Autotrader conman be carefull !!!

harvey1964

he could well be genuine. I live in N.ireland and for some reason when i search for cars on Autotrader most cars are cheaper in england than in N.ireland for the same make of car? have considered it myself .did he call from a landline ? Is your car an expensive model ? are you selling it cheaper than others on Autotrader ? have you checked autotrader ? would it be worth his while to go all that distance ?

MrSmartprice

If it sounds like a rat, looks like a rat and smells like a rat, it's probably a rat!

Never trust anyone, ever, in a deal like this, and don't sign or hand over the car until the cash is in your bank.

The original scam sounds like Nigerians. The 070 numbers are indeed a giveaway - avoid like the plague. There is another trick they may try where they have a draft for more than the price and expect you to write them a cheque for the balance. That way they steal the car and your cash. Remember which is the most corrupt nation on earth!

david29dpo

many thanks for all your replies. i have his name and address, and he was calling from a land line in NI, i have checked from the caller ID and the number matches his name. he knows i will only except cash. if he does bring a cheque, he has had a wasted trip! the car is rare, but not expensive. i am taking a big friend with me! the only thing that bothers me now is if he picks fault with the car and changes his mind, will he start demanding his traveling expenses? though i would have thought thats his problem for buying a car unseen. he has booked and paid for his flight and ferry but i am still a little concerned about all this and loosing sleep.

violetta

David, perhaps have TWO big friends with you in case he brings a big friend as well! Like you say, if he wants to travel all that way for a car, sight unseen, it is his risk regarding any expenses he incurs.

Make sure he signs the log book for you to send off to the DVLC pronto, and have a good read of the log book ahead of time so you know which bit to give him, where you all sign, and which to keep to send off yourself in the heat of the moment. How was he planning to insure it for his trip to Holyhead and onwards if you were to remain the registered owner and keeper for three months after the sale?

I can see why you would be a bit nervous about this and lose sleep - selling a car is nerve wracking anyway (though I advertised in the local paper and sold quickly to a really nice chap who gave me half in cash immediately and returned the next day to collect the car with the other half, so it was not as scary as I was imagining) and this sounds an unusual experience with someone coming such a distance.

Please let us know next week how it goes.

Violetta

Cumbrian_Male

david29dpo wrote:

many thanks for all your replies. i have his name and address, and he was calling from a land line in NI, i have checked from the caller ID and the number matches his name. he knows i will only except cash. if he does bring a cheque, he has had a wasted trip! the car is rare, but not expensive. i am taking a big friend with me! the only thing that bothers me now is if he picks fault with the car and changes his mind, will he start demanding his traveling expenses? though i would have thought thats his problem for buying a car unseen. he has booked and paid for his flight and ferry but i am still a little concerned about all this and loosing sleep.

There was a previous thread on here about someone who sold their car to someone from Ireland, not sure if North or South.

They got a good price because cars are more expensive over there.

Will have a dig to see if I can find the post.

Linky

david29dpo

thanks all. i have bought and sold a fair few cars over the years, all mine, i am not a dealer, so i think i know the ropes. its just this deal is giving me the jitters. i too have heard car prices in NI are higher but i am happy with with the price i am getting. he did try to drop the price a little but after telling him not a penny less than than £ @@@@ he was fine. surely it is not my problem if he drives it home without insurance?. another problem is i have to take my private reg number off on monday, the office will keep the logbook but will they give me back sections 9,10 and 11 to enable me to sell it? the NI man says yes. he seems to know what he is talking about on these matters.

Cumbrian_Male

Report back the final outcome.

david29dpo

up date. the sale will not be friday! the dvla office kept all the log and mot certificate to put my number on retention. i cannot sell the car without these and it will take about 3 weeks to get them back. i rang the man in NI right away. he is fine about it as there is nothing anyone can do about it. he is happy to lose his flight and ferry costs and book them again as soon as i get the paperwork back.

eddmac2

I have friends that have bought and sold cars through ebay, flying between England and Belfast. It has worked out fine on each of the 5 occasions I know about. I don't understand the 3 month issue. There was some complexity with the vehicle license. Northern Ireland has a different system from the rest of the UK. But this is a straight forward procedure with a standard form from the post office. If you no longer own the car your name must not be on the registration. To do so is an offence.

Carrickfergus33

In Northern Ireland cars generally are more expensive, particularly sports and certain cars such as BMWs/Audis etc, or Toyota sports cars like the MR2.
I know a trader personally, he assures me that even paying for flights he still can make £1000 easily on some older cars.
For an example have a look at older (1986) Toyota Corolla GT or Levins on Autotrader. Or a 1990 BMW 325i £3-4K.
Search with an NI postcode like BT3 9DZ or BT38 7BG and see what I mean.