Buyers Line Direct - a fraud?

malone100

Unfortunately i don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but your story sounds exactly like mine. I advertised my car in the autotrader and only a couple of days later i had a call from buyers line direct promising that they had 5 people very interested in my car, but the only way they would pass on my details to these people would be if i paid £79.99.
They told me that this money was fully refundable once i had sold the car, even if i sold it privately myself, the only time i wouldn't get the money back would be if they sold my car to a cash buyer. They said they could give me the money back because they made money on the finance deals. All i had to do once i sold the car was call them and they would refund the money back on to my credit card.
(I double checked that if i sold my car myself i'd still get the money back and the sales guy said yes). The sales persons name was Colin James.

Anyway to cut a long story short, i chased and chased them, as did my husband and they just kept on saying that they had released my info to these 'very interested' buyers but couldn't understand why they hadn't called. About a month later i had not heard anything from them at all, and i'd managed to sell the car myself, so I called them to advise them of this and asked them for my money back, and low and behold they said that because i had sold my car privately I wouldnt be getting my money back. Well as you can imagine I was livid after having be messed about by them, now they were telling me that I wouldn't get my promised refund. The girl I spoke to advised that i would need to write a letter of complaint and the director would take a look at my case and see if i should get a refund. About 2 weeks later i received a letter saying that they would offer a £50 refund. Well that was 6 weeks ago now and have yet to see this money, even though i have chased them. I have given up calling as I can never get through. I really do think that this company is run from a broom cupboard.

malone100

Their address is:

Trafalgar House, Greenville place, Mill Hill, London, NW7 35A

Head office: Royal Dalton House, 60 Windsor Avenue, London, SW19 2RR

Email: [EMAIL="ellentaylor@buyerslinedirect.com"]ellentaylor@buyerslinedirect.com[/EMAIL]

Rootsie_2

malone100 wrote: »

Unfortunately i don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but your story sounds exactly like mine. I advertised my car in the autotrader and only a couple of days later i had a call from buyers line direct promising that they had 5 people very interested in my car, but the only way they would pass on my details to these people would be if i paid £79.99.
They told me that this money was fully refundable once i had sold the car, even if i sold it privately myself, the only time i wouldn't get the money back would be if they sold my car to a cash buyer. They said they could give me the money back because they made money on the finance deals. All i had to do once i sold the car was call them and they would refund the money back on to my credit card.
(I double checked that if i sold my car myself i'd still get the money back and the sales guy said yes). The sales persons name was Colin James.

Anyway to cut a long story short, i chased and chased them, as did my husband and they just kept on saying that they had released my info to these 'very interested' buyers but couldn't understand why they hadn't called. About a month later i had not heard anything from them at all, and i'd managed to sell the car myself, so I called them to advise them of this and asked them for my money back, and low and behold they said that because i had sold my car privately I wouldnt be getting my money back. Well as you can imagine I was livid after having be messed about by them, now they were telling me that I wouldn't get my promised refund. The girl I spoke to advised that i would need to write a letter of complaint and the director would take a look at my case and see if i should get a refund. About 2 weeks later i received a letter saying that they would offer a £50 refund. Well that was 6 weeks ago now and have yet to see this money, even though i have chased them. I have given up calling as I can never get through. I really do think that this company is run from a broom cupboard.

Ooops, looks like I've just fallen for this as well today. I've checked their website and my bike is not showing up there and neither have I had any calls. I got given the exact shame chat-up line. Paid by credit card so maybe I can get the money back, but might leave it just for a week because they did say they'd sell it within a week, we'll see. Actually there may be some criminal action here, will look into it.

matthewking26

Your money's gone for good. Check their terms and conditions on websites like autobuyer and you'll see they're on the right side of the law but are just taking as much money as they can from you. You'll never sell anything through companies like this. I've had several calls in the last few weeks. Look at:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=516146&highlight=autobuyer

If someone offers to help you but asks for money first up front, ask yourself why. plus I would recommend you never give out your card details to someone who calls you. It could be a chancer just trying to get card details.

All these companies are dodgy, all based in London, probably all mates or used to work together but they definitely had good lawyers draft their terms and conditions.

Look at their terms and conditions, they're all legal but you will never see your money again and never sell your car through any company like this:
http://www.motornetwork.co.uk/terms.php

Our services to you will start as soon as your vehicle is registered with us, therefore you will have no right to cancel your advertisement and the normal 7 day cooling off period will not apply.
(No chance of a refund)

We are not responsible for: - The condition of any vehicle advertised; an advertisement not getting a response;

The number of buyer enquiries registered with us is given solely as a guide for you to assess current market demand. They reflect vehicles of all types and all price ranges currently wanted by buyers registered on our system.

Motor Network UK Ltd reserve the right from time to time to change and / or alter these terms and conditions without notification to the customer.

(This is the best one, they can promise you a refund over the phone, or even in writing, but this clause means they can change their terms and never give the refund or start taking chunks of your money everyday, and it's all perfectly legal as they've warned you in advance)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE never give them your money, and they'll dry up like the leeches they are.

kathy16baker

Stonedofmoo wrote: »

How about www.motornetwork.co.uk

Are they genuine? Does anyone have any past experience?

Motor network, are con artists. There are many people who have been ripped off by them and dont get their money back. oogle search for motor network scam to find out, or check out www.usedcarmart.co.uk and search for motor network.

Rootsie_2

Well it's been two weeks, no callers and bike is still up for sale. I did receive a letter from them stating that they had released my details to any potential buyers looking for my type of CAR. That's good, because it's a motorbike! Also spoke to my credit card company and they can't help because there is nothing in writing specifying the service they had promised. Damn I feel stupid.

BaBa

BFG wrote: »

Hi

In answer to your questions....


1. The £99 they ripped you off for is (deliberatley) just under the £100 mark...which is where the cc co becomes 'jointly liable' for the product, so a refund would have been easier. IIRC if its within 30 days of purchase you can ring the cc and do a 'chargeback' to the merchant (scammer). Confirm this with CAB poss.

2. Err, no there are no genuine car matchers out there so don't waste your time or money on them.

HTH

Shouldn't that be deliberately?:p

hartcjhart

I get loads of phone calls from these sort of people and after listening to their patter(its their bill)say yes thats fine,I will send you x ammount but after you have sent me the buyer,they of course then try to wriggle out and say 'it doesnt work like that',stock reply is 'well it does for me