Just had an offer from Germany

[Byff]

Just been offered a deal from Germany, but something just doesn't smell right. He sounds alright, has told me he is a dealer buying Jaguar, Bentley, Porsche etc and has stated that the car will be sold on to an enthuiast.

He did offer to pay 10% into my bank account if I gave him my bank details - something I'll not do and it's this what's got my alarm bells ringing.

But other than that, he wants the car without the plate and has stated that he'll pick it up with the plate and send it back to me when it gets registered in Germany - sorry, but I said that when I bought my last car 18 months ago and the plate is still on the car. So if anything, the plate will be put on retention before he picks it up.

So this might well be it, not this Saturday but next, I may be picking him up from Newcastle airport and saying goodbye to my car. Awww, I've just typed that and a lump is in my throat. Can I really part with it.

[Marki]

Why does he want a Lincon Navigator

[Byff]

Marki said:

Why does he want a Lincon Navigator

I wouldn't have a lump in my throat if that was going the journey.

[xsnowman]

I had interest from a chap in Germany when selling mine, didn't give you an email for a film compnay did he by chance?

[Byff]

xsnowman said:

I had interest from a chap in Germany when selling mine, didn't give you an email for a film compnay did he by chance?

Nope, but he did say he races a Jaguar in some racing series over there. I asked him if he was/knew Christoff, but he didn't know him.

[Far Eastender]

I would suggest some caution. How will the buyer pay you for the car? Unless it's cash, I wouldn't be inclined to accept any bankers drafts or similar

[xsnowman]

ok, was just seeing if it was the same chap who had enquired about mine.

Good luck with the sale.

[gazzab]

Yeah too right ! Look at the threads on BMW forum re methods of payment. None are safe apart from cash !

[RUSSELLM]

There was this a couple of weeks back.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=294963&f=6&h=0

[xsnowman]

having been stung a few years ago with a fake bankers draft, i will second this, cash counted out in a bank and paid over the counter is the safest way to do it.

[Ireland]

I was in the buyers position a few weeks ago.

Firstly, Saturday is not the best day to do a deal like this, no banks open until after the weekend.

I made sure I travelled a weekday.

The draft may be ok, but I found out the hard way it won't clear for four days (I almost got into a taxi and headed for the ferry without the car I was getting so much grief off the seller) and I got sorted when the sellers bank contacted my bank and they were able to confirm everything as they knew me.

If I was back again I'd have gone either the cash route or pre-arranged a transfer with my bank which, I'm told, could have been authorised by me from the sellers bank once my identity had been verified.

As for the plate, change it now as, if the buyer is genuine, he may well walk away if he has to wait while the DVLA sort the new V5. I almost did (perhaps I should have after the grief I've had to got through sorting the car).

Tread carefully .....

[cossiemetro]

i did an electronic transfer no money ever changed hands very simple and safe
everybody was happy job done

[Byff]

He's said he's bringing cash, I too would not be happy with a bankers draft, or any other type of payment. Good old sterling will do for me, otherwise he'll just have to wait in a hotel until his cheque has cleared.

[Tokyokev]

Guten Abend Byff,

Just in case you do need a helping hand, and if the buyer turns up with any German paperwork, and you don't trust his translation...feel free to email me, I am 8 hours ahead, my sister in-law speaks German and can have a quick look for you to make sure it checks out. As luck would have it, she is staying with us until October 15th (Sunday week), so she will be around. (She say's it will only cost you a sports exhaust shipped directly to me in Tokyo.)

But if cash is involved, then I guess it doesn't matter what paperwork he turns up with, German, Russian or otherwise.

Good Luck. Now you can go buy another one.

Best

K

[RUSSELLM]

Good old pistonheads comes to the rescue again

With a free German to English translation service ... via Tokyo.

[RUSSELLM]

If Kevin's anything like me

German to Byff "will you take cash ?"

Kevin to Byff "He wants to know what colour undercrackers your wearing"

[hugoagogo]

it might still be a scam, but the bank transfer, and sending the plate back, would be a perfectly normal way of doing things in germany (but with the plate, that would definitely be wrong for you, you can tell him to bring a plate with him if you decide to go ahead)

[Tokyokev]

RUSSELLM said:

If Kevin's anything like me

German to Byff "will you take cash ?"

Kevin to Byff "He wants to know what colour undercrackers your wearing"

Now I really, really hope Byff emails...this could be quite entertaining. for me.

German to Byff "The Cerb looks good in this colour"

Kevin to Byff "Your bum looks good in those lycra shorts"

[richb]

cossiemetro said:

i did an electronic transfer no money ever changed hands very simple and safe everybody was happy job done

Are funds paid by electronic transfers cleared the moment teh funds appear in your bank a/c? Rich...

[RUSSELLM]

Tokyokev said:

RUSSELLM said:

If Kevin's anything like me

German to Byff "will you take cash ?"

Kevin to Byff "He wants to know what colour undercrackers your wearing"

Now I really, really hope Byff emails...this could be quite entertaining. for me.

German to Byff "The Cerb looks good in this colour"

Kevin to Byff "Your bum looks good in those lycra shorts"

I'll keep my eye on the papers "German beaten up in homophobic attack whilst trying to purchase car"

Edited by RUSSELLM on Tuesday 3rd October 15:40