Selling my car - Is this a scam?

Rolandtheroadie

mchale wrote: »

Op, isn't it funny how people think, I wouldn't even ring up about the vehicle you have for sale, as I would think you had something to hid by using 1 of those 070 numbers on your ad.

I've advertised on adtrader recently wanting waste vegetable oil. Adtrader assigned an 070 number to the ad automatically.
It's not a scam, I think it's how adtrader make a bit of cash from a free ad (forward the call to my number at the respondants expense).

From their website.

Q1: What is the Customer Protection Numbers?The Customer Protection Numbers keep your personal phone number hidden from other users of the website. We replace your phone numbers with our own 070 number, which when called redirects customers to the phone numbers you entered in your My Ad Trader Account.
Q2: How much does the call cost me?All details are readily available from the FAQ section on the Ad Trader website. People calling an CPN from a standard BT home or business phone are charged at the BT rate of 37 pence per minute (ppm) at peak times, 25 ppm evenings and 12.5 ppm weekends.
Where callers use an alternative operator to make the call to an CPN the call will be charged at that operator's rate for calls to personal numbering services.
The cost of calling an CPN from a mobile phone varies depending on the mobile operator the call is being made through. Callers are encouraged to confirm with their mobile operator the charge for calling an CPN (CPNs are those with the prefix 070). Mobile operators are obliged to make their call charges readily available to their customers.

* Per second billing applies to calls to an CPN where the operator used to make the call supports it *
Q3: If I call an CPN will I get charged if no one answers the phone?No, you only get charged if the call is answered, including an answer machine or voicemail.
Q4: Do I have to pay for the CPN?The customer calling the Customer Protection Number pays for the call. There are no other charges involved.
Q5: I dont want an CPN on my advert, can it be removed?No, at Ad Trader we place private adverts free of charge, in order to continue to do so we make a small amount of revenue from the 070 service that we now offer. This has also been welcomed for the privacy that it now offers our Private advertisers. All details are readily available from the FAQ section on the Ad Trader website.
Q6: Will it cost me more if I dial an CPN from a mobile phone?Yes, calling an CPN from a Mobile Phone will cost you more than if you called from a Land Line. The cost of calling an CPN from a mobile phone varies depending on the mobile operator the call is being made through. Callers are encouraged to confirm with their mobile operator the charge for calling an CPN (CPNs are those with the prefix 070). Mobile operators are obliged to make their call charges readily available to their customers.

NeverAgain_2

It must be hard buying a car these days with everyone thinking you are a scammer.

If the buyer is prepared to hand over notes which are paid into the OP's account to the satisfaction of the bank teller, I don't see how the transaction can be undone.

The buyer having the OP's 'bank details' is neither here nor there - they are on every cheque.

As a general point, current accounts are less secure than savings accounts, so I keep my small buffer in a linked - but separate - savings account, where it also earns a pathetic rate of interest.

Were I in the OP's position, I would pay the car money directly into the savings account.

richard734

I have seen 2 of my old cars 'exported', one to Poland, and one to Africa. There are some very legitimate dealers over here who are taking advantage of the difference in values across countries.
I am not saying this is Not a scam, but dont dismiss everyone as a scam artist.
If you pop down to some of the motor auctions, you will see a lot of Africans buying cars to export - if you have teh funding and teh contacts, there is good money to be earned!

cwoolhouse_2

It's amazing how much interest this has generated and how it's split opinion. I'm expecting a call back from the guy today to arrange when he'll come and get the car/pay the balance so I'll update then. I'm also going to ascertain what method of payment was used for the £500 into the bank.

I'm still completely on the fence about whether it's a scam or not. One piece of additional info is that I Googled the phone number he rang me from (mobile) and actually got a match on the name he gave me and he does appear to be from Kenya. If I was scamming I wouldn't be using my own name, or a number that could be traced back to me.

Oh, and i used the telesafe number because I previously sold a car (many years ago) and had no end of tedious and frankly pointless follow-up questions from the guy I sold it to ("How much air pressure should I put in the tyres", "how do I get the stereo to save radio stations" etc, etc). I can live without that sort of thing, hence the telesafe number.

cwoolhouse_2

Additional question about the V5. Assuming that this guy is legit, presumably I just complete the transfer of ownership in the normal way? I have no interest in getting involved in any export conversations etc, so it would be up to him to complete the permanent export section once he received his V5 wouldn't it?

vax2002

I simply can not believe you are falling for this ? !!!!!! are you on here ? Someone you have never met has never seen the car and has put money in your bank claiming they want to export it having never even seen it ! AND yet you are still contemplating this easy money ?
The more knowledgeable on here have tried until they are blue in the face to warn you ? the usual fools post how it may be genuine ?
For Christ's sake man, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER and ignore these idiots surrounding you.

cwoolhouse_2

Vax maybe I'm not making myself clear, so I'll use words with fewer syllables to try to avoid another outburst.

The car/V5/keys/etc will be going absolutely nowhere until I've got verified funds into my bank account regardless of whether this guy or the next guy, or the guy after him buys it.

I will not be refunding any deposits due to family emergencies/minds being changed/alien invasion etc.

I will not be spending the £500 or doing anything at all with it until I can verify that it has been given value (not just cleared).

If I was a simpleton, which you seem to be suggesting, I wouldn't have questioned the whole process in the first place would I? I'd have blindly gone along with it and potentially lost money. As soon as you can provide me with some proof that your opinion is any more valid than anyone else's on this forum I'll listen to you exclusively. Until that point, I'll take on board everyone's comments, and additional evidence as it comes to light and I'll make my own assessment.

cwoolhouse_2

OK. Not sure what this does to Vax's theory and requirements for me to pull myself together, but the payment into my account of £500 on Saturday was cash.

vax2002

Oh Christ , I give up.
Just get on with it...

Flyboy152

vax2002 wrote: »

I simply can not believe you are falling for this ? !!!!!! are you on here ? Someone you have never met has never seen the car and has put money in your bank claiming they want to export it having never even seen it ! AND yet you are still contemplating this easy money ?
The more knowledgeable on here have tried until they are blue in the face to warn you ? the usual fools post how it may be genuine ?
For Christ's sake man, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER and ignore these idiots surrounding you.

What are the risks? The buyer is paying cash, at the bank, in front of the teller.