Buying long-distance - minimising risk of being scammed
Discussion
Morning all. Your advice please on a long distance car buying conundrum I am currently facing.
I've been looking for a particular car (Infiniti FX) for a couple of months, they are like hen's teeth in the spec and condition I want (probably fewer than 100 in the country), I've looked at 2 locally but they haven't been right.
On the FX Facebook page, I started talking to a guy in East London with what sounds like a fantastic example of the car. Weve exchanged hundreds of messages, 2 phone calls, about 50 or 60 photos, and I'm happy that he and the car are genuine.
So, I want to buy it. But, I'm in Manchester. I can't travel to London (firstly cos it's illegal and secondly cos I do not want to sit in a train or taxi with strangers breathing COVID19 on me for 4 hours!). So, only way to get the car is to pay for a car transporter service to collect it and deliver it to me.
But, here's the conundrum; how to pay for it so both of us are happy we are minimising the risk of being scammed. He doesn't want to see the car leave on the transporter without all the money in his bank, but I don't want to hand over all the money until the car turns up at my house.
There must be a way where we both take 50% of the risk? I did think about an escrow service but have no knowledge or experience of them.
Anyone got any ideas as to how I get the car from the other end of the country at as low a financial risk as possible?
TIA!
I've been looking for a particular car (Infiniti FX) for a couple of months, they are like hen's teeth in the spec and condition I want (probably fewer than 100 in the country), I've looked at 2 locally but they haven't been right.
On the FX Facebook page, I started talking to a guy in East London with what sounds like a fantastic example of the car. Weve exchanged hundreds of messages, 2 phone calls, about 50 or 60 photos, and I'm happy that he and the car are genuine.
So, I want to buy it. But, I'm in Manchester. I can't travel to London (firstly cos it's illegal and secondly cos I do not want to sit in a train or taxi with strangers breathing COVID19 on me for 4 hours!). So, only way to get the car is to pay for a car transporter service to collect it and deliver it to me.
But, here's the conundrum; how to pay for it so both of us are happy we are minimising the risk of being scammed. He doesn't want to see the car leave on the transporter without all the money in his bank, but I don't want to hand over all the money until the car turns up at my house.
There must be a way where we both take 50% of the risk? I did think about an escrow service but have no knowledge or experience of them.
Anyone got any ideas as to how I get the car from the other end of the country at as low a financial risk as possible?
TIA!
Can a family member not drive you to London? Someone from within your family bubble.
Common sense says that this is the COVID safest way of doing the journeys, and as long as you have fully primed your bank before you set off, you should be able to pay him electronically when you agree the car is what you want and do the paperwork.
If you don't prime the bank there is a strong chance that they will hold a large payment to a stranger for further checks, leaving you both sitting there wondering what to do next. I have had this happen more than once, for amounts as low as £550. One took until the following day, I was just lucky that the seller was a police sergeant, a reasonable man, had evidence of my bona fides and had watched me do the internet banking stuff, so sent me on my way.
When paying, pay him £1 first to make absolutely sure you have the right bank details.
Otherwise you will have to wait until summer
Common sense says that this is the COVID safest way of doing the journeys, and as long as you have fully primed your bank before you set off, you should be able to pay him electronically when you agree the car is what you want and do the paperwork.
If you don't prime the bank there is a strong chance that they will hold a large payment to a stranger for further checks, leaving you both sitting there wondering what to do next. I have had this happen more than once, for amounts as low as £550. One took until the following day, I was just lucky that the seller was a police sergeant, a reasonable man, had evidence of my bona fides and had watched me do the internet banking stuff, so sent me on my way.
When paying, pay him £1 first to make absolutely sure you have the right bank details.
Otherwise you will have to wait until summer
Travelling from Manchester to London is not illegal under the current guidelines. You are permitted to travel for if you have a reason to do so, including to purchase goods or services.
Whether or not it is ethical only you can decide, but given your situation and the rarity of the car you are searching for, I personally would do it.
Whether or not it is ethical only you can decide, but given your situation and the rarity of the car you are searching for, I personally would do it.
I travelled from the North East to Manchester by train to collect a car last week.
It’s absolutely not illegal to travel any distance in the UK. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
As for being breathed on by Covid filled passengers that’s a non starter too, the social distancing on the railways is a big deal and only appears to be ignored by railways staff standing in big groups or transport police who do the same.
It’s absolutely not illegal to travel any distance in the UK. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
As for being breathed on by Covid filled passengers that’s a non starter too, the social distancing on the railways is a big deal and only appears to be ignored by railways staff standing in big groups or transport police who do the same.
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