Help! Advice on private sale gone terribly wrong :-(
Discussion
First post, so please be reasonably nice to me :-)
Well, I did a stupid, stupid thing over a private car sale recently and it's come back to haunt me big time.
I bought a big thirsty luxury 4x4 recently for a bit of fun whilst we were awaiting repairs on our Zafira family wagon. Basically the Zafira's ok but the catalytic converter may be on the way out, so I thought I would have a spare vehicle just in case I need to wait on cheaper parts or for me to fix it myself. The car was pretty cheap as it's got a few faults and just 6 weeks left on the MOT.
Lots of people admired it so I decided to see what it might be worth to sell. I advertised it for £600 using free listings, and as I live on one of the Western Isles I got bombarded with offers and people keen to buy. All of these were on the mainland, with some as far away as Manchester. I stated it looked well and ran ok, but had a few faults, including needing new rear suspension parts and an exhaust fix. I was quoted £180 to fix these from a trusted garage.
I agreed to sell it to a chap on the mainland who paid a £100 deposit (from his girlfriend) and put it on the ferry. He promised to pay the balance before it was put on, but I stupidly trusted him and he never settled up...this was my mistake as he promised his girlfriend would sort out payment and I didn't want to mess him about after he's paid a deposit in good faith. We never spoke at any time, just exchanged texts.
Fast forward to a text today saying he's taken it to a garage and they said it was an absolute heap and would cost £1000 to fix. He left it at the ferry terminal and said keep the deposit but he's not having it and it's my problem now! The garage said the whole exhaust system is rotten, it needs new brakes all round and new rear suspension and has a power steering leak. In fact, there is one rusty exhaust section as it's had two new sections recently, as well as replacement discs. I have never seen any leaks at all from it, no funny noises, nothing. The rear suspension parts, even if new struts were needed would only be around £100.
To be honest, it looks fantastic, is very clean and low miles (65k for a 13yr old car) and I was investigating fixing it but offered it as is in case there were any takers - the ad clearly states this. It is actually the cheapest of it's make and model by two thirds. I have texted him saying I am happy to reach an amicable solution but he needs to talk to me.
Just to rub it in, he's refused to speak to me and is ignoring texts. I can't even book it back because he's not saying where he's left it and the ferry company won't look for it!
Yes, I know it's my own stupid fault.
Well, I did a stupid, stupid thing over a private car sale recently and it's come back to haunt me big time.
I bought a big thirsty luxury 4x4 recently for a bit of fun whilst we were awaiting repairs on our Zafira family wagon. Basically the Zafira's ok but the catalytic converter may be on the way out, so I thought I would have a spare vehicle just in case I need to wait on cheaper parts or for me to fix it myself. The car was pretty cheap as it's got a few faults and just 6 weeks left on the MOT.
Lots of people admired it so I decided to see what it might be worth to sell. I advertised it for £600 using free listings, and as I live on one of the Western Isles I got bombarded with offers and people keen to buy. All of these were on the mainland, with some as far away as Manchester. I stated it looked well and ran ok, but had a few faults, including needing new rear suspension parts and an exhaust fix. I was quoted £180 to fix these from a trusted garage.
I agreed to sell it to a chap on the mainland who paid a £100 deposit (from his girlfriend) and put it on the ferry. He promised to pay the balance before it was put on, but I stupidly trusted him and he never settled up...this was my mistake as he promised his girlfriend would sort out payment and I didn't want to mess him about after he's paid a deposit in good faith. We never spoke at any time, just exchanged texts.
Fast forward to a text today saying he's taken it to a garage and they said it was an absolute heap and would cost £1000 to fix. He left it at the ferry terminal and said keep the deposit but he's not having it and it's my problem now! The garage said the whole exhaust system is rotten, it needs new brakes all round and new rear suspension and has a power steering leak. In fact, there is one rusty exhaust section as it's had two new sections recently, as well as replacement discs. I have never seen any leaks at all from it, no funny noises, nothing. The rear suspension parts, even if new struts were needed would only be around £100.
To be honest, it looks fantastic, is very clean and low miles (65k for a 13yr old car) and I was investigating fixing it but offered it as is in case there were any takers - the ad clearly states this. It is actually the cheapest of it's make and model by two thirds. I have texted him saying I am happy to reach an amicable solution but he needs to talk to me.
Just to rub it in, he's refused to speak to me and is ignoring texts. I can't even book it back because he's not saying where he's left it and the ferry company won't look for it!
Yes, I know it's my own stupid fault.
islaydan said:
First post, so please be reasonably nice to me :-)
Well, I did a stupid, stupid thing over a private car sale recently and it's come back to haunt me big time.
I bought a big thirsty luxury 4x4 recently for a bit of fun whilst we were awaiting repairs on our Zafira family wagon. Basically the Zafira's ok but the catalytic converter may be on the way out, so I thought I would have a spare vehicle just in case I need to wait on cheaper parts or for me to fix it myself. The car was pretty cheap as it's got a few faults and just 6 weeks left on the MOT.
Lots of people admired it so I decided to see what it might be worth to sell. I advertised it for £600 using free listings, and as I live on one of the Western Isles I got bombarded with offers and people keen to buy. All of these were on the mainland, with some as far away as Manchester. I stated it looked well and ran ok, but had a few faults, including needing new rear suspension parts and an exhaust fix. I was quoted £180 to fix these from a trusted garage.
I agreed to sell it to a chap on the mainland who paid a £100 deposit (from his girlfriend) and put it on the ferry. He promised to pay the balance before it was put on, but I stupidly trusted him and he never settled up...this was my mistake as he promised his girlfriend would sort out payment and I didn't want to mess him about after he's paid a deposit in good faith. We never spoke at any time, just exchanged texts.
Fast forward to a text today saying he's taken it to a garage and they said it was an absolute heap and would cost £1000 to fix. He left it at the ferry terminal and said keep the deposit but he's not having it and it's my problem now! The garage said the whole exhaust system is rotten, it needs new brakes all round and new rear suspension and has a power steering leak. In fact, there is one rusty exhaust section as it's had two new sections recently, as well as replacement discs. I have never seen any leaks at all from it, no funny noises, nothing. The rear suspension parts, even if new struts were needed would only be around £100.
To be honest, it looks fantastic, is very clean and low miles (65k for a 13yr old car) and I was investigating fixing it but offered it as is in case there were any takers - the ad clearly states this. It is actually the cheapest of it's make and model by two thirds. I have texted him saying I am happy to reach an amicable solution but he needs to talk to me.
Just to rub it in, he's refused to speak to me and is ignoring texts. I can't even book it back because he's not saying where he's left it and the ferry company won't look for it!
Yes, I know it's my own stupid fault.
Geesus Christ...Well, I did a stupid, stupid thing over a private car sale recently and it's come back to haunt me big time.
I bought a big thirsty luxury 4x4 recently for a bit of fun whilst we were awaiting repairs on our Zafira family wagon. Basically the Zafira's ok but the catalytic converter may be on the way out, so I thought I would have a spare vehicle just in case I need to wait on cheaper parts or for me to fix it myself. The car was pretty cheap as it's got a few faults and just 6 weeks left on the MOT.
Lots of people admired it so I decided to see what it might be worth to sell. I advertised it for £600 using free listings, and as I live on one of the Western Isles I got bombarded with offers and people keen to buy. All of these were on the mainland, with some as far away as Manchester. I stated it looked well and ran ok, but had a few faults, including needing new rear suspension parts and an exhaust fix. I was quoted £180 to fix these from a trusted garage.
I agreed to sell it to a chap on the mainland who paid a £100 deposit (from his girlfriend) and put it on the ferry. He promised to pay the balance before it was put on, but I stupidly trusted him and he never settled up...this was my mistake as he promised his girlfriend would sort out payment and I didn't want to mess him about after he's paid a deposit in good faith. We never spoke at any time, just exchanged texts.
Fast forward to a text today saying he's taken it to a garage and they said it was an absolute heap and would cost £1000 to fix. He left it at the ferry terminal and said keep the deposit but he's not having it and it's my problem now! The garage said the whole exhaust system is rotten, it needs new brakes all round and new rear suspension and has a power steering leak. In fact, there is one rusty exhaust section as it's had two new sections recently, as well as replacement discs. I have never seen any leaks at all from it, no funny noises, nothing. The rear suspension parts, even if new struts were needed would only be around £100.
To be honest, it looks fantastic, is very clean and low miles (65k for a 13yr old car) and I was investigating fixing it but offered it as is in case there were any takers - the ad clearly states this. It is actually the cheapest of it's make and model by two thirds. I have texted him saying I am happy to reach an amicable solution but he needs to talk to me.
Just to rub it in, he's refused to speak to me and is ignoring texts. I can't even book it back because he's not saying where he's left it and the ferry company won't look for it!
Yes, I know it's my own stupid fault.
robk84 said:
not sure if serious..
I am serious, wish it were a dream but it ain't!Plan is to pay for someone to have a look and drive it to the proper section of the terminal. I've had so many offers for it that surely one of them must be genuine?
It's a thirsty V6 so I don't plan on driving it down to BCA sometime soon.
Once I get it back home it should be worth plenty in spare parts - it really is in lovely nick, those issues aside.
By the sound of it he already brought it. Do you have his address? I assume so. In which case phone him to start with, tell him he brought the car, so he owes you £500. Don't get in to an argument and don't discuss any issues he says exist with the car. If he tries just shut him down and repeat "please pay me the £500 you owe me or I will go to the small claims court".
DO NOT GET IN TO AN ARGUMENT. DO NOT AGREE TO GIVE HIM ANYTHING OR TAKE BACK THE CAR.
If this doesn't work, he won't answer or he get abusive take him to court. It only costs £50 and is very simple. You tried to do the right thing and he is abusing that. If he wanted the chance to check it over he should have come to see it.
That's assuming you don't want to just keep the £100 and get the car back.
DO NOT GET IN TO AN ARGUMENT. DO NOT AGREE TO GIVE HIM ANYTHING OR TAKE BACK THE CAR.
If this doesn't work, he won't answer or he get abusive take him to court. It only costs £50 and is very simple. You tried to do the right thing and he is abusing that. If he wanted the chance to check it over he should have come to see it.
That's assuming you don't want to just keep the £100 and get the car back.
Edited by SteveSteveson on Wednesday 10th September 21:27
d!SteveSteveson said:
By the sound of it he already brought it. Do you have his address? I assume so. In which case phone him to start with, tell him he brought the car, so he owes you £500. Don't get in to an argument and don't discuss any issues he says exist with the car. If he tries just shut him down and repeat "please pay me the £500 you owe me or I will go to the small claims court".
DO NOT GET IN TO AN ARGUMENT. DO NOT AGREE TO GIVE HIM ANYTHING OR TAKE BACK THE CAR.
If this doesn't work, he won't answer or he get abusive take him to court. It only costs £50 and is very simple. You tried to do the right thing and he is abusing that. If he wanted the chance to check it over he should have come to see it.
Don't do thisDO NOT GET IN TO AN ARGUMENT. DO NOT AGREE TO GIVE HIM ANYTHING OR TAKE BACK THE CAR.
If this doesn't work, he won't answer or he get abusive take him to court. It only costs £50 and is very simple. You tried to do the right thing and he is abusing that. If he wanted the chance to check it over he should have come to see it.
For a few hundred quid, it's not worth it. You've only conversed by text message FFS, you don't even know where this guy is to file a claim
If the money means something to you, get on a ferry and find it.
If not, chalk it up to experience and don't let people take your cars before they've paid for them
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