Scammed?

luckyman1

Hi,

Any help greatly appreciated.

Last week I saw a car on ebay and after contacting the private seller for more details (condition, info to carry out a background check, faults etc) I was told a mystery noise was present.

I offered a price and and collection date and was then provided with a phone number to arrange the times and location.

I arrived looked over the vehicle, checked paperwork and went for a little drive to observe said mystery noise. I paid cash, filled in log book (taking new keeper slip but didn't get a receipt for payment! Doh!) and was provided with 2 keys. As I drove out of the end of the street the mystery noise decided to reveal itself as a fault and the car was unable to move.I returned to the seller to ask if I could leave the vehicle with him whilst I made arrangement to have it transported, rather than left on a main road. They offered to book it into a garage for me and said they would let me know of repair costs. I left with only the new keeper slip and one of the keys.

The next day I called to ask how things were progressing and was informed the work was going to be big! But the garage was yet to give a final estimate. I later received a txt saying they were no longer selling the car and I would be getting my money back and that the car had been scrapped! I offered to collect the money that evening but was told they were out and they would send to money by recorded mail the next day.

After requesting the tracking number I was then informed they couldn't afford the cost of recorded so sent it first class. So the money doesn't arrive (big surprise!) and now I have no communication from them at all! I even sent a recorded letter to them stating I want a resolution to this and would like my money returned and the price of the background check as a means of compensation for the inconvenience of the whole thing but the delivery failed and it's waiting at the depot for them to collect.

I know I've been very very foolish :mad: but do I have any options other than lose my hard earned cash?

maninthestreet

Was the seller a motor trader or a private seller?
What is their feedback rating on ebay?

EDIT - sorry, just seen it was private seller - presumably you visited the seller at their home address?

forgotmyname

Report them for the theft of YOUR car.

You do have it insured don't you?

phill99

So you go somewhere, buy a dodgy car, pay cash, don't get a receipt and gave them the car back to fix. And now they can't be traced?

They saw you coming didn't they?

Hoof_Hearted

phill99 wrote: »

So you go somewhere, buy a dodgy car, pay cash, don't get a receipt and gave them the car back to fix. And now they can't be traced?

They saw you coming didn't they?

Helpful comment. Well done!

andygb

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Helpful comment. Well done!

To be fair to Phil, it is a very accurate description of the events. It may be possible to get the police involved, but they would have to trace the seller (should be easy), then track down the vehicle and see if it has been scrapped.
Too many unanswered questions here, and the OP seems to have broken every single rule of buying a car from a private seller.

photome

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Helpful comment. Well done!

Normally like you, those sort of comments wind me up but he does have it spot on.

it beggars belief that someone would pay cash for a car and then leave it with the seller

what do you suggest he does, other than going to police and insurance and reporting it as theft, i am not even sure that would work

phill99

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Helpful comment. Well done!

You're welcome.

The reality is that the OP broke every rule in the book about buying a used car and this is the result. Now they want the police and insurers to to sort a problem they created.

People seem to think it acceptable not to take responsibility for their own actions.

maninthestreet

OP not posted back on this thread yet. Thet must have visited the seller at some address somewhere - or did they agree to meet in a car park or lay-by somewhere???

Sgt_Pepper_2

I bet the op is a united fan.

luckyman1

Thanks for the replies, glad I can amuse some of you with my stupidity!
In answer to a few questions: his ebay feedback was good (50 ish spanning over a few years), I viewed the car at his home (even went inside), only had insurance for the day as a means of getting it home so can't claim for the day after. The registered letter was collected this morning so I do have a means oftracing him (kfor now). I called the police (local to him as I'm an hour's drive away) who seemed uninterested implying it was a civil matter and I would be best to take the seller to small claims court. Although I was under the impression that theft and fraud were crimes??