Selling car - worried

shirlgirl2004

Hi I hope someone can help. I've advertised my car on a free website for £5,500 hoping to get £5k. I have been emailed by someone to say they don't live locally but will give £4k cash unseen (well obviously when they come to get it but not seen before hand).

This sounded slightly odd to me but as I was planning on getting the car serviced and the aircon fixed totalling £400 and a full valet £125 I figured maybe to save the time and cost of advertising I should just take it. Anyway I haven't sold a car in years so I am wary. I emailed the potential purchaser and said I would be willing to sell but I would want to see their full driving license (pic and paper parts) and they would be welome to see mine. Afterall how would I know if all the money were fake . I know I have a vivid imagination!

Anyway the potential purchaser said they have just sent their drivers license off to get their passport. It's been a while since I applied for my 1st passport but I didn't think you did this. What sort of scam would this be?

I'm confused

Lynneth

sounds a bit dodgy to me - I would definitely be wary of this. I just looked on the UK Passports website (www.ips.gov.uk) and they need to have your birth certificate for your first passport. However, it does say that further documentation may be requested but it doesn't specify what that could be. For renewals they just need your old passport.

anewman

If they start talking about western union, or shipping to a foreign country or anything it's guaranteed to be a scam.

I would personally be avoiding this potential buyer now as the excuse for lack of driving license seems improbable. When I sent off for my passport about 2 years ago they sent back the documents I sent off quite quickly anyway if I remember correctly.

shirlgirl2004

Thanks. He or she (Steph) claims they will bring cash which we could take straight to the bank but it just doesn't feel right. I think you're right. I just keep thinking of the phrase "if it seems too good to be true...." . Well OK I haven't been offered the asking price so it isn't that good a deal but even so it seems very odd. I'm glad it isn't just me that thinks that.

ArsenalFC

If the person is bringing cash and are offering u a much lower price for your car then there nothing wrong with that. If they are paying you by cash and u are taking it to the bank to deposit it with the buyer then there is nothing to be concern about. Also there is no need to see their identification either as they are buying your car outright. Maybe you could get more for your car and wait for other offers to come in.

When I'm interested in a car and its a long distance from me......I would negotiate a price with the seller that I'm prepare to pay based on the 'accurate description' of the seller. If the seller agreed then I will come with the money and look the car over and test drive it. If its all good then I pay, if not as described, then re-negotiate or walk away. So this potential buyer is doing exactly what I would do.

Inactive

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Anyway the potential purchaser said they have just sent their drivers license off to get their passport. It's been a while since I applied for my 1st passport but I didn't think you did this. What sort of scam would this be?

I'm confused

Alarm bells, you don't need a driving licence to get a passport, so that is bullsh*t, I would avoid like the plague.

Keith

Yep, seems fine to me, sold my car for £6.5k on ebay to a guy with no feedback, doubted he'd show up. He arrived about 2pm on a Saturday, took a 5 minute test drive whilst I counted the cash in the kitchen with his dad. He left I stuck the cash in the freezer until Monday

Inactive

But you sold on eBay, at least you had a bit of come back, this is on a free website, all sounds very iffy to me.

albionrovers

Run like the wind.

sarah_elton

What's the problem if they agree to come to the bank with you while you pay the cash in? You could arrange to meet at the bank itself, ask the bank teller to double check all the notes, and if the bank are happy and credit your account, then hand over the keys etc.

If there's anything dodgy going on they'll run a mile at this.

EDIT: Also, seeing their driving license would do nothing to prove that the cash is real....

Inactive

Well I certainly would not even consider meeting someone that has told lies, worksfrom the back of a car wash, with a few grand in my pocket, not even at a bank.

I get the distinct feeling that the " seller " and the " buyer " are going to be changing money, and nothing else.