Bought car from dealer who then reported it stolen!!

Sgt_Pepper_2

neilmcl wrote: »

No he hasn't because HIS money hasn't been stolen.

Correct, nor is it fraud or deception at this stage.

Joe_Horner

neilmcl wrote: »

No he hasn't because HIS money hasn't been stolen.

According to the dealer it is. Because, if it was the dealer's money, then they have no claim on the car and have laid a false complaint with the police.

Bertybert

An update -
Still haven't got the car back, but have been told that if we do get it back then I will have to pay the compound charges! Absolutely baffling considering i have done nothing to make this situation happen. Depending on how much the compound charges, i could be looking at a bill of around £700 / £800!!
It would seem that out of the 4 cars that were reported stolen, mine was the only one seized because the police couldn't find my address to come to my house! I paid the deposit by switch, they could have got my address through that! I spoke to the owner of the dealers yesterday and he said that the police phoned him from the scene (when they took the car) and he told the police not to take it from me. But i think that because they used alot of resources (6 squad cars and a helicopter) they had to take it.
According to the police, we have got to get the dealer to agree the car is ours now otherwise we could end up with a civil case on our hands and bailiffs knocking at my door to take the car back. All very confusing, but hopefully i will get more clarification today.
Again all your comments and input is much appreciated.

Sgt_Pepper_2

It's £20 a day storage plus £150 recovery and stacking up every day. Were you informedto pay the recovery up front to stop the storage charge?

Bertybert

Was only informed last night that IF i get the car back then i will have to pay any charges. Spoke to the compound this morning and they said they couldnt tell me how much it was until the police release it.

Wig

Write to your MP
Write to the Chief constable
For each of these 2 letters CC enclose a copy of the other letter.
Obviously in these letters make the points raised in this thread, that you paid an employee the cash you got a receipt, the employee was the only one there on the day (quite a lot of responsibility to giove somoen who is not authorised to sell cars, you spoke with the owner about paying and picking up the car. you got the green slip. The owner told police not to seize the car, the address on the debit card...and presumably also on your paperwork at the garage.

You fail to see how such a car could be considered stolen, and police should have realised this is more to do with civil law than criminal law, so should not have flagged it up as a stolen vehicle.

If you don't get the car back you accept that it becomes a civil matter between you and the dealer to recover your money, and you won't be asked to pay for storage costs.

However if you do get the car back then by default the car was NOT stolen and so should never have been seized in the first place. And you should not be required to pay for recovery/storage costs in order to get your car back.

And speak to a solicitor.

Sgt_Pepper_2

£270 since the threads been running.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Bertybert wrote: »

An update -
Still haven't got the car back, but have been told that if we do get it back then I will have to pay the compound charges! Absolutely baffling considering i have done nothing to make this situation happen. Depending on how much the compound charges, i could be looking at a bill of around £700 / £800!!
It would seem that out of the 4 cars that were reported stolen, mine was the only one seized because the police couldn't find my address to come to my house! I paid the deposit by switch, they could have got my address through that! I spoke to the owner of the dealers yesterday and he said that the police phoned him from the scene (when they took the car) and he told the police not to take it from me. But i think that because they used alot of resources (6 squad cars and a helicopter) they had to take it.
According to the police, we have got to get the dealer to agree the car is ours now otherwise we could end up with a civil case on our hands and bailiffs knocking at my door to take the car back. All very confusing, but hopefully i will get more clarification today.
Again all your comments and input is much appreciated.

somethings not adding up here. My guess is the dealer is telling you and the police different stories.

almillar

The dealer *sounds* like he's being reasonable now (after being a bit insane earlier!), and I'd be expecting HIM to pay the compound charges, and you can threaten him with plenty if he doesn't agree. Not least of which spreading the word that you may get involved in a car chase when you buy a car off him!

Bertybert

Went to the Police station yesterday and managed to speak to an officer (not the one who has been dealing with the case tho!!). We have been told that there is a massive investigation, it goes a lot deeper than just the 4 cars we know about.
They are releasing our car today but we have got to pay the compound charges, but he did say that later when the investigation is over we can go back to them to claim the money back. They feel totally sorry for us and apologized that we have been caught up in this mess. We're still yet to give our statements, but we did explain to him our thoughts on people being involved when theyre saying theyre not.
Fingers crossed the compound charges are not too unreasonable - I will let you know...