Is this a weird scam?

[ajguk]

So I've just got in from the shops, and apparently a young chap has come round and basically said he's got to drive to Europe tomorrow and can he take my passenger side indicator off my crappy Volvo because his is broken, and he'll return it next week?? Sounds odd to me. Default position is it's not really my problem, however it's hadly my pride and joy and I'm not going to be driving it for a while anyway, plus I have another car anyway.

It smells like a scam but I've no idea to what end? Obviously he may just never turn up and I'm out one wing mirror/indicator unit. What does the PH hivemind think???

[M.F.D]

It is slightly odd but the only thing you stand to loose is the side repeater.... go with your gut but if you feel like being a good Samaritan then I would be prepared to never see it again.

Why don't you charge him the cost of a replacement off ebay, then you can order one and he doesn't need to come back?

[irc]

If it was a friend or neighbour yes. Unknown person no. If you want to be nice check out how much a replacement would cost and sell him yours at that price.

[ajguk]

From what I can gather he wants the full wing mirror and repeater....I'll maybe call him and suss him out. But yes I think some form of cash deposit would be in order!

[Yazza54]

Weird.

Unless you know him tell him to jog on the cheeky .

[Finglescave]

If its a scam then its a very odd one. Unless of course he turns up and then asks wants to “borrow” countless other bits to replace any knackered bits on his car for free, in that case I’d just call him a chancer.

Weird thought - Could it be the fine for driving in Europe with these items damaged/missing is fairly high and he doesn’t want to get in bother (or has been in bother before because of it?).

Another odd thought - did he actually knock and ask or was he caught trying to remove said items and was covering himself?

[Mr Squarekins]

Can't he just 'hire' it from you? ie, leave a deposit?

[ajguk]

I did the good samaritan thing. Mine was cracked anyway as it happens, so perfect excuse to order a new one, and it'll do for his needs in the short term.

I ought to replace the temp sensor that (I think) lives in there at the same time

[georgeyboy12345]

Tell him to ps off

[ajguk]

Finglescave said:

If its a scam then its a very odd one. Unless of course he turns up and then asks wants to “borrow” countless other bits to replace any knackered bits on his car for free, in that case I’d just call him a chancer.

Weird thought - Could it be the fine for driving in Europe with these items damaged/missing is fairly high and he doesn’t want to get in bother (or has been in bother before because of it?).

Another odd thought - did he actually knock and ask or was he caught trying to remove said items and was covering himself?

He was worried about the police over there - and yes he knocked and spoke to my other half. Anyway he only lived round the corner and I like to help if I can......not much of an inconvenience to me especially as I'm off away next week so won't be needing the car.

[Milkyway]

Do the decent thing.... & give him the directions to the nearest salvager / Scrappie.

Or... relieve him of a few quid, give him the part & YOU can go there at your own leisure.
(Everybody’s a winner.... But don’t let him in your house).

Sorry, but I’ve tried to help people out in the past & come unstuck / out of pocket...easily done.

Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 25th June 15:17

[Finglescave]

ajguk said:

Finglescave said:

If its a scam then its a very odd one. Unless of course he turns up and then asks wants to “borrow” countless other bits to replace any knackered bits on his car for free, in that case I’d just call him a chancer.

Weird thought - Could it be the fine for driving in Europe with these items damaged/missing is fairly high and he doesn’t want to get in bother (or has been in bother before because of it?).

Another odd thought - did he actually knock and ask or was he caught trying to remove said items and was covering himself?

He was worried about the police over there - and yes he knocked and spoke to my other half. Anyway he only lived round the corner and I like to help if I can......not much of an inconvenience to me especially as I'm off away next week so won't be needing the car.

Seems a little more reasonable to me now. If you want to be nice help him out with a few parts then by all means. If he decides to not return them or comes back in a few months asking for something else you can politely tell him to leave, as you helped him out last time and look where it got you. Once bitten twice shy and all that.

[egomeister]

I'd be wary about leaving a random alone to take the bits off. I don't know how it works with Volvos but I think you can configure new keys if you have access to the OBD on some cars.

[ajguk]

egomeister said:

I'd be wary about leaving a random alone to take the bits off. I don't know how it works with Volvos but I think you can configure new keys if you have access to the OBD on some cars.

I'm not that daft to leave him alone, I helped him prise it off and we got the part out. All sorted, hopefully my new part fits! If it was the car I cared about he could have jogged on....

[p4cks]

Why start a thread asking if it's a scam if you've already given it to him? Strange.

[Pica-Pica]

I think I would have engaged him in a bit more conversation to get more of an understanding of the situation, and a feeling about him. I would have gone to his place to check him out, he must be local. It’s a weird one, but some people are more open to this ‘sharing of troubles, and helping out’ thing than are others.

[NFT]

He asked, sign of honesty there, bit odd but if no time/money to get another, better he ask & borrow than steal or just go along with a defect.

Someone "borrowed" my indicator once, got up and it, along with the wiring plug he cut off, was gone!