Results 1 to 4 of 4

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    2

    Default Purchased a Car for Cash, but Seller Hasn't Paid off the Lien or Transferred Title

    My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: California

    Hello ExpertLaw, I recently(September 2015) "bought" a 2015 Honda Accord EX from a guy on craigslist. I met him at his work place to check out the car and checked out the car in the parking lot. He told me that he had to sell his car because he had a DUI and the insurance was too high for him to pay for. He then told me that the car was still on lien and that if I pay him now he would pay the rest within a month and will transfer the title to me. We signed a makeshift contract stating that he received the cash from me and will transfer the title to my name. We also have a bill of sale and all the documents needed for a paperless title transfer. He extended the pay off date to just before Christmas. Just before Christmas, I texted him how things were with the loan and got no reply. I did not think about it much from him not replying because it was the holidays and he might have been spending it with his family. After Christmas, I tried calling him and found out the number no longer works. I also went to his work place and found out he no longer works there. I have no way of contacting him now. What can I do to get back my money? I feel like the car will be repo'd anytime now. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    8,238

    Default Re: Got Scammed Buying My Car

    Never buy a car from some guy you don’t know if he cannot deliver to you a clean title at the time you pay. Otherwise, you end up in situations like yours. Are you even sure he owned the car and that it is not stolen? Did you get a copy of his driver’s license, at least?

    It sounds very much like fraud may have occurred here. You can try making a complaint with the police and see if they might be interested in pursuing anything criminal with this. But in the end you probably have to sue him to remedy this, and that means tracking him down first so you can have him served with the complaint.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Got Scammed Buying My Car

    Yes I looked at the registration and he was the owner. I took a picture of his ID along with the contract we signed.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Got Scammed Buying My Car

    Quote Quoting SPORTY13
    View Post
    Yes I looked at the registration and he was the owner. I took a picture of his ID along with the contract we signed.
    It was still a stupid idea to pay him without getting clear title in hand. Now you have to live with that mistake and probably lose the car and the money.

    I suggest you park it and don't drive it. You don't want to start piling up costly citations.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Sales Agreements: Purchased a Car From Somebody Who Wasn't on the Title, Hasn't Conveyed Title
    By imunderurbed6971 in forum Cars and Dealerships
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-14-2015, 04:50 PM
  2. Transferring Title: Dealer Hasn't Transferred Title and Temporary Tags Have Expired
    By TeamMom in forum Vehicle Registration and Title
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-01-2011, 10:23 AM
  3. Purchased Vehicle, but Title Was Never Transferred
    By stnth25 in forum Vehicle Registration and Title
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-04-2010, 09:30 PM
  4. Vehicle Purchased but Title Not Transferred
    By vsofiyev in forum Vehicle Registration and Title
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-20-2010, 07:29 AM
  5. Transferring Title: Buying a Car from a Seller Who Never Transferred the Title
    By fyrebug25 in forum Vehicle Registration and Title
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-08-2009, 01:54 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources