Credit Card Payment for Private Sale

[TVR MAN]

I've just been on the phone to someone potentially looking to buy my car but he has said that unless he could sell his own car first he would need to pay by credit card?

Is this even possible? How would I go about getting payment? Is it safe/risky?

[LHD]

Set up a Sage Pay account?

[MX7]

What?!!

I'd tell him to phone me after he's sold his car.

[TVR MAN]

MX7 said:

What?!!

I'd tell him to phone me after he's sold his car.

I know, I know. But I want to sell my car!

[TaffRichie]

NO, any method puts you at risk if its a stolen card...

[Bohally]

Ask him to take out cash with the card? Ask for the sale in cash?

[madmover]

This method would potentially expose you to a large amount of risk. Would tell him to sell his car and pop back with the cash when its done...

[The Moose]

Is his car something you may be interested in?!

[TVR MAN]

Not interested in his car.

Looks like it's a no go unless he can get me cash.

[E30M3SE]

He could pay via paypal using his credit card, obviously you would get hit for the fees.

[fflyingdog]

E30M3SE said:

He could pay via paypal using his credit card, obviously you would get hit for the fees.

Carefull doing this as i am sure there is a scam using Paypal and a credit card.

[parapaul]

Bohally said:

Ask him to take out cash with the card? Ask for the sale in cash?

If he's genuine, this is a good possibility. He'll get hit for the credit card charges, but if he wants your car enough it will be worth it.

[E30M3SE]

fflyingdog said:

Carefull doing this as i am sure there is a scam using Paypal and a credit card.

Is there? I was not aware, I have a card linked to my pp account is the only reason I mentioned this, but then I am not a dodgy scamming bar steward.

[Tyrion]

E30M3SE said:

He could pay via paypal using his credit card, obviously you would get hit for the fees.

Horrible advice. You can't sell anything by paypal that doesn't go in the post with tracking... if the buyer does a dispute later on you will lose your money as you can't prove any item was even handed over...

[MX7]

Tyrion said:

Horrible advice. You can't sell anything by paypal that doesn't go in the post with tracking... if the buyer does a dispute later on you will lose your money as you can't prove any item was even handed over...

A signed receipt?

[Tyrion]

MX7 said:

A signed receipt?

That would help you when you had to sue the guy or get the police involved, but up till that point Paypal will just say no proof of transaction, instant refund. Best case you end up getting the guy arrested at that point, and he has to pay you back at £3 a week...

[madmover]

E30M3SE said:

He could pay via paypal using his credit card, obviously you would get hit for the fees.

DONT DO IT!!!!! or at least I wouldnt as this isn't secure. NOTE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.....a PAY PAL transaction CAN BE REVERSED!! Agreeably with some difficulty but its far from impossible. Thus this isn't a secure way to receive payment for a car. Id stay clear of pay pal for taking payment for anything involving substantial amounts of cash. Only thing id accept aside cash is a wired transfer and i would call his bank while he is present, hand him the phone,then once he has done everything and just needs your details id take the phone and give them to the girl direct. Then just wait until the money is in your account before releasing the car...

[supertouring]

What "normal" person would try to make a non-trade car purchase with a credit card?

As mentioned above, he can withdraw the cash from the card himself if he needed to.

I would not even entertain the idea.

[jagnet]

E30M3SE said:

Is there? I was not aware, I have a card linked to my pp account is the only reason I mentioned this, but then I am not a dodgy scamming bar steward.

Buyer tells CC company it's a fraudulent transaction, it gets reversed, Paypal chase seller for the money back. No car, no money. If the car's made its way over to East Europe in the meantime you'll not see it again.

As already suggested, if genuine, either the buyer uses their card to withdraw cash for payment, sells their car first, or approaches the bank for a loan to cover it until they sell their car. None of these options are beyond the wit of man so the potential buyer's desire to pay by credit card on a private sale to someone with no existing card merchant account screams scam to me. Either that or just not too bright.

He's not currently working off shore as a marine biologist is he?

[MX7]

Tyrion said:

That would help you when you had to sue the guy or get the police involved, but up till that point Paypal will just say no proof of transaction, instant refund.

No they wouldn't. they only do that if it's gone through Ebay. This is completely different.