In 2007 I purchased through eBay a Ford Galaxy 1.9TDI with 98,000 miles on the clock for £4500.00. Having spent about £1500 in two years on various mechanical parts I decided to get rid of it using a well-known car buying service. They valued the car at £2800 as i had put on 8000 miles in two years of ownership. When the company got a VOSA report it showed the car's true mileage of 313,500.

I have spoken to Trading Standards who suggested going to the Small Claims Court, as the guy I bought the car from sold it to me using his 17-year-old daughter's eBay account. Subsequently, Trading Standards have found that he sold 11 cars in the same year using his daughter's account as a cover. I have requested £3000 back, which takes into consideration the true value at the time of £2000, plus depreciation at 30 per cent for two years, then added maintenance over and beyond a car showing the untrue mileage. All this is minus the £4500 I paid. The VOSA documents show a mileage change on the same day the previous owner registered the vehicle in his name. He kept car for only three months. Do you have any advice?