Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Miken · Joined: 24 Dec 2012 Posts: 577

Can anyone see a problem with this?
I have decided to sell my car and have advertised it.
A gentleman from Germany has contacted me, we have spoken on the phone and email and have agreed on a price.
He will arrange collection and transport.
He says he will pay by bank transfer and I have told him that the car does not leave my possession until the funds have appeared in my bank account.
However,the strange thing is that he has not even seen the car except for the photos in the ad.
I will insist on a bank transfer and not a paypal payment (He hasnt actually mentioned paypal).
Could this be a scam? I cant think how.
Thanks
Mike

mikeC · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:18 pm Post subject:

It seems to be almost standard practice these days to buy a car over the internet unseen.
I have sold one car to Japan and several to UK buyers, and indeed have bought several myself that way. So far every transaction has been trouble-free ...
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Peter_L · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:22 pm Post subject:

It is worth noting that whilst a deposit into your account may be recorded immediately, the funds are not automatically available. I had an incident a few years back, selling a large item (several $k's). There was an electronic transfer in the morning, but after I contacted the intended purchaser and said that the sale could not go ahead until I had confirmed transfer with the bank the transfer was cancelled within a very short time, as was the person's cell phone number.

Because there was no exchange of goods then technically there wasn't a crime, but the authorities did listen to me and took note of the details. I was told I had made a good decision. They would not comment further.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

Miken · Joined: 24 Dec 2012 Posts: 577

Thanks for the replies. I have just opened a second online account . If the sale goes ahead I will have the money transferred into it, then immediately attempt to move it into my first account.
MN

Rootes75 · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 11:38 pm Post subject:

I sold one of my Hillmans without the guy seeing the car, he made a bank transfer and everything went smoothly.

That is untill he got the car delivered to his place and he then wanted to haggle a refund over very minor details of the car. His complaints were very trivial and I didnt imply or offer any refund.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

As you're selling it unseen (in the metal anyway), it'd be worth taking plenty of photographs of the car once loaded, before it leaves your property, just in case any damage ensues en-route and you have to prove that it was ok when it left you. Unlikely to be an issue, but it doesn't harm to cover your bases.

RJ
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

A Bank transfer can not be withdrawn...

However most banks recognise that people can make mistakes; i.e. mistype an account number and funds go to the wrong person, so you will probably have a clause in your banking terms along the line of:

We may deduct the payment from your account and return it if we reasonably believe it has been made into your account by mistake; or 2. We may prevent you from using the amount of the disputed payment if we reasonably believe it has been made into your account by mistake whilst we investigate further.

This is only fair, but in your case it should be easy to prove it was not a mistake in the event that your purchaser claims it was. Its normal to add a short reference in a bank transfer, I'd ask the purchaser to use something like "Purchase vehicle reg" then its crystal clear for both parties.

You have less protection as a seller with PayPal;it protects the purchaser more for things like "goods not as described" you will also pay a fee.

Dave

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7112 Location: Derby

I bought a nearly new car and traded in my car through a dealer without either of us actually seeing the cars. The 'new' car was a Lexus and being sold through a Lexus dealer in Poole, Dorset. I was reluctant to travel all that way so he agreed to drive the car to me here in Derby and take my car, a low mileage Vauxhall Zafira VXR, back in return.

We were both happy with the prices if the cars were as described but for this deal to work then trust and honesty was essential.

Generally, Lexus seem to be better all round than any other car dealers that I have encountered. I would be less confident in buying privately a classic car, unseen, no matter how many photos were taken.