[oldskool]

I see what youre saying Stig but from the ops first post it was clear the dealer hadnt done their job and checked it with a reputable hpi company

A reputable hpi company would at this point be admitting they had misinformed the dealer and sorting out a settlement as info was wrong and thats unsatisfactory

Notwithsatnding hpi isnt foolproof but thats why the proper ones offer guarantees on their verification

As stated above hpi can be wrong - especially re finance as people can take payday loans etc against cars that wont show on hpi for months and then sell them immediately - indeed there are cases where people have bought a car off one dealer on finance then sold it for cash to another dealer the same day never intending to pay a penny off the finance and it happens too quick to register on the system

A proper hpi check would of showed the car being a write off two years before , the dealer didnt do one and if he did either didnt use an approved company or if an approved company should right now be claiming the ops friends money back for him

Unfortunately so many shysters in car trade still they will be very lucky to just get a full refund but they are entitled to one - lets not forget some of the car was paid on card so that gives purchaser even more rights and avenues of recompense

Op should ask for a full and total refund - nothing less