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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: KIRKS1989 on 29 January 2010, 11:32
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So i picked my beloved MK5 GTI up last Monday that i bought from a local Smith Knight Fay VW Dealership that i have dealt with for quite a few years now and they have ALWAYS been a pleasure to deal with.
I took it home and totally fell in love - The BEST car i have owned!!
I have driven it round for over a week and i am very impressed and had no problem. A good friend of mine decided to arrange a weekend away in Newquay which i had to go on! I set off last night at 10pm to miss all the traffic following a friend down. Traveling up the M6 going through all the 50 zones all of a sudden from absolutely know where two cars surrounded me which i then realised were two unmarked police cars. They boxed me in and escorted me off the motorway to a inspection unit.
Having being pulled from my car i was informed it was stolen and that it was being seized with immediate effect. The police were absolute pigs with me. I told them who i was, where i bought it, when i bought etc etc. I also had all the details and paperwork from the garage wit me but they just were not interested one little bit. I felt like one of the joy riders you see on the T.V. I felt so embarrassed. I also work for the Fire Service and had my ID card and they still treated me like i was in the wrong. Threatening me that i will be arrested for dealing with stolen goods and that if it was stolen my insurance is invalid.
As you can imagine it was pretty stressful and to be honest i didn't keep my cool. I was LIVID!!
So after a long debate i handed the keys over where i was told to empty my car and that i wouldn't be seeing it again. They left me there with no way of getting home. Lucky for me my friend had pulled over and i was able to put my stuff in there. My dad came to pick me up and i have been dealing with ever since.
What would you do and surely VW are in the wrong for selling me this car???
Has anybody experienced anything like this and make sure when buying your VW's that they are what they say they are especially in private sales as the Police have informed me this morning that there are a lot of these clone cars about.
Thanks
Ben :cry: :cry:
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Sorry to read that mate, and I don't mean to be a sh!t but this happened to my friends Mk5 GTI a little while ago and he hasn't seen a penny :undecided:
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what have the dealership said ? :shocked:
doesnt sound good this at all. and just my dodgy mind, you did get paperwork from the polis - they were GENUINE ones ? it has been known
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surely you'd have a case against the dealership? It's reasonable to expect that a dealership should know if they are dealing with stolen property.
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surely you'd have a case against the dealership? It's reasonable to expect that a dealership should know if they are dealing with stolen property.
+1 they sould have carried out checks to check it was all clear before selling it, Chuff has a point have you paperwork from the Police.
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what have the dealership said ? :shocked:
doesnt sound good this at all. and just my dodgy mind, you did get paperwork from the polis - they were GENUINE ones ? it has been known
They said that it is the correct car mate.
No the police didn't give me any paperwork no but went straight to a police station and reported what had happened and they are the police and it has all been logged.
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Well my girlfriend's Dad works for KIA and he did a HPI check on it this morning and it actually states that the car is HIGH RISK STOLEN and the the dealership have a duty of care and they should have know way sold me that cat until that was cleared. The car was reported stolen on the 21st December and i bought it on 18th Jan.
I can not express how i'm feeling right now but i am certainly not impressed.
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Well my girlfriend's Dad works for KIA and he did a HPI check on it this morning and it actually states that the car is HIGH RISK STOLEN and the the dealership have a duty of care and they should have know way sold me that cat until that was cleared. The car was reported stolen on the 21st December and i bought it on 18th Jan.
I can not express how i'm feeling right now but i am certainly not impressed.
The dealership should without question refund your money.
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any details of your car, as it might be one thats ben reported stolen on this website fella.
Sorry to hear about your loss, though i would think the VW dealership will sort you another GTi to replace it. Its their error afterall.
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My REG is YK06OZX can you have a look please mate or send me the link.
Much appreciated
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Totally Gutted for you mate! Dealership to blame. What are they saying about it all? They sold you a STOLEN CAR, they are the crims not you.
I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach... :sad: Barstewards!
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Clearly someone at the dealership hasn't done their job with the HPI. If I was you I would be sitting in the dealership and not leaving until I got my money back and a seriously big discount off of another car for the ordeal that you went through. Which is entirely the dealers fault.
I wouldn't worry about the stolen goods accusation, it's the dealer who will be getting a knock from the Police about that.
I have to say this is a shocking thing for a dealer to let happen.
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As stated above, I would be having harsh words with the dealership and threatening them with a solicitor for the 'trauma' you experienced.
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I would be interested in three things;
1) How the dealership didn't know it was stolen, after all that's nearly a MONTH it was tagged as stolen? Surely it moved in that time?
2) How they can shirk responsibility for handling the stolen goods?
3) Why no HPI check was completed by the dealership?
Sorry to hear about it all mate - sickening. :cry:
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Clearly someone at the dealership hasn't done their job with the HPI. If I was you I would be sitting in the dealership and not leaving until I got my money back and a seriously big discount off of another car for the ordeal that you went through. Which is entirely the dealers fault.
Thats EXACTLY what I would be doing, take a tent down with some sausages and a portable BBQ. They need to sort this out NOW ! Have you spoken to them yet? What have they said?
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threaten them will legal action as you're obviously well out of pocket without being with a car and you missed your weekend away
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God thats horrible mate, I echo everything that has been said.
But also because you bought it from a dealer, you really should have some real compensation your way. They sold you a stolen car, they will have advertised it as HPI checked etc etc, so I am very sure you are pretty well covered in that department.
I would make a flask of tea, pack a lunchbox and trot off to the dealership sit down and tell them you are not moving until you get a FULL REFUND for the car, plus 10% off the purchase of another to cover your expenses and ordeal you had to go through. Write to head office at the same time explaining everything
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Clearly someone at the dealership hasn't done their job with the HPI. If I was you I would be sitting in the dealership and not leaving until I got my money back and a seriously big discount off of another car for the ordeal that you went through. Which is entirely the dealers fault.
Thats EXACTLY what I would be doing, take a tent down with some sausages and a portable BBQ. They need to sort this out NOW ! Have you spoken to them yet? What have they said?
LOL! OK BBQ sounds better than my lunchbox idea :D
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Lunch box ! paaah
Take one of these down, I bet you get a result within 30 minutes. Point it right at the door ;)
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/kc-griz/BigBBQ.jpg)
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OK guys an update already.
Some VERY good but bad news!!!
THE car I bought is the correct car and NOT the clone. Hurray i hear you say!! But having spoken to the officer that has inspected the car he has informed me that this whole traumatic experience will just keep happening and happening. Being stopped, car seized and then given back, OH with a big £150 pound charge for something that i haven't done!!!
So they have asked me to collect the car from stoke on trent (80 miles from where i live) to possibly be stopped again on the way home and have it taken off me ONCE again.
I have spoken the the finance company direct at VW and they have hit the roof say that under know circumstances should that car have been sold.
Also my Girlfriend is 39 weeks pregnant at the minute and if this little episode would happen when she was present in the car she also would have been left at the side of the road.
Under no circumstances am i keeping thi car as it will always be linked with a stolen car.
I'm wait for a response from the finance company and i am seeking legal advice.
Can Not believe all this!! It takes the P*ss!!!
Ben
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taken from the consumer direct website...
If you buy a stolen car, the police can take it from you to return it to the original owner or the insurance company. You will not get any compensation even though you bought the car in good faith. You can sue the seller for your losses, but this might be difficult if you bought privately and the seller has disappeared.
There doesn't seem to be any direct laws on consumer direct about the onus being on the dealership to check for the cars legitamacy. It mostly surrounds it's road worthiness. You'd certainly be able to sue them though.
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id be straight on the phone to VWUK head office, wouldnt even bother with the dealer as VW UK will deal with them on their own. Absolutly shocking, which dealer was it?? name and shame!
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can't you just change the plates on your car?
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can't you just change the plates on your car?
Possibly but.....the Police have confirmed that this may come back to bite me in the ass when i come to sell it as it is on the HPI check the that chassis number and REG.
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buy a £250 private plate
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can't you just change the plates on your car?
My sisters TT got cloned so she changed the plates and has not had a problem since . . . Spend £250 and get yourself a nice private plate. Honestly, I think you will be OK. Admittedly hers wasn't for stolen purposes but she was getting parking and spending tickets through the door every week, since the new plates (which she has had for about 6 months now) shes not had one.
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I would've thought the DVLA would give you a new number for free (you'll just have to get the plates made up).
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can't you just change the plates on your car?
My sisters TT got cloned so she changed the plates and has not had a problem since . . . Spend £250 and get yourself a nice private plate. Honestly, I think you will be OK.
I have a private plate already so it may be ok. Its just at the minute while i haven't received the V5.
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What have the dealer said? Isn't the one in Bolton, is it? I almost bought my Mk6 from them.
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What have the dealer said? Isn't the one in Bolton, is it? I almost bought my Mk6 from them.
Nothing yet as fair as they are concern the car is the car they sold me. So it isnt stolen but when HPI'd says it is?
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You might want to have a word with the DVLA / police then and explain to them all this as HPI checks get their information the DVLA and police databases.
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You might want to have a word with the DVLA / police then and explain to them all this as HPI checks get their information the DVLA and police databases.
You are right i will do some ringing round. As i'm sure you can all appreciate, being pulled from a car you worked your ass off for and having it seized with no say kind of defeats the object of owning a nice car.
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OMFG ive got mega p!ssed off just reading whats happened. thats shocking
like already said would love to go doen the 'STEALERS' (no pun intended :laugh:) and get what you deserve.
i have bought a few cars from a dealer and would never have thought to hpi it myself
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You might want to have a word with the DVLA / police then and explain to them all this as HPI checks get their information the DVLA and police databases.
You are right i will do some ringing round. As i'm sure you can all appreciate, being pulled from a car you worked your ass off for and having it seized with no say kind of defeats the object of owning a nice car.
Nice car or not if your car ISNT the stolen car then I cant see why this cant be sorted and can keep the car with no further problems.
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Something similar happened to me but more about that later.
Good news that your car is the real one.
You need to keep records/copies of all correspondence. First port of call is to approach the supplying dealer. No way they should have sold it to you and they also claim on the website/literature to carry out HPI checks on all used cars. Once you have told them the full story, tell them you want a full refund at once. Also tell VW UK so they get on the dealer's case.
It would be interesting to get the dealer to supply a copy of the HPI report they ran at the point of purchase (if they actually did it)
You might want to get a solicitor involved and see where you stand. Once you have done this, tell the dealer and VW UK to copy all correspondence to your solicitor.
Be professional and calm about it but clearly lay down what you want them to do and let them know that you're not messing about (so speak to your legal man first to know your rights).
My story........
A few years ago I bought a Fabia vRS from a well-respected indy dealer in Sheffield. The car was nearly new and they provided a HPI certificate on the car which was clean.
About a month or so later I was told (by a work colleague with access to the Experian system) that my car was tagged as 'high risk'. Someone had tagged the car after I bought it as they had an interest in it. Basically a Skoda main dealer had sold a load of stock to a local trader/dealer who had taken the cars on 30 day payment terms. This trader flogged all the cars to other traders and then did a runner before paying the main dealer for them (hence the delay in them tagging the car). Turns out the dealer I bought the car from had purchased the car in good faith.
In the end the Skoda main dealer took responsibility for the fact they had allowed themselves to get done over by a crook and they removed the bad history from the car. It was a relief but I sold the car anyway, too many bad feelings.
Anyway - hope you get it sorted chap. Best of luck.
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As per previous post. Get a Solicitor involved asap.
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As you bought it from a dealer it should be under their "approved used" scheme which clearly states all cars are HPI checked etc..
Have a read of this..
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/vehicle-validation
It's clear the dealer hasn't adhered to the standards set by VW so go straight to the HQ
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As you bought it from a dealer it should be under their "approved used" scheme which clearly states all cars are HPI checked etc..
Have a read of this..
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/vehicle-validation
It's clear the dealer hasn't adhered to the standards set by VW so go straight to the HQ
that's the winner. Quality post.
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As you bought it from a dealer it should be under their "approved used" scheme which clearly states all cars are HPI checked etc..
Have a read of this..
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/vehicle-validation
It's clear the dealer hasn't adhered to the standards set by VW so go straight to the HQ
^^^^^^^^^^ We have a winner :afro:
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you could get free servicing for a long time to come! :cool:
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they are saying that when they bought the car and did HPI checks on it that everything is all clear so "LEGALLY" they are not at fault.
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Find out when the Marker was put on the car. If it was before you agreed to buy it I reckon you'll be OK with giving them what for. They can access this information for pennies and I would have thought should not check the car when it comes in but leave for a while for any markers to come up.
Nick
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freedom of information says you can request a copy of the HPI report
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coooooooooooooor boy, just read this through, id of spent the night in a prison cell if it had happended to me, nobody takes my toys :angry:
i feel for ya, hope it gets sorted and you get some sort of compensation for this
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Unfortunate situation and hope you get it sorted quickly. If you haven't already, you need a solicitor to write to them.
But how exactly do the Police justify seizing a car and taking it away whilst leaving you stranded - utterly unacceptable. Then, to suggest it will happen again and again - now they have your details, if you got stopped again why can't they check who you are/the background?
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Small world,
I nearly bought this exact car earlier this month from this dealership. :shocked:
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Surely they can't get away with leaving you stranded again as now that they are aware they should must be required to take appropriate care? :huh:
You may well get stopped but they should be able to check the records and verify you are in the right and send you on your slightly disgruntled but mobile way? :undecided:
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But how exactly do the Police justify seizing a car and taking it away whilst leaving you stranded - utterly unacceptable. Then, to suggest it will happen again and again - now they have your details, if you got stopped again why can't they check who you are/the background?
Would you really expect anything else?
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There are two (and a half) possible scenario's for the police:
Car is stolen and thief is driving / receiver of stolen goods is driving it, person driving it gets arrested.
Car is stolen but they accept person driving it is innocent. Why the hell do they leave that person stranded on the side of the road? Did they know your mate was there and able to take you home?
I'd be writing to the head copper for your area and the police watchdog. From past experience this gets them good and grovelling sharpish :wink:
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they are saying that when they bought the car and did HPI checks on it that everything is all clear so "LEGALLY" they are not at fault.
Sorry to hear about this. What a nightmare.
If your dealer doesn't sort this out straight away then here are a few ideas.
Bad mouth them to everyone you know.
Contact your local paper.
Contact trading standards.
Go and sit in reception at the dealers and let everyone that comes in know what has happened.
They need to sort this out and quick. Outrageous.
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To be fair Vw have been very good with me as they always have. This is news to them also and have been very helpful. According to the police man i spoke earlier tonight he confirmed that the officers that seized my car very very out of order and the car should have been left in my hands.
I know need to track down the officers names as they will not give them to me when i enquired so surely they have realised that they have ballsed up.
Ao after all this the dealers have been great. They have paid the impound charge and paid for a transporter to pick the car up. They have given me numerous ways to how they will sort this for me such as totally re registering the car at there expence or give the car back and get another for similar money.
So now i am currently trying to find out what i can do about the officers that have put me in the stressful situation.
So at least we are getting somewhere but like i said.
The dealers have been very good.!!!
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good on VW :afro:
now time to nail the polis - Good luck.
and what whats its worth, different car time, bad memories and alll that
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good on VW :afro:
now time to nail the polis - Good luck.
and what whats its worth, different car time, bad memories and alll that
I have to make my mind what to do by tomorrow so i have found a better spec for similar price so im swaying towards the new car but i will keep you posted.
And thanks to everyone with the imput today. With your kind words and advice its all starting to come together. :smiley:
APPRECIATED VERY MUCH CHAPS AND LASSES!!!
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I would change the car, could work out easier in the long run.
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this will always be on your and your lasses mind, what if it happens again :shocked:, and soon to have a wee one in the car . :lipsrsealed:
Different car wins hands down :wink:
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sorry to hear all this and sorry you didnt get down to newquay could of met up for a beer or two
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Must've been horrible to have found that out about your car. Even worse was the way the police handled the situation. They should have provided transport to get you home. You want payment at least for taxi if not more.
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I would change the car, could work out easier in the long run.
.........i would mate. :wink:
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:smiley:Glad you seem to be sorted out :smiley:
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Just read through this whole thread, gutted for you mate, know how much this one ment to you.
Thought I would mention, IIRC the dealer network has access to any car up for sale at any dealership so if you find something better from another dealer I'm sure yours will bend over backwards to get you to see it and get it for you.
Good luck whatever choice you make, you got me worried though, might do another HPI check on mine in a few weeks make sure it hasn't changed.
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what a read... shocking!!
think i agree with the getting a different car though, you'll always be worrying!
i would anyway, lol!
completely ridiculous situation to have been put in,
at least your not having too much bother from the dealer!
good luck m8!
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8487381.stm
I dont think this will be the last case of cloned cars on here!
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Man. Bad news - I'd seriously think about replacing the car, or at least the plates.
And the police wonder why people have no respect for them. (Speaking as someone who's brother and several friends are in the fuzz.)
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Wow, thats a totally bad experience, im glad the dealers are helping you with the situation, keep us posted.
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hardly surprising that the dealership is making efforts. They're probably trying to stop you from complaining to the head office.
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Truly shocking behaviour both by the dealer and the police.
I would demand a full refund and a heavy discount on one of the two cars you've been offered as a replacement (and do your own HPI check this time!)
Good luck!
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oh man sorry to hear your experience. It's good that VW are willing to help out but I guess they were at fault in the first place so that's to be expected.
What I am shocked about is the way the police have acted. If anything like that happens to me I will definitely ask for written confirmation from the officers of what has transpired and also take their shoulder numbers/warrant card numbers too.
I hope you find the officers responsible and take them to the cleaners because leaving someone stranded like is dangerous. What if you were female and driving alone? I'm pretty sure the police would not have left a woman on the side of the road at night to fend for herself.
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I don't know what i would of done if i had found that out about my car. Even worse was the way the police handled the situation. They should have at least taken you home if they weren't charging you, wrongfully of course!!
New car all day long but what happens when the next bloke buys your car, will they go through all this at some point!!
Glad it's getting sorted mate!
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I don't want to have a go at tge Police as most of them are decent guys and girls (I used to work for a Police Force) but I'm not sure they can refuse to give you their numbers. I would call the HQ and explain that you want to raise a formal complaint and they'll point you int the right direction. Writing directly to the Chief Constable would also be a good start.
Hope you get it resolved.