Sold Car / Money Back / Complex One?
Discussion
Tyrell Corp said:
PistonTim said:
Thanks, he was even claiming over the phone that I could have bought a code reader and reset the code before I sold it to him. I said that was a libel statement.
Knowing this, why did he not do a more thorough test drive and inspection? a savvy buyer might expect this and even bought their own code reader.You agreed to over 20% off asking already, I suspect you are too 'nice' and he is trying it on. Any court claim will involve actual invoices and evidence of 'repairs'. Refusing your offer of a refund says it all.
You won't see him again . Now put all that service history right in the bin.
People do try their luck, I remember selling an old Haynes manual on ebay, something for a really obsolete 70's car.
Buyer from (dodgy) middle eastern country agreed to £5 plus £15 postage at cost, and several weeks wait with no signature. Few weeks later I get the message it hasn't turned up and asking for full refund.
I said no problem, leave it another week, if it doesn't turn up I have another I can send you.(I didn't, I just made it up) never heard back from him.
PistonTim said:
Muzzer79 said:
If the buyer was serious about thinking the car was a dud and he'd been ripped off, he'd have accepted the OPs offer of a refund and collecting the car himself.
The fact that he hasn't tells us everything - his next move will be to offer that the OP gives him £200/£500/£1000 back to 'fix the problems' and make good instead of a refund.
Scammer.
Exactly, he was floating a £1k number on the phone but I told him I wasn't going to send sums of money for undisclosed work on a car that was in working order when I sold it.The fact that he hasn't tells us everything - his next move will be to offer that the OP gives him £200/£500/£1000 back to 'fix the problems' and make good instead of a refund.
Scammer.
You advertised a car at £5250 and sold it for a grand less than that, so he's already got a deal.
He's now preying on your good nature to effectively buy the car for £3200.
Tell him to do one. No refund, no deals. He can file his small claim all he wants (tip - he won't)
This seems to be a common MO for certain types - buy a secondhand car, claim faults have appeared after purchase and demand some money back and if not threaten small claims. If he is successful then he's quids in. It's almost as though there's no harm in trying.
OP, have you check the photo metadata to see if it was taken from a phone or if he lifted a picture of the internet for that make/model of car?
OP, have you check the photo metadata to see if it was taken from a phone or if he lifted a picture of the internet for that make/model of car?
vikingaero said:
This seems to be a common MO for certain types - buy a secondhand car, claim faults have appeared after purchase and demand some money back and if not threaten small claims. If he is successful then he's quids in. It's almost as though there's no harm in trying.
OP, have you check the photo metadata to see if it was taken from a phone or if he lifted a picture of the internet for that make/model of car?
Photo seems legitimate, obviously no way of knowing why / what the light is on.OP, have you check the photo metadata to see if it was taken from a phone or if he lifted a picture of the internet for that make/model of car?
Buyer is an opportunist and has sensed weakness.
He is trying it on and is behaving like a bully.
Block number, ignore him and thats it.
You aren't an expert, you are a private seller and have given someone a chance to view and buy. It was his choice to do so.
If he wanted a warranty and consumer rights there are plenty of avenues for purchase. They are called car dealers.
He is trying it on and is behaving like a bully.
Block number, ignore him and thats it.
You aren't an expert, you are a private seller and have given someone a chance to view and buy. It was his choice to do so.
If he wanted a warranty and consumer rights there are plenty of avenues for purchase. They are called car dealers.
myvision said:
PistonTim said:
Photo seems legitimate, obviously no way of knowing why / what the light is on.
Has he taken the photo before the light goes out mine stays on when starting the car then goes out?Block his number and ignore him.
No idea what the yellow exclamation mark by itself means except the BMW group suggests it’s door open?
Edited by PistonTim on Tuesday 8th August 12:01
"I will arrange to collect the car and issue a refund, I will not entertain any requests for money for repairs, if this is not satisfactory please proceed with the small claims court"
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
zedx19 said:
"I will arrange to collect the car and issue a refund, I will not entertain any requests for money for repairs, if this is not satisfactory please proceed with the small claims court"
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
I wouldn't even do that now that the buyer has revealed himself to be so unscrupulous - who knows what he's done to the car since he bought it from the OP.Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
Just ignore him and block him. If he files his court case (he won't) then more fool him.
Muzzer79 said:
zedx19 said:
"I will arrange to collect the car and issue a refund, I will not entertain any requests for money for repairs, if this is not satisfactory please proceed with the small claims court"
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
I wouldn't even do that now that the buyer has revealed himself to be so unscrupulous - who knows what he's done to the car since he bought it from the OP.Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
Just ignore him and block him. If he files his court case (he won't) then more fool him.
Also the garage he mentioned not having the car or knowledge of him is highly questionable.
PistonTim said:
Muzzer79 said:
zedx19 said:
"I will arrange to collect the car and issue a refund, I will not entertain any requests for money for repairs, if this is not satisfactory please proceed with the small claims court"
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
I wouldn't even do that now that the buyer has revealed himself to be so unscrupulous - who knows what he's done to the car since he bought it from the OP.Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
Just ignore him and block him. If he files his court case (he won't) then more fool him.
Also the garage he mentioned not having the car or knowledge of him is highly questionable.
I don't miss having cars to sell and hadn't heard of this scam but this is about the third time in as many weeks I've seen this on PH alone.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
Muzzer79 said:
PistonTim said:
Muzzer79 said:
zedx19 said:
"I will arrange to collect the car and issue a refund, I will not entertain any requests for money for repairs, if this is not satisfactory please proceed with the small claims court"
Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
I wouldn't even do that now that the buyer has revealed himself to be so unscrupulous - who knows what he's done to the car since he bought it from the OP.Send him that, ignore any other correspondence unless its discussions over when you can collect the car. You seem like a decent person, the buyer has sensed that and now praying on your sense on decency, do not give in, they are trying to scam you.
Just ignore him and block him. If he files his court case (he won't) then more fool him.
Also the garage he mentioned not having the car or knowledge of him is highly questionable.
a311 said:
I don't miss having cars to sell and hadn't heard of this scam but this is about the third time in as many weeks I've seen this on PH alone.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
It's not like its big money either!I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
PistonTim said:
a311 said:
I don't miss having cars to sell and hadn't heard of this scam but this is about the third time in as many weeks I've seen this on PH alone.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
It's not like its big money either!I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
He probably does this every day as his 'career'. Dodgy driveway trader specialising in cars under £5k, view and identify nice genuine seller (weakness), knock them down on price, then make up faults and rinse the seller for as much as possible. I'll bet a depressing number of people fall for it and even the ones who know they're being scammed will pay up to 'avoid the hassle'.
The first red flag was his name not going on the V5.
I've given up on selling cars privately now, WBAC or similar every time.
The first red flag was his name not going on the V5.
I've given up on selling cars privately now, WBAC or similar every time.
a311 said:
PistonTim said:
a311 said:
I don't miss having cars to sell and hadn't heard of this scam but this is about the third time in as many weeks I've seen this on PH alone.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
It's not like its big money either!I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
He'll then try and get some money back, claiming it's faulty. If the OP caved and gave in, that's more money in the buyer's profit pocket.
Buyer will then sell the car, probably in another platform, for around £5000. He's now made probably over £1500 on a £5000 transaction. Not bad for a few hours work and some intimidatory texting/phone calls.
Do this a few times and that profit adds up.
A lot of people will get scared that they've sold a faulty car and cough up a few hundred pounds to make the problem go away. If they don't, the buyer still has a car he can make a bit of money on.
Coupled with the fact that I highly doubt it's a registered trader that the OP was dealing with, therefore all his profit is cash and tax free and you can see why it's worth the hassle.
Muzzer79 said:
a311 said:
PistonTim said:
a311 said:
I don't miss having cars to sell and hadn't heard of this scam but this is about the third time in as many weeks I've seen this on PH alone.
I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
It's not like its big money either!I'm surprised folk can be arsed with the hassle. You've been more reasonable than most, as others have said one final message then cease communications.
He'll then try and get some money back, claiming it's faulty. If the OP caved and gave in, that's more money in the buyer's profit pocket.
Buyer will then sell the car, probably in another platform, for around £5000. He's now made probably over £1500 on a £5000 transaction. Not bad for a few hours work and some intimidatory texting/phone calls.
Do this a few times and that profit adds up.
A lot of people will get scared that they've sold a faulty car and cough up a few hundred pounds to make the problem go away. If they don't, the buyer still has a car he can make a bit of money on.
Coupled with the fact that I highly doubt it's a registered trader that the OP was dealing with, therefore all his profit is cash and tax free and you can see why it's worth the hassle.
I did check a BMW forum against a photo of the error and consensus is that it's engine check light on startup (engine light) with the door open (yellow !).
I KNOW it wasnt faulty when I sold it and I stand by that, I have nothing to gain selling a dodgy car.
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