Con Man

I'd prefer keep any correspondence to PM's as much as possible.

The long & short of this tale is that, after 2 months, the seller (a VA resident) hasn't produced the title for my Z06.

He claims he used my payment to pay off the lien immediately, but I highly doubt it after this long. He's been evasive as well, when contacted.

At this point, I have to believe he used my $$ for something else, and I am on the verge of trying to file charges for fraud/theft by deception (or something like that). My local MI police say they can't do anything as I went to VA to buy the car.

Any ideas, help or advice would be very much appreciated.

BTW, I have filed a complaint with eBay's "VPP" but it seems they have limitations as to what they can do.

Looks like this "Con Man" ran into a real con man!

dgrant3830

I would imagine the lienholder is listed on the registration. I would call them directly and ask what's going on with the title. Most likely they are looking for the car and want to repo it for non-payment. Now how this is handled legally speaking is unknown too me but there are lots of lawyers here on the site who will hopefully help you out with that.

Rocketmanwpb

Start with a police report. You will need proof of payment and any sales documents.

I would also send the seller a certified-return receipt letter stating your need for the title.

Good luck.

Con Man

The dude has mentioned Wachovia Bank and how he already paid them. But WB isn't listed on the registration.

I have a feeling he's making his minimum payments to keep his name/credit clear.

I figure if I called WB, they'd give me ZERO info due to privacy issues. In fact, the eBay VPP agent told me that he got ahold of the seller initially, and catching him off-guard, was able to get him to agree to a 3-way phone call to Wachovia Bank. But when WB put them on hold, the seller hung up and wouldn't answer any subsequent phone calls.

Con Man

So far, the cops I've talked to have seemed at least a little interested until I mention that I bought the car off eBay, then they immediately act as if there's nothing they can do. It ought not matter whether I bought it off my neighbor or someone across the globe, as far as I can tell.

I did get ahold of the dude's city PD, but they pawned me off on the VA DMV, which had me fill out a report. Of course, we all know DMV will get right on it and results are sure to come soon!

Oh, and I've contacted the seller by text message (he won't answer his phone anymore) and he keeps saying he paid it off. But he's full of $#!+ as far as I'm concerned.

runutzzzzz

Where does he live?

This is going to get ugly if he didn't pay the loan off! The bank still "owns" the car and the only thing you can do is get the seller of fraud.
I'm sure you know the bank could careless if you paid the seller for the car and he didn't send them the funds.


For future reference, if the seller has a lien on the vehicle and the lien holder has local branches you need to goto the bank with the seller and pay it off there.
If no local branches are available then you need to make the check payable to the lien holder and make the seller sign a notarized bill of sale stating that you are paying $xxx and they are paying the difference for it and that the title be forwarded to you.
Unfortunately sometimes the banks will only release the title to the seller and at that point it's the honor system but just make sure you state in the bill of sale that the title will be forwarded to you in a timely manner.

dgrant3830

You need to retain the services of an attorney right away. Once the bank finds out where you are, assuming he's not paying them, they'll take the car back and you have lost your money. Just some wild thoughts here, he could let them repo the car from you, pay them the money that's owed and fees, then pick up the car himself! He's got his car and your money.... If the registration is in your name now, then I don't know. Get an attorney right away and go after this guy in court, legally.

Con Man

Yeah, wish I'd thought of that before, but I'd done other deals with no problems like this, so it skipped my mind.

But I did include in the BOS the wording that the title was to be forwarded to the buyer within 3 business days of seller receiving it.

Con Man

No, the reg is in his name, Virginia reg.

I'll be calling the VA state police and his county police today.

GentleBen

Hopefully the seller isn't a real estate salesman based in Manassas or you really do have problems.

Allthrottleandsomebottle

Send me a PM with the details please............
Steve in VA

RLSebring

08 ATOMIC-Z

PM me the details. I have a friend who works in DMV. They might be able to help.

Name, Address, Vin Number, ect..

Con Man

Oh yeah, I forgot about PM's and I am the one who mentioned that in the first place!

Oh well, I'm obliged for the input so far.

1KULC7

This is a civil case and the police will not touch it. You need a good lawyer at this point. Why don't you and the seller go to the bank together to verify?

Con Man

He's in VA and I'm in northern MI.

69mako

If you used the U.S. Mail to send any part of the payment to him, then you have him on mail fraud, a federal offense.

Buzzardz_vette

Find someone you trust to act in your behalf and give them power of attorney to go to the bank with the seller.

Con Man

Think I can find anyone near the Lynchburg, VA area who would be willing to do that for me? I don't know anyone in Virginia that I can think of.

Buzzardz_vette

I'm sure someone on the Forum (especially a Rat Packer) would be willing to do it for a fellow vette lover. I'd start a new thread asking for help in confirming with the bank that the payment was made.