Very worried about car sale

Bart · Post by **Bart** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:47 am

Hi,

I have recently accepted an offer from a guy in Belgium for my MGB V8. Maybe I am being a little too paranoid, but I was immediately wary of him as he wanted to buy the car without even seeing it. He phoned back a few moments later to say he wasn't interested as he couldn't get it transported.

However, he called on Friday to make an offer, which I accepted, and he immediately paid me a £300 deposit via paypal. So I have his money in my account, and asked that he pay cash on collection -- I shall not hand over the car until the money is in my bank to make sure he's given me kosher readies.

However, I have not heard anything from him since Friday about arranging to collect the car and I am a suspicious about what hideous scam might be coming next. It's a chap called Phillipe DeBont, incase any of you chaps have ever heard of him?

Any advice/thoughts?

richardpope50 · Post by **richardpope50** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:12 am

I suggest you are all OK at the moment as all he has done is to pay you money. Clearly do not hand over V5C & car until you have cleared funds - note cleared cheques may not be cleared and can be clawed back. If in doubt give him an ultimatum for balance and refund via PayPal if not.

I sold my old Dax to a German and it went fine. He e-mailed me, came over a week later and drove back the same day and paid £cash.

By the way, you have to hand over the V5C with the car as there is no tear off section for the export so what I did was to have a signed (by both of us) agreement letter to say he had bought the car and I had sold it to him. Two copies with both addresses and all original. I also got him to agree on this form that he was immediately exporting it himself out of the UK and would take responsibility for exporting the car or paying UK taxes. I then sent a copy of the V5C, this agreement to the DVLA saying that the car had been sold by me and exported by him. All was fine.

Note that before the German bought the car, I had received a deposit from a UK guy on holiday here from Singapore. He failed to pay me the balance and and had returned to Singapore. I e-mailed him a deadline to pay the balance but he never cam back!

richardpope50 · Post by **richardpope50** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:15 am

Should have added that I filled out the V5C as though I was selling the car but did not tear off the section. The buyer needs it complete for entry into Belgium.

v8250 · Post by **v8250** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:24 am

As said above, you are all okay. Simply do not transfer the V5 or any other documents until payment has been received in full. It may be he's a very straight guy and genuinely wants your car. It would be worth him transferring the payment by bank transfer, with a correct reference number, as this gives both parties comfort factor. But, make sure he understands this is to BUY the car and therefore is non-refundable - it's very easy, and correct, for you to issue him with a bill of sale which includes this statement. If he's genuine he'll have no issue with this and both parties will have financial tracability should anything go wrong.

Bart · Post by **Bart** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:27 pm

Cheers Richard, that was a huge help. I didn't know any of that stuff.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:55 pm

The problem with using a bank transfer can be from the buyer's point of view.
After all, he hasn't seen the car in the flesh - and many who sell such things can hype them up in the advert. (Not suggesting it's the case here)

Cash is fine if you have a nearby bank where it can be checked and paid in.

IMHO, you're unlikely to get a pro thief bothering with this sort of vehicle - much easier to go for a mainstream newer car.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 6:30 pm

V5 is worth jack all if he takes it to Belgium.

Surely cleared funds, then let go of the car.

Chris.

richardpope50 · Post by **richardpope50** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 12:07 pm

ChrisJC wrote:V5 is worth jack all if he takes it to Belgium

Sorry but it's required to register the car as an import into Belgium as it proves it is a second hand car plus the authorities require this proof. You can't just import any vehicle.

(In France, an imported car must have been one that was originally intended for and sold in France. That's why you cannot have kit cars in France, just mainstream cars. In Germany, you have to satisfy the TUV regulations when importing a car, etc.)

v8250 · Post by **v8250** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 1:23 pm

richardpope50 wrote:
ChrisJC wrote:(In France, an imported car must have been one that was originally intended for and sold in France. That's why you cannot have kit cars in France, just mainstream cars. In Germany, you have to satisfy the TUV regulations when importing a car, etc.)
True, but do be careful. One can import and register some kit cars into France, but they have to have original manufacturer's homologation for France. Sometimes this can be transferred but it is rare. Or an individual can personally homologate a car...but, this would involve immense cost AND you'd have to get crash test approvals. I know a gentleman who thought of getting his Jaguar XKSS registered in France, the DREAL [previously DRIRE] stated we would need crash test certification; seriously[!] Having previously held meetings with DRIRE on behalf of UK automotive companies I can assure all they are a pain in the arse to deal with.

Bart · Post by **Bart** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:45 pm

The guy still hasn't contacted me. I shall send him an email asking what's going on. Am I within my rights to keep his deposit if he's decided he doesn't want it?

richardpope50 · Post by **richardpope50** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:37 am

Yes IMHO. That's what happened to me with the guy in Singapore (he paid me cash so I had no way of repaying it and he never gave me a bank account to repay it). After all, he has just paid you money and assuming you make reasonable effort I cannot see why not. Otherwise simply PayPal it back.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:28 pm

Right now, you have not lost anything, so contact the guy and ask him what the plan of action is, moving forward.
If he uhms and aahs then offer him his money back or tell him to pull his finger out and get moving because you have another offer.