Bought car in cash - Car reported as stolen by police

Joe_Horner

LordSVS wrote: »

Am I missing something here?

The car is on hire-purchase, therefore Toyota own the car. The seller then reported to Toyota that the car had been stolen, the police found the vehicle and recovered it (and rightly so!). It's no longer a police matter, it's a civil matter.

You're missing at least two things here:

1) The Consumer Credit act makes it a fact of law that, if someone (the OP) buys a car in good faith which later turns out to still have finance on it then he can keep the car and the finance house (in this case Toyota) have to try and chase their customer for any outstanding money. It's one of the perks of being in the finance game and the risk is built into the interest they charge you.

2) If the car had been stolen then, even once it's recovered, the police have a duty to investigate properly and bring charges if possible. Otherwise I can steal your car tonight safe in the knowledge that, if I'm caught with it, I just give it back and no harm done. So it isn't "a civil matter now", it's still a criminal one of car theft IF what Toyota are claiming is true, If what they're claiming isn't true then the OP legally owns the car and it's up to Toyota, not the OP, to chase the seller in a civil action because that's what the law says (whether you agree with it or not).

londonTiger

vax2002 wrote: »

The police are less than useless and only deal with what suits them, over staffed and arrogant.
You have no proof that you paid anyone anything, not even a receipt .
The car was on finance, it goes back to the company.
Thats life.
Your only recourse is one of two attacks to obtain a CCJ against this person you gave the money to, not the other keeper, the one you gave your money to.
They had no title to sell the vehicle, sue them.
Next the police :
1 report = 1 solution, they will not hear or entertain your side of the story
You need to visit a police station with the name of the person you gave the money to and REPORT them as a NEW CRIME for selling property they did not own : Obtaining money by deception.
The previous keeper has told the police that the vehicle was stolen.
It is very very important that you make a NEW report of the separate offence of deception, get a new crime number and demand they investigate.
Do not go in and drag up the other case, it is not your case and they will not entertain doing more work as it has had its result.
Just to re-iterate, a new report of a new crime.
Not an enquiry about the old one.

you mean under staff right? police have to deal with bigger crimes like murderers and rapists. Why should they spend so much man hour on pursuing a complex case that will cost more in police time than what the "loss" is worth.

Plus op didnt do any of his due diligence and get written receipt so the police a powerless its "your word against his"