buyer worries
Author
Discussion

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
so i'm selling my car, and I had someone contact me saying they want to come and bring cash and drive the car away, and would I take £X. I said let's talk money on the day, see the car first etc. Now, I'm always apprehensive about people who are so eager without even having seen the car, and talking about bringing actual cash etc., but perhaps I am not justified. I said OK well IF we do a deal, you are coming with me to my bank with cash, I'll handle the V5 (you get your slip), I will be writing out a receipt etc. All fine except he is now saying he may purchase as a trader as he is moving house and won't know where to register it to. Should I be worried? I wondered if it was just that he is a trader, and didn't want to appear as such, but the story sounds weird to me as why not just say so. Thoughts?

redgriff500

28,982 posts

284 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
As long as you get the cash - who cares !

But some people don't like selling to traders - they think their car is too cheap if a trader wants to buy it.

However it's also a way the buyer gets to hold on to the V5.

But that really isn't your problem.

I always buy cars with cash (so far up to £15k) I always make one trip and take it away - I don't like messing about.

sday12

5,066 posts

232 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
Try confusing him with some paragraphs.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
i have to say i like the idea of getting it sorted quickly, and yea if i get the cash it shouldn't be an issue... just wondered whether there was some weirdness with the V5 and selling to a trader (clearly he would get the V5 minus the "i sold the car to a trader slip" which I send to the DVLA) like maybe if the trader isn't really a trader or gives bullst details, or doesn't it matter?

neilbauer

2,467 posts

204 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a scam, not sure what scam but dosen't seem right!

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
neilbauer said:
Sounds like a scam, not sure what scam but dosen't seem right!
Well that's what i thought when he said it. However if he has given me the cash and it has gone into my bank, and I have the filled in trader slip and sale agreement then surely I am covered regardless of what he might be planning? Surely anyone can fill in bullst details regardless of whether they are a private purchase or trader?

redgriff500

28,982 posts

284 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
neilbauer said:
Sounds like a scam, not sure what scam but dosen't seem right!
Well that's what i thought when he said it. However if he has given me the cash and it has gone into my bank, and I have the filled in trader slip and sale agreement then surely I am covered regardless of what he might be planning? Surely anyone can fill in bullst details regardless of whether they are a private purchase or trader?
Exactly.

At worst he's going to drive it unregistered - not your problem.

D1bram

1,518 posts

192 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
He is a two bit trader trying to cover up the fact he is looking to sell your car straight on without actually adding any value to it wink

Had this recently with my MX5, the buyer fed my a massive BS story about why he was buying it as a trader but it was for his wife 'honest'.

It was back up for sale within 3 days.

I wasn't bothered personally, I sold it for what I wanted for it and in time to bag a bargain motorbike.

Just can't understand why the cover story instead of just saying he is buying it to retail.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
i did say to him that if it was a trade purchase i am fine with it. Don't understand how he is going to make any money on it tbh

Steffan

10,362 posts

249 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
sday12 said:
Try confusing him with some paragraphs.
smilesmile

neilbauer

2,467 posts

204 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
redgriff500 said:
Blown2CV said:
neilbauer said:
Sounds like a scam, not sure what scam but dosen't seem right!
Well that's what i thought when he said it. However if he has given me the cash and it has gone into my bank, and I have the filled in trader slip and sale agreement then surely I am covered regardless of what he might be planning? Surely anyone can fill in bullst details regardless of whether they are a private purchase or trader?
Exactly.

At worst he's going to drive it unregistered - not your problem.
If you get cash, no worries really smile

wolfie1978

459 posts

185 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Does it have a low number of previous owners? maybe he's trying to buy it as trade to prevent the number of previous owners going up to hopefully retain slightly more value at resale? Some people are quite picky when it come to amount of previous owners on a V5 for some reason

varsas

4,071 posts

223 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
As long as you have the cash I really wouldn't worry. I also like to have something written that states the date/time of the sale in case they get caught speeding or whatever and I inform my insurance company as soon as they have left. I have sold cars sight unseen, and know friends that do/have bought cars sight unseen. It's not unusual, especially from traders. If you are really worried get a mate or two round and buy one of those special pens to check the money.

T0nup

683 posts

221 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Just be careful with the cash... a) There are a lot of forged £50's and £20's out there. Some of them are very good. b) The chance to launder large quantities of cash is a godsend to those that come across it illegaly... That can come back and bite you in the butt if it goes belly up.

As above, a starch pen/cash marker is a good idea.

The fact that this guy has not come clean to begin with rings alarm bells. Don't get suckered in by a vine and the promise of fast cash if the deal doesn't smell right.

Edited by T0nup on Thursday 12th April 08:30

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

195 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a part time trader who doesn't want to come clean - probably feels he is getting the car cheap and perhaps thinks you wont sell if you realise he is going to try and sell on for more.

I got a similar likely story when I sold my car last year, only the guy wanted the whole logbook form. I sold it anyway and wrote to the DVLA the next day to make sure I was in the clear.

As long as you have the (genuine) cash in your hands what is the problem? I'm a bit paranoid, so if it is a large sum I would pay it straight into the bank or stick it somewhere else until I could ; just incase they came back for a refund....

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
it definitely isn't cheap, that's the weird thing. I have touched it up and machine polished it, and put it on for top money with a decent ad! A more likely outcome is he will get there and I won't have to worry about him buying it because he will discover this! It looks really good in the pics, but I have been honest in the ad text. I won't have to worry about the notes if I take him to my bank will i? That was my plan. The only worry is the paperwork aspect, but I was planning to cancel my insurance immediately.

jamei303

3,043 posts

177 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
T0nup said:
Just be careful with the cash... a) There are a lot of forged £50's and £20's out there. Some of them are very good. b) The chance to launder large quantities of cash is a godsend to those that come across it illegaly... That can come back and bite you in the butt if it goes belly up.

As above, a starch pen/cash marker is a good idea.

The fact that this guy has not come clean to begin with rings alarm bells. Don't get suckered in by a vine and the promise of fast cash if the deal doesn't smell right.

Edited by T0nup on Thursday 12th April 08:30
If you're worried about forged notes get him to pay the money in. Stand next to him in the bank and make it clear to the cashier that he is paying his money into your account.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

276 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
I wondered if it was just that he is a trader, and didn't want to appear as such, but the story sounds weird to me as why not just say so. Thoughts?
A friend very recently sold her car on eBay which was won by someone relatively local (~20 miles). After winning it they contacted her and said it was for his wife's birthday present and could she deliver it as he had no way of picking it up; bloody cheeky to ask AFTER he won it, but the seller agreed. After driving it to the buyer, he handed over cash and when it came to filling out the V5 the tt then admitted he was a trader and had bought it to sell on. Yet another example to reinforce my opinion that most traders are compulsive liars.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

30,509 posts

224 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
they probably only lie because of the inappropriate reaction in most private sellers when they find out. Personally I don't care if he wants to try and sell it on at a profit, mainly because I've done my research and I don't think he can!

varsas

4,071 posts

223 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Just another note. The DVLA will accept a written note from you to say you don't own a car. I sold a car to a trader they never registered it in there name so I wrote to the DVLA and told them I sold this car at this time to this person. I got a letter back saying that they had updated the records and I was no longer the registered keeper. Just saying you aren't stuck with being responsible for the car if the guy doesn't register it.