Stolen Private Registration?

missk249

To cut a long story short, i sold my car in January, and because the guy wanted the car quickly (as he worked offshore and was due back) I sold the car with the personalised registration still on the car, on the condition that the reg was returned to me on a retention certificate, and the buyer signed a declaration and reciept to say he agreed to do this and that the car was sold as seen (£200 was taken off the price of the car to cover his costs ingetting a retenion cerificate (£105) and £95 as a goowill gesture for returning the reg to me onthe certificate)

Now, I have had no reply from this buyer until recently and he is refusing to return the registration or the £200 that I deducted for him to pay for the certificate. - he now says that the car was not road worthy (just had a grand spent on it to pass its mot the week before it was sold) and he said the stereo did not work (he signed to say he bought the car SOLD AS SEEN)

He is now demanding I give him £200 for return of my registration!!!! - If this was the case, then why did he not contact me by returning my calls or emails that were sent only 2 weeks after I sold the car to him???? Why wait 11 months to reply?

What do I do now? - I want my registration, as it was given to me for my 21st birthday, and no amount of money would make up for the sentimental loss of this.

Any help would be apprecited as I really dont know what to do.

tinkerbell84

to be honest i don't think you're going to get the registration back.

once you signed the V5 slip the deal was done and you were effectively trusting a complete stranger to do the right thing. unless you take the buyer to the small claims court for the £200/retention certificate for the plate, i don't see what you can do.

sorry

missk249

I understand what you are saying, and if he hadnt signed the receipt (we both have a copy) then I would ave had no choice but kiss goodbye to the reg.

What I feel is, he is blackmailing me. If I give him another £200 for the reg I will get it back.

If he hadnt signed that reciept to say he purchased "sold as seen" then it would be a totally different situation I would think. So, because he didnt check the car over fully before handing over his cash, and signed to say he was happy, he is blackmailing me. Sorry, that is the only way I can describe it. Can the receipt not be used as a sort of "contract" between buyer and seller, and he is breaking the terms of sale? x

tinkerbell84

he's definitely pulling a fast one.

the only way you can test the contract theory is to take him to court. but there's a risk that the time lapse will mean it doesn't go in your favour.

missk249

ok, thank you. I will probably give that a try, and might jsut go in my favour seen as he was the one not replying to me as I gave him time as I knew he worked off shore. Can only try!

Thanks

hartcjhart

sorry but you are wrong to say'STOLEN REG' you sold the car hoping the git would be ok

anewman

Looks like it's a lesson to sort it out before selling a car.

I am guessing perhaps the reg was a good one and could have been worth a bit of money, and now your buyer may well be looking into selling it on to get the money out of it.

Sounds like he's trying to take you for a mug to me either way. I doubt the threat of court action would make this person change their mind, as it seems they'd up the ante and go on about the unroadworthiness etc. Could be worth a try though, but I think contact with this buyer is probably a waste of time and effort.

I'm sorry it seems there's nothing that can be done.

flutterbyuk25

Sorry but as the others have said now, you no longer have any right to the numberplate. It should have been removed prior to the sale of the vehicle.

If the man does let you go ahead and put it on retention then it will be in his name and you will need to be put on the certificate as a nominee. You will have no rights to the plate until it goes onto a vehicle in your name, so if it does go on retention it would be advisable to put it on your car (if you have one) asap.

Doozergirl

You may not have the right to the numberplate but if you have a document sying that you have basically entrusted him with £105 for the retention and £95 goodwill, then I would take him through the small claims procedure.

Do you still have his address?

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp Fill in the forms here, save them and print them off.

I would write a short sharp letter, enclosing a print out of the forms and a photocopy of that letter he signed, stating that you are requesting proof that he is in the process of transferring the registration back to you with 7 days, or you will start proceedings to obtain that £200 back.

It would obviously be better for him to spend £105 then have to give you back £200 plus costs. That signed document should be enough evidence of his promise to you.

Then, if he doesn't respond, you file the claim. Cost £20-30 I think. You could try claiming for the cost of the number plate as well, even if a judge didn't agree with with that, it doesn't mean they wouldn't award you the money he blatantly stole. I've never had to do it myself, but the process isn't as frightening as you might think and if that document is clear as to his responsibility then it should be clear cut.

Do it today!