Here's mine...still missing 4th & 12th digits explanations...
1 = USA
F = Ford
T = Truck
R = ?????
X08 = SuperCab 4x4 Flareside
L = 5.4L
6 = Check Digit
Y = 2000
K = Claycomo, Missouri assembly plant
B = ?????
35548 = Production number
Cool software for decoding basic VIN numbers.
www.vindecoder.com
------------------
--Lariat4WD--
2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; GSP black Safari Grille Guard; GTS TailBlazerII Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round; Cranked torsion bars; Removed lower striping; Replaced factory ORP decals w/ silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm
Pending
Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series single to dual exhaust w/ 18" SS tips out back; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; Build house w/ huge garage with a drain and a lift.
Please Visit My Web Site (Updated Daily) and Sign My Guest Book
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-12-2001).]
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-12-2001).]
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 680
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From: Northwest Iowa, '00 F-150 Harley-Davidson
I've been waiting for the final outcome of this whole sordid story about the incorrect VIN#, but guess after DMV finally caught up with him, we're gonna have to wait until tedoca can post bond. 
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2000 F150 Harley-Davidson: Superchip, K&N FIPK
Hard Tonneau, Hidden Hitch, 2-Meter Rig (KG0UK)
'99 FLHRCI, '95 XLH
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2000 F150 Harley-Davidson: Superchip, K&N FIPK
Hard Tonneau, Hidden Hitch, 2-Meter Rig (KG0UK)
'99 FLHRCI, '95 XLH
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10
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From: Wheaton, Md. USA
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by HarleyGuy:
I've been waiting for the final outcome of this whole sordid story about the incorrect VIN#, but guess after DMV finally caught up with him, we're gonna have to wait until tedoca can post bond.
</font>
I've been waiting for the final outcome of this whole sordid story about the incorrect VIN#, but guess after DMV finally caught up with him, we're gonna have to wait until tedoca can post bond.
</font>
No, that's not the truth. The truth is I've been on vacation. I promise, there will be a sequel to this story...
... as soon as they let me out of here!