I still don't see why he needs the V5 issue details (or how he could be sure he was given the correct details verbally either for that matter)
He could just ASK when the seller bought the bike - and even getting the engine/chassis numbers from the V5 - does not mean those numbers are actually on the bike either.....
There are different types of HPI checks, some more thorough than others.
When I bought my 10 recently (from a dealer) I still ran two checks, one was HPI - one was an Experian check. The Experian check showed way more information than the HPI did.
From that I discovered when the colour was changed (it's a race rep), what colour it was previously, all previous owners and dates of change so I could tell who'd had the bike painted, recorded mileage, original registration number (it had a private plate) and date of change.
The HPI showed some of that but in nothing like as much depth.
When I viewed the bike, I checked the numbers on the bike were the same as the numbers on the Experion report i took with me.
Even now - I have not seen the V5 cos the dealer sent it straight off to Swansea and it hasn't come back yet - I do know however that the numbers on the bike - ARE what the system says they should be. I also know they have never been changed or they would have shown up.
All that info with not a glance at a V5 ...