Buying a car from Private Seller via bank transfer

jeremymbwilson

My wife wants to buy a second hand car (only £1,000) from a private seller.  They do not accept credit cards - only bank transfer or cash.  This worries me.

Is there any way that I can use a credit card to make a bank transfer and get a level of protection if something goes wrong ?  Somebody mentioned being able to do a bank transfer using CUrve card (which I have), but thought that people on here would be able to advise me.

Many thanks in advance.

jeremymbwilson

Also, someone mentioned Revolut card (which I also have).

user1977

What sort of "something" are you worried about?

jeremymbwilson

The car turns out to be a "dud" and I have right of redress.  It may only be £1,000, but I don't know much about cars and don't want my wife to buy a car that doesn't live up to what it is.  I would like to have some form of financial redress if that happens.  Buying it on a credit card would give me that - doing a bank transfer gives me zero support.

born_again

jeremymbwilson said:

My wife wants to buy a second hand car (only £1,000) from a private seller.  They do not accept credit cards - only bank transfer or cash.  This worries me.

Is there any way that I can use a credit card to make a bank transfer and get a level of protection if something goes wrong ?  Somebody mentioned being able to do a bank transfer using CUrve card (which I have), but thought that people on here would be able to advise me.

Many thanks in advance.

No, as you are in effect withdrawing cash. Not making a purchase. So no S75 or chargeback. 👍

When buying from a private seller. If they said that they take card payments (can you?) would have alarm bells ring that they are really a back street trader.

In reality the only protection you are ever going to get is if they mis describe the car, & for £1K if you get a year out of it without spending, that will be a bonus

cymruchris

jeremymbwilson said:

My wife wants to buy a second hand car (only £1,000) from a private seller.  They do not accept credit cards - only bank transfer or cash.  This worries me.

Is there any way that I can use a credit card to make a bank transfer and get a level of protection if something goes wrong ?  Somebody mentioned being able to do a bank transfer using CUrve card (which I have), but thought that people on here would be able to advise me.

Many thanks in advance.

Do you take credit cards if ever you sell something privately? Have you got a little credit card machine squirelled away somewhere ready for the offchance you sell something? If this is a genuine private seller - they, like you, wouldn't have the facility to take a credit card.

If it's a dealer who is advertising through facebook - then maybe things would be slightly different - in that they still wouldn't take a credit card - but you'd double check everything twice, and maybe get a mechanical inspection - but as it's a £1k car, it's likely to be older, and likely that things will go wrong at some point simply because old cars do wear out. If it explodes after a week - there's no comeback. (Even after a day!)  So it doesn't really matter how you pay. Used cars from private individuals are sold as seen.

If you're stood next to this person, the car is in front of you, the log book matches the persons address and bank name detail, then it's unlikely to be a scam.

If it's someone at the end of a facebook message asking for money - walk away.

jeremymbwilson

cymruchris said:

jeremymbwilson said:

My wife wants to buy a second hand car (only £1,000) from a private seller.  They do not accept credit cards - only bank transfer or cash.  This worries me.

Is there any way that I can use a credit card to make a bank transfer and get a level of protection if something goes wrong ?  Somebody mentioned being able to do a bank transfer using CUrve card (which I have), but thought that people on here would be able to advise me.

Many thanks in advance.

Do you take credit cards if ever you sell something privately? Have you got a little credit card machine squirelled away somewhere ready for the offchance you sell something? If this is a genuine private seller - they, like you, wouldn't have the facility to take a credit card.

If it's a dealer who is advertising through facebook - then maybe things would be slightly different - in that they still wouldn't take a credit card - but you'd double check everything twice, and maybe get a mechanical inspection - but as it's a £1k car, it's likely to be older, and likely that things will go wrong at some point simply because old cars do wear out. If it explodes after a week - there's no comeback. (Even after a day!)  So it doesn't really matter how you pay. Used cars from private individuals are sold as seen.

If you're stood next to this person, the car is in front of you, the log book matches the persons address and bank name detail, then it's unlikely to be a scam.

If it's someone at the end of a facebook message asking for money - walk away.

"If you're stood next to this person, the car is in front of you, the log book matches the persons address and bank name detail, then it's unlikely to be a scam.".  Unfortunately, we bought a car from a Private Seller - great condition (as far as I could tell) and lasted my wife for 3 years.  It recently failed it's MOT and so we went to sell it.  Apparently it was declared "scrapped" before we even bought it.  Very nice person (who may not have even known about it) and saw the car and addresses matched.  My concern is that the DVLA allowed us to tax a car for years that had apparently been scrapped.

You can understand my concern.

cymruchris

jeremymbwilson said:

cymruchris said:

jeremymbwilson said:

My wife wants to buy a second hand car (only £1,000) from a private seller.  They do not accept credit cards - only bank transfer or cash.  This worries me.

Is there any way that I can use a credit card to make a bank transfer and get a level of protection if something goes wrong ?  Somebody mentioned being able to do a bank transfer using CUrve card (which I have), but thought that people on here would be able to advise me.

Many thanks in advance.

Do you take credit cards if ever you sell something privately? Have you got a little credit card machine squirelled away somewhere ready for the offchance you sell something? If this is a genuine private seller - they, like you, wouldn't have the facility to take a credit card.

If it's a dealer who is advertising through facebook - then maybe things would be slightly different - in that they still wouldn't take a credit card - but you'd double check everything twice, and maybe get a mechanical inspection - but as it's a £1k car, it's likely to be older, and likely that things will go wrong at some point simply because old cars do wear out. If it explodes after a week - there's no comeback. (Even after a day!)  So it doesn't really matter how you pay. Used cars from private individuals are sold as seen.

If you're stood next to this person, the car is in front of you, the log book matches the persons address and bank name detail, then it's unlikely to be a scam.

If it's someone at the end of a facebook message asking for money - walk away.

"If you're stood next to this person, the car is in front of you, the log book matches the persons address and bank name detail, then it's unlikely to be a scam.".  Unfortunately, we bought a car from a Private Seller - great condition (as far as I could tell) and lasted my wife for 3 years.  It recently failed it's MOT and so we went to sell it.  Apparently it was declared "scrapped" before we even bought it.  Very nice person (who may not have even known about it) and saw the car and addresses matched.  My concern is that the DVLA allowed us to tax a car for years that had apparently been scrapped.

You can understand my concern.

That's a different kettle of fish. Any used car purchased should have a full HPI check completed. Most of the decent companies that provide such services offer insurance cover so that if a car turns out to be a scrapped car, you're covered. Did you complete such a check on that purchase?

jeremymbwilson

Not on that purchase (because I am an idiot !).  This time I have done an Experian check through Autotrader, so am hoping that I have minimised any risk.

Was just trying to take a "belt and braces" approach if there was a way to do a bank transfer through e.g. Revolut.

Spies

Pay for an AA check? 

Veteransaver

You really have absolutely no comeback with a private sale. Buyer beware. Do HPI check and check address on log book.
Run a mile if seller appears to be a trader or insists they meet you at a "convenient" location. 
Most private sellers are fairly honest, especially if they are letting you come to their home etc.