Somebody wants to buy my car without seeing it!

Tish_P

If they "accidentally" send you a cheque for the wrong amount go to the police (this happened to a friend of mine). Otherwise, just keep all communication clear and in writing and you should be fine.

Rolandtheroadie

Last 2 cars bought before seeing (even offered a deposit via paypal for my current one). Both were about 85 miles away from me.

Last 4 motorbikes the same. One 13 miles away, one 45 miles away, one 100 miles away and the current one was 240 miles away.

Between the descriptions, an email or 2 and/or a phone call, I'm normally quite confident in whether I want it or not. I can always walk away if its not what I expect.

Lum

Tish_P wrote: »

If they "accidentally" send you a cheque for the wrong amount go to the police (this happened to a friend of mine). Otherwise, just keep all communication clear and in writing and you should be fine.

Yes, this is the scam I was alluding to before.

How it works is they "accidentally" send you a cheque for a higher amount, then ask you to give them the change in cash or via Western Union.

At any point up to 6 months later it can turn out that the cheque was stolen or otherwise fraudulent and the bank will then take the money back. The buyer then has your car and your money. Sometimes they don't even bother to collect the car.

For a £850 car I would be demanding cash.

House_owner

Thanks again everyone for your help - I will let you know the outcome!

Mr_Thrifty

just make sure they pay cash and that you post the V5 off.

frankly there's not a lot they can scam you with if you do it that way

ashleypride

LincolnshireYokel wrote: »

Make two copies, make sure he signs your and you sign his.

What you are vulnerable to without this is him buying the car, taking it away, then suing you claiming it has numerous faults you didnt point out. Then he's got your car and will soon have your money as well.

Utter and complete rubbish. This is a private sale, and sold as seen. If the buyer didn't see it, or ask questions to its condion a judge would laugh it out of court.

HeadAboveWater

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

just make sure they pay cash and that you post the V5 off.

Agreed. Very important - make sure YOU post the V5 off asap, not the buyer.

colino

I think you are heading off on a tangent here, if you are a genuine private seller with no knowledge of the car being unroadworthy, sell it (without the worthless receipt) to the first person who is able to turn up and pay for it in cash. Selling cars is hard enough without the muppets who occasionally thumb through the ads and go through the whole palaver talking about it. What you want is someone with cash in their hands and the ability to drive off to the sunset, not ask about every pernickety detail on a banger price car.

fivetide

ashleypride wrote: »

Utter and complete rubbish. This is a private sale, and sold as seen. If the buyer didn't see it, or ask questions to its condion a judge would laugh it out of court.

Actually having two copies of the reciept isn't a bad idea.

Ensure you write the date, reg number and importantly the time on it and sign both copies (get them to sign too).

That way if they 'test the performance' on the way home and get snapped by a camera they won't be able to claim it was you driving it and they only bought the car after the offence took place.

5t.

Tobster86

Don't take payment by cheque at all. Nobody pays by cheque unless they're (A) a scammer or (B) too old to drive anyway.