Selling to a buyer based in Thailand!
Discussion
Bit of a weird one this. Couple of months ago I had a chap come and look at my car said he was a car dealer from Thailand and wanted to export my car there for his showroom. No test drives took place but he walked around my car a few times. The engine was started and then he proceeded to check the paperwork.
He made an offer I declined he left. Now after a few months he's called and said he is willing to pay full price for my car. I agreed and he paid me a deposit of £500 from a Thai Bank account which hit my account in 24 hours. If this goes through I guess I need to fill in the Notificaiton or permanent export slip on the V5 and send this to the DVLA but do I also have to fill in the buyers details in to section 6 (green bit)? There is a bit on here that requires the new keeper to sign but he's in Thailand and has told me the shipping company will come to pick up the car. Should I be handing over this bit of the V5 without a signature?
I smell a rat but at the same time the chap seems serious, I mean he's already deposited £500 in my account? Im confused right now - oh and if it matters my cars around £30k
He made an offer I declined he left. Now after a few months he's called and said he is willing to pay full price for my car. I agreed and he paid me a deposit of £500 from a Thai Bank account which hit my account in 24 hours. If this goes through I guess I need to fill in the Notificaiton or permanent export slip on the V5 and send this to the DVLA but do I also have to fill in the buyers details in to section 6 (green bit)? There is a bit on here that requires the new keeper to sign but he's in Thailand and has told me the shipping company will come to pick up the car. Should I be handing over this bit of the V5 without a signature?
I smell a rat but at the same time the chap seems serious, I mean he's already deposited £500 in my account? Im confused right now - oh and if it matters my cars around £30k
northandy said:
Seriously, walk away, no, run!.
Call your bank and check its a fully cleared irrrevocable payment. My guess is that it isnt really.
Run anyway, what your bank say is irrelevant, because if the money turns out to the fradulently obtained the police will seize it whatever method it was transferred by.Call your bank and check its a fully cleared irrrevocable payment. My guess is that it isnt really.
Yep, import duties to Thailand make the importing of foreign vehicles very costly . For 30k he can get a brand new Toyota Fortuner , Vigo or any number of cars / 4x4's . Although iirc the sales tax on a saloon car is less than on a 4x4 , anything German and prestige is prohibitively expensive ( driving a merc or bmw is seen as a status symbol).
Sounds iffy, not heard of anyone importing a car from the uk to Thailand before, but they are al RHD there, so there is some logic to it I guess, still, sounds very suspect.
Sounds iffy, not heard of anyone importing a car from the uk to Thailand before, but they are al RHD there, so there is some logic to it I guess, still, sounds very suspect.
Thanks for the advice chaps. I am awaiting feedback from HSBC on the matter and have also asked the seller to send me a copy of his passport with pic (as I have seen him). Thing is that the payment has been made from a company account and I can find no reference to such a company in Thailand via search engines. I'm 90% sure something's not right 
I live in the Philippines now, but prior to coming here I lived in Bangkok for four years.
I have many friends there that could easily check out the address for you.
What car is it? I must admit that most of the imports tend to come from Japan so the UK connection does sound odd. Yes there is high tax for premium imports, but it is possible to temporarily import the car for six months and they would then give the import tax back to your buyer.
It is also possible that they could and most probably would bring the car in via the back door paying a couple of back handlers along the way.
I have many friends there that could easily check out the address for you.
What car is it? I must admit that most of the imports tend to come from Japan so the UK connection does sound odd. Yes there is high tax for premium imports, but it is possible to temporarily import the car for six months and they would then give the import tax back to your buyer.
It is also possible that they could and most probably would bring the car in via the back door paying a couple of back handlers along the way.
Proceed with caution. But as anyone in the trade knows plenty of legit exports to a very buoyant Thai market.
Typically they are after prestigious big petrol engine cars M3's, S5's, Porsches etc.
Very particular about colours, white, black ok but things like blue, red, green are a no no.
If it is a scam why did he not pay asking price at the time? Maybe he has a customer waiting and can't find another. He has been to inspect the car but not drive it, sounds like a trader to me.
Typically they are after prestigious big petrol engine cars M3's, S5's, Porsches etc.
Very particular about colours, white, black ok but things like blue, red, green are a no no.
If it is a scam why did he not pay asking price at the time? Maybe he has a customer waiting and can't find another. He has been to inspect the car but not drive it, sounds like a trader to me.
Thailand have a 200% tax on used cars at the cars new price, so it will sell for over 100 grand. If the money is in your account what's the problem? There is some serious money in Thailand at the moment, recent visits I wad astonished at the Lambos, ferraris Bentlys etc. If you want to play if safe then don't take up the offer, but I really can't see what the problem is if the money goes in your account.
it is of course worth going in cautiously though...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff