Selling a car - too good to be true?

[8bit]

We're selling my wife's 2008 Mercedes ML320, just put the Autotrader ad online last night. Within minutes of the ad going live I got an email from someone saying he's very interested in the car and can I call him, giving a mobile number. I assume this isn't legit as it seems an odd way to start the conversation. This morning I get a call from the same number and the chap says he's very interested, happy with the price and wants to come and get the car today. He's going to be travelling up to us in Scotland by train. He asks some questions and seems genuine enough so we agree that he'll come to us today.

This all seems to good to be true - I was expecting a few days at least of timewasters, total nonsense offers etc. I decided to Google his name and the place he said he's travelling from and I see this news article, his name is one of the accused in here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-2...

So I guess it's possible that there are more than one person by this name in roughly that location, or even if that was him then he could now be genuinely looking to buy our car but now I'm a bit worried that he may be trying to pull a fast one on us. If he does come, sees the car, agrees the purchase and the money is transferred to our bank account and confirmed in place then what else could go wrong - he can't cancel the bank transfer after the money is in our account, can he? Anything else that could be going wrong here?

[67Dino]

Think you’ve answered your own question there - if it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t.

Most likely scam is he turns up, says it isn’t what you said, and complains he’s come all the way from Scotland on false pretences. Then insists on a lower price with menaces, which you feel compelled to accept.

I would say you’ve changed your mind about selling, and see what the reaction is. If it’s anything other than polite and understanding, you’ll have learnt something.

[GT119]

This thread came to mind.....

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

If two or more people turn up and they start acting like Rick and Morty, well at least you know what might happen next.

[Uhtred]

Tell him you can no longer sell it to him as he should be abiding by the new COVID travel restrictions.

[Trevor555]

If you're worried then don't do it.

But.

With Autotrader a buyer can set up alerts to email them when a certain type of car they want gets advertised.

So it's not unusual to get an instant response to your advert.

Also, the phone safe on Autotrader costs a fortune to call, so again, it's not unusual for someone to text you to ask for your phone number, or a call back.

[E36Ross]

Meet him at the train station, Sell him the car. Payment with cash.

If he starts being awkward just say no thanks and drive away.

[narbles]

I always insist on bank transfer and as far as I'm aware they can't just get the money back. Ensure full amount in your account before signing any documentation or handing over keys.

If a buyer is travelling from far away, then they are essentially agreeing to the price on the advert or what you discussed on the phone. You are not under any obligation to sell if they start knocking the price down.

[Trevor555]

8bit said:

If he does come, sees the car, agrees the purchase and the money is transferred to our bank account and confirmed in place then what else could go wrong - he can't cancel the bank transfer after the money is in our account, can he? Anything else that could be going wrong here?

Only the bank can action withdrawing the funds from you, but only if a fraud has taken place I believe. He can't order the bank to recall his payment just because he's changed his mind.

For peace of mind I suggest taking him to your local branch of his bank.

Stand next to him a watch him do the transfer.

His bank will do the ID checks before allowing him to transfer the money.

Then your money is guaranteed to get to you, even if it doesn't show straight away.

[james_gt3rs]

Trevor555 said:

With Autotrader a buyer can set up alerts to email them when a certain type of car they want gets advertised.

Don't worry too much, once the money's in the bank it can't come back out... if it doesn't go through then you keep the keys and bid them goodbye.

[ZX10R NIN]

So did he turn up?

[DoubleD]

E36Ross said:

Meet him at the train station, Sell him the car. Payment with cash.

If he starts being awkward just say no thanks and drive away.

I would want a bank transfer as its safer.

[av185]

E36Ross said:

Meet him at the train station, Sell him the car. Payment with cash.

If he starts being awkward just say no thanks and drive away.

Worst way to sell a car.

[anonymous-user]

Trevor555 said:

With Autotrader a buyer can set up alerts to email them when a certain type of car they want gets advertised.

So it's not unusual to get an instant response to your advert.

This. If it's the one on Autotrader I think it is, it looks like a really good buy, especially for the mileage. I wouldn't be surprised that it got interest quickly.

[Tyre Smoke]

Whatever you do, don't let them photograph the front of the V5 then walk away. They then have the doc ref and can effectively change keeper, and all sorts. There was something on here recently about a bloke doing just that and stealing the private plate.

[T5SOR]

GT119 said:

This thread came to mind.....

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

If two or more people turn up and they start acting like Rick and Morty, well at least you know what might happen next.

You get £300 for nothing

[8bit]

ZX10R NIN said:

So did he turn up?

So I decided to trust my gut and cancelled the sale before he got on the train. For me, if I was arranging to do a private transaction on a car that was several hours away I would be asking all sorts of detailed questions about the car - the guy didn't ask any at all really, just announced that he was interested and prepared to pay full price and could he come today. He was also pretty gushy about the car - "lovely example, really stunning, you could ask so much more than that" etc. which felt odd considering he'd only seen a dozen or so photos on Autotrader - surely a genuine interest plays it fairly cool, thinking about it he seemed more like he was trying to sell something, not buy something. It just all felt a bit fishy, too good to be true.

I got another call later yesterday from a chap in Newcastle and had a much better sense that this guy was a genuine potential purchaser, he was asking all the usual sorts of questions, wasn't pushy at all. No luck on that one either but it did make me feel like we'd potentially dodged a bullet with the first caller.

[DoubleD]

You've either dodged a bullet, or you've missed an easy sale.

[DaveH23]

When I was younger I found a car I liked in London and I'm in Newcastle.

In hindsight I could of asked the seller alot more questions prior to travelling but I rang them to ask if it was still available, turned up a few days later, checked the history and a quick glance over the car and drove it away.

The way you have described your potential buyer sounds like how I purchased mine.

As you've said, you could of dodged a bullet or you could of missed an easy sale.

[Trevor555]

When buying, and selling, I've always listened to my gut instinct, it's saved me once for sure (£31,000)

And probably many other times.

I say trust it.

If it doesn't feel right, don't get involved.

[67Dino]

DoubleD said:

You've either dodged a bullet, or you've missed an easy sale.

The pain of a fraudulent sale is a lot greater than the pleasure of an easy one. Good decision, I’d say.