Motor Network

I've listed my car on Auto Trader and have had literally dozens of calls from canvassers - so many, in fact, that I've now altered the advert to tell them all in advance I'm not interested.

The most persistent is Motor Network UK Ltd. I think they've rung me six or seven times...!! Their pitch is delivered very smoothly, even if the guy was actually quite rude on several occasions, but it's such a load of rubbish I have to post it here!

My car is a BMW 3 series, advertised at £11,500. I chose this price because of what similar cars (age, mileage, condition etc.) are selling for. If the guy from Motor Network UK can be believed (which he can't), I've got the price wrong and it's worth £12,250. The reason, you see, is that every seller who doesn't sell immediately keeps dropping their prices, hence all the prices on Auto Trader are too low. However, he has three (count 'em!) buyers who WILL buy my car TODAY without EVER having seen it, and they will all pay £12,250. All I need to do is confirm the mileage and condition and colour and agree to pay a one-off registration fee to Motor Network of £89.99 and how will I be paying, sir, credit or debit card?

So I told him that I'm not paying a thing to someone from a company I know nothing about, which he got very stroppy about and told me to read their web page and he'd call me back in one hour. True to his word, an hour later the phone rang, by which time I'd had time to read all the horror stories from people who'd paid their £90 registration fee and never heard from Motor Network again, so I told him no and hung up. Immediately, he called back and said, "What part of £12,250 don't you understand?" and then shouted at me (yes!) when I told him what the friendly internet had to say about his company. He started blustering again and I told him not to ring again and hung up - so far, my phone's been quiet. Fingers crossed...

I can't honestly believe that people believe this rubbish, that there are buyers willing to pay MORE than the advertised value without ever having seen the car, and that they gladly pay £90... but I suppose there must be.

One other thing - he claims that he's affiliated to Exchange and Mart, but this is a complete lie as E&M's site states that they do not authorise anyone to contact advertisers directly. I've done the right thing and told E&M and Auto Trader about the conversations, but no doubt they're already well aware of this scam outfit.

If this company rings you, HANG UP AND RUN AWAY!!