Private Party Car Purchased But Not Delivered

[downtowncb]

About a month ago I began speaking with a guy in another state who posted a for sale ad on an enthusiast forum for this particular type of car. The car is located in another state and I could not personally inspect it before purchase so I settled for having a mechanic check it out. The seller complied and had it taken to a shop where I spoke with the mechanic that inspected it assured me it was in the shape the photos portrayed and the buyer described.

We made arrangements for the sale and eventual shipping of the vehicle to me. I made payment via money order and overnight UPS with a tracking number, all of which I have proof for. A couple of days go by and I hear nothing. Finally I get a message on the forum where I found the car stating that he had a family emergency and would be back in town the following wednesday to complete the transaction. I don't hear from him wednesday and I finally get a hold of him when I called him on thursday. I ask him to overnight me the title while we wait for the shipper to find a carrier and he agrees. It is now tuesday the following week and after many attempts to contact him via phone and messages on the forum I still have received no response. I know he has at least received the forum messages because it says that he last logged in an hour before this posting and when you log in, you are automatically taken to new messages.

Should this transaction go completely south what courses of action do I have? The problem is we literally live on opposite coasts so going there in person is a bit of a problem and even if I do fly out there I don't know what I could do. I have receipts for the money orders, a copy of them with his information filled in, the tracking number for the package showing its arrival and finally many messages on the forum.

Thank you very much for any help.

[downtowncb]

Now its getting really fun. After not hearing from the guy for 6 days, he sends me a message on the forum getting mad at me for leaving him such a stern voicemail. He goes on to blame the delay on me for not finding a carrier fast enough. I had a carrier all lined up the first time and when I didn't hear from him for several days I called and cancelled considering I believed him to be ripping me off.

Now he tells me that his "attorney" has advised him to not release the title until the car is on the carrier. He says that once the car is on, he will then overnight it to me. This sounds very fishy to me. What are the possible ways he can screw me if he doesn't send me the title after its been loaded up. Can he claim I stole it?

Thank you.

[justcurious098]

Now its getting really fun. After not hearing from the guy for 6 days, he sends me a message on the forum getting mad at me for leaving him such a stern voicemail. He goes on to blame the delay on me for not finding a carrier fast enough. I had a carrier all lined up the first time and when I didn't hear from him for several days I called and cancelled considering I believed him to be ripping me off.

Now he tells me that his "attorney" has advised him to not release the title until the car is on the carrier. He says that once the car is on, he will then overnight it to me. This sounds very fishy to me. What are the possible ways he can screw me if he doesn't send me the title after its been loaded up. Can he claim I stole it?

Thank you.

In my opinion, you are a little nuts. It is obviously your responsibility to get the car picked up, and just because you didn't get "extra" confirmation, you canceled the pick-up? That just sounds foolish. Like a child. I personally don't blame the guy for getting mad at you. Why would you leave a nasty voicemail for someone who sold you a car anyways! That is just wrong.

Yes, it is your fault. This sounds like bull to me. Why would you send money if you thought you were getting ripped off! People have a life you know. One time I lost my cell phone and my friends couldn't get a hold of me for over a week. That's life. Stuff happens. People have jobs, friends.. and if they sold you a car, then they shouldn't have to do anything else besides load it on the truck! Also, what the attourney said is correct. He does not have to release the title until the car is on the truck.

IMO chill out, and you won't get screwed so much!

No wonder no one responded to this thread!

[downtowncb]

In my opinion, you are a little nuts. It is obviously your responsibility to get the car picked up, and just because you didn't get "extra" confirmation, you canceled the pick-up? That just sounds foolish. Like a child. I personally don't blame the guy for getting mad at you. Why would you leave a nasty voicemail for someone who sold you a car anyways! That is just wrong.

In the context of my writing it might have seemed childish to cancel the carrier, but it was not as simple as that. I arranged for a carrier to pick it up. They had a driver in the area for two days and he and I both attempted to call the guy many times. The carrier cannot simply pick up the car, he has to be there to sign off on it and turn over the keys. I know life happens and I was in no way mad at him for his grandfather dyeing, that would be absurd. I was however upset at the fact that he didn't even take two minutes out of his day to call me and let me know that there would be a delay, instead he just didn't call for a week.

Why would you send money if you thought you were getting ripped off!

When I sent the money I in no way thought I was being ripped off, I would not have sent it had I.

People have a life you know. One time I lost my cell phone and my friends couldn't get a hold of me for over a week.

For all meaningful purposes this was a business transaction and while it may be one thing for your friends to not be able to contact you for a week, it is quite another when it is business. That is not how the professional world operates.

That's life. Stuff happens. People have jobs, friends.. and if they sold you a car, then they shouldn't have to do anything else besides load it on the truck!

That is all I wanted, I even specifically chose a carrier that would pick up the vehicle directly from his house so he wouldn't have take it anywhere.

I didn't post on this forum because I wanted anyone to agree with me or support me, all I wanted to know were what my legal options were should the transaction go south.

[gurlinmichigan]

never purchase without a title in hand. sounds fishy

[Mr. Knowitall]

I didn't post on this forum because I wanted anyone to agree with me or support me, all I wanted to know were what my legal options were should the transaction go south.

Then why did you not only choose not to follow the instruction to identify the state's involved, but delete out the prompt reminding you to identify your state? Laws are different in each state.

Realistically, though, if this falls through, your remedy is to file a lawsuit. Generally in the seller's state. Within that state, the court you would pick may depend upon how much money is at stake.