Car swap. Possible scam? Please help!
Discussion
Hi
I am after some advice
In brief, I have my fiancées vehicle (Subaru) listed in the classifieds and was recently e-mailed by someone asking whether we fancied a swap for his BMW. Though I expressed some genuine interest in swapping it, it wasn’t necessarily our first choice of a replacement vehicle and I wasn’t too fussed. Importantly, he is several hours away and even meeting him (as he had suggested) was some distance.
Yesterday, the lad contacted me again saying that he had been contacted by someone who was interested in his BMW and had offered a Clio 182 as a swap. He stated that he wanted our Scoob irrespective of what we took from him and asked whether we would prefer to have this Clio instead of the BMW we had discussed a possible swap for. The funny thing is, our ad specifically states that we would be happy part exchange or swap for a Clio 182.
The fella said that this other vehicle is only a few miles from him and he has already been and inspected it. He has, however, now said that if we want this Clio instead, he doesn’t want to insure it for a day and as this car is worth slightly more than our Scooby, we would therefore have to travel to him or pay fuel costs.
I have seen the ad for the Clio and it looks sound. It is the kind of car we would want. I have also spoken to the person who is selling it and they tell me that they are a dealer with a small stock of 5 cars. Does this sound normal? Why would a dealer want to swap the Clio, part of his stock, for this bloke’s BMW? I didn’t ask him. I just asked about the car, but I wish I now had.
So, what am I asking? What risks are there travelling to this guy (I would stress on going to his door)? Would we be risking it swapping our Scooby for a Clio with a guy who has just got it in a swap? Does this sound like something likely to happen? Is it feasible? The V5 is present with the Clio according to the ad and though I have considered a vehicle check, there’s no guarantee that the reg on the car is that of the car underneath so what else could/should I do to check authenticity? I don’t want to get stung...
All this leaves me with questions. Should alarm bells be ringing? Am I right to be wary? The guy does sound like a nice guy on the phone (mobile, he says he doesn’t have a landline which, to me, is odd) but if you into account the factors above, does it sit right with you?
I am after some advice
In brief, I have my fiancées vehicle (Subaru) listed in the classifieds and was recently e-mailed by someone asking whether we fancied a swap for his BMW. Though I expressed some genuine interest in swapping it, it wasn’t necessarily our first choice of a replacement vehicle and I wasn’t too fussed. Importantly, he is several hours away and even meeting him (as he had suggested) was some distance.
Yesterday, the lad contacted me again saying that he had been contacted by someone who was interested in his BMW and had offered a Clio 182 as a swap. He stated that he wanted our Scoob irrespective of what we took from him and asked whether we would prefer to have this Clio instead of the BMW we had discussed a possible swap for. The funny thing is, our ad specifically states that we would be happy part exchange or swap for a Clio 182.
The fella said that this other vehicle is only a few miles from him and he has already been and inspected it. He has, however, now said that if we want this Clio instead, he doesn’t want to insure it for a day and as this car is worth slightly more than our Scooby, we would therefore have to travel to him or pay fuel costs.
I have seen the ad for the Clio and it looks sound. It is the kind of car we would want. I have also spoken to the person who is selling it and they tell me that they are a dealer with a small stock of 5 cars. Does this sound normal? Why would a dealer want to swap the Clio, part of his stock, for this bloke’s BMW? I didn’t ask him. I just asked about the car, but I wish I now had.
So, what am I asking? What risks are there travelling to this guy (I would stress on going to his door)? Would we be risking it swapping our Scooby for a Clio with a guy who has just got it in a swap? Does this sound like something likely to happen? Is it feasible? The V5 is present with the Clio according to the ad and though I have considered a vehicle check, there’s no guarantee that the reg on the car is that of the car underneath so what else could/should I do to check authenticity? I don’t want to get stung...
All this leaves me with questions. Should alarm bells be ringing? Am I right to be wary? The guy does sound like a nice guy on the phone (mobile, he says he doesn’t have a landline which, to me, is odd) but if you into account the factors above, does it sit right with you?
Edited by NumberoftheBeast on Wednesday 5th January 00:50
I suspect you're better off selling your car for actual money and buying the car you want with money. May be a genuine deal but there's every chance the Clio's a lemon and you'll either lose out big time or at least waste a full day and a tank of petrol. Worse if it's a full-on scam and the Clio's ringed or something.
If you're seriously considering it, could you arrange an independent inspection of the Clio before travelling? At the very least you'll know that you're travelling with a purpose.
Surprised that someone is so keen to arrange a swap for an unseen vehicle - suggests that they have nothing to lose - especially if you do all the travelling.
If you're seriously considering it, could you arrange an independent inspection of the Clio before travelling? At the very least you'll know that you're travelling with a purpose.
Surprised that someone is so keen to arrange a swap for an unseen vehicle - suggests that they have nothing to lose - especially if you do all the travelling.
From your description it sounds 100% like a scam. Whether your car is worth more or less should have no bearing on who travels, so long as you agree costs. Sounds too much like a coincidence and they are already asking for you to put money into the deal by travelling
As for checking the car - basically, check everything you would normally do. Most important here would be to check that the VIN number is the same in all places, there's the one on the front screen, and depending on the model of car there's normally another couple of places, sometimes stamped in the engine bay, sometimes under the carpet near the driver/passenger seat, sometimes in the boot. Do a data check - use mycarcheck.com if nothing else, as this will confirm if the VIN you enter is correct for the registration (you can't just use the registration to get a valid VIN). Signs of stickers over the VIN or dodgy marks around the VIN numbers mean you walk away without passing GO or collecting your £200.
Then it's basically checking the panels are straight, nothing bent, check the service history etc.
As for checking the car - basically, check everything you would normally do. Most important here would be to check that the VIN number is the same in all places, there's the one on the front screen, and depending on the model of car there's normally another couple of places, sometimes stamped in the engine bay, sometimes under the carpet near the driver/passenger seat, sometimes in the boot. Do a data check - use mycarcheck.com if nothing else, as this will confirm if the VIN you enter is correct for the registration (you can't just use the registration to get a valid VIN). Signs of stickers over the VIN or dodgy marks around the VIN numbers mean you walk away without passing GO or collecting your £200.
Then it's basically checking the panels are straight, nothing bent, check the service history etc.
oldcynic said:
Surprised that someone is so keen to arrange a swap for an unseen vehicle - suggests that they have nothing to lose - especially if you do all the travelling.
This is exactly what makes me think you're onto a loser. If it's not a scam, its either ringed or a lemon.Sounds too complicated.
Hooked you in with a BMW - found you open to negotiation - changed the deal to a Clio (What you really wanted!!).....
I'm not saying it is a scam, or that your buyer is dishonest, just that in my experience when people start mucking about it's just not worth the aggro. What if you turn up and he says 'Yeah, I sold the Clio, take this Astra'... What position does that put you in?
Avoid.
Sell your car for real money to a real person and then take the time and effort to find the car you really want.
Edit to add. From your OP, it sounds like most or all of the negotiation has been done by email? If so that's a real warning sign to me and my alarm bells would be going off big time.
Hooked you in with a BMW - found you open to negotiation - changed the deal to a Clio (What you really wanted!!).....
I'm not saying it is a scam, or that your buyer is dishonest, just that in my experience when people start mucking about it's just not worth the aggro. What if you turn up and he says 'Yeah, I sold the Clio, take this Astra'... What position does that put you in?
Avoid.
Sell your car for real money to a real person and then take the time and effort to find the car you really want.
Edit to add. From your OP, it sounds like most or all of the negotiation has been done by email? If so that's a real warning sign to me and my alarm bells would be going off big time.
Edited by WeirdNeville on Wednesday 5th January 07:29
hing about how he got fleeced...SubaruSteve said:
It doesn't stack up, walk away.
If the BMW guy had already agreed a swap then why would he continue with the swap for the Clio? There is more to it than they are letting on.
As said above, it is much safer to swap your car for money (even a little less money)
If the BMW guy had already agreed a swap then why would he continue with the swap for the Clio? There is more to it than they are letting on.
As said above, it is much safer to swap your car for money (even a little less money)
Why take the risk of a part-ex? Too complicated a deal with too many variables.
First you're relying on the bmw to clio deal to go through.
Then you're reliant on that clio deal with you going through.
If you say yes to the deal, the guy gets the clio and you don't like it then what?
The best way forward, if you wanted to go down this route, is to ask the dealer holding the clio to take your car, and the guy who wants your bmw to do the deal with the dealer. You would have to make sure the figures stack up such that you don't lose out.
First you're relying on the bmw to clio deal to go through.
Then you're reliant on that clio deal with you going through.
If you say yes to the deal, the guy gets the clio and you don't like it then what?
The best way forward, if you wanted to go down this route, is to ask the dealer holding the clio to take your car, and the guy who wants your bmw to do the deal with the dealer. You would have to make sure the figures stack up such that you don't lose out.
A friend of mine is forever swapping snot-boxes on ebay for other snot-boxes or taking even snottier-boxes in PX for one of the aforementioned boxes o' snot.
Goes on a lot apparently, especially on fleabay, lots of ads have stuff like no-swaps wink wink, in some kind of bizzare attempt at avoiding the ebay rules on swapping stuff.
He's done really well out of it in the past, just swapped a ratty discovery for a very nice lexus.
But from the sounds of it I wouldnt bother if I were you, flog the car, buy a new one. so much simpler that way.
Goes on a lot apparently, especially on fleabay, lots of ads have stuff like no-swaps wink wink, in some kind of bizzare attempt at avoiding the ebay rules on swapping stuff.
He's done really well out of it in the past, just swapped a ratty discovery for a very nice lexus.
But from the sounds of it I wouldnt bother if I were you, flog the car, buy a new one. so much simpler that way.
Faust66 said:
Sounds odd to me... Might be me being paranoid, but as I read the original post, my initial reaction was that this plan seems like a very good way of getting someone out of their house for a few hours...
That's assuming the guy with the BM or is it a Clio knows where he lives.I would cut out the middle man and go straight for the Clio if that's what you are really after.
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