‘Mr.Shark’ coming to view my vehicle for sale. Advice?

[0500hours]

My husband died in April leaving some business debts. I have to sell his work truck.

’Mr Shark’ is driving from an hour away to view at half 3 today - does anyone have advice that’s done this before?

It’s parked outside my house. Like 99% of others who enquired he wants it for Ukraine he said.

Its taxed/MOT’d/insured/alarmed etc but how does he test drive it? Does he bring his driving licence and paperwork from his own insurer to prove he’s insured? He’s just come over from Ukraine he said and wants to drive it back there for the war. What if he damages it on driving?

Should I drive it instead with him as passenger?

I’m still waiting for the DVLA new owner papers to come back so it can’t be sold today anyway, he’s just viewing it.

He wants to leave a small deposit to secure it, but then how can I be sure he’d pay the balance?

Any advice welcome. There’s nobody I can call today to help me when he views.

Thankyou so much
posted on chat for traffic

@0500hours

Do not let him even look or do anything else with the vehicle.
Do not let him use your toilet/go inside your house.
Do not tell him anything personal, e.g. that you are a widow.

If you must speak to him, tell him you have already sold it.
If you can, arrange for a neighbour/friend to pop round too.

I am sorry for your loss.

You didn’t even give him your address! 🤯

Read this thread too late, but my advice would have been take the truck and drive it somewhere safe away from your house, and don't go back alone with the truck. Cancel the meeting. This all sounds horrendous. Really really hoping that you are ok.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Selling a vehicle privately is not an issue but you need to advertise somewhere reputable like AutoTrader. You can screen out dodgy buyers on the phone if you get any. You tend to get some calls low balling you - these are a nuisance!

If someone comes to view the vehicle, you drive and they sit in the passenger seat. You keep the keys on you at all times.

If they decide they want to buy, give them bank details, they do a bank transfer and you check online you have the cash before handing over the car. (You can open an account for this if you are worried for your banking info).

In preparation for selling the car download a template receipt from the internet for a used car and fill it out with reg. number, vin, mileage, make and model and it must say something along the lines of Sold as seen. Get them to sign the receipt as part of the transaction.

You should get more money for the van this way.

OP please move the van, tell a neighbour this guy is trouble.

As another poster said there has been a spate in my city of people going to look at cars and then pouring oil into the engine so that it smokes, and then saying the vehicle is only fit for scrap or parts. In my city it seems to be a gang doing it as the same people are shown in different combinations on peoples cctv or doorbell cameras. The fact that he is coming after admitting he's stalked your address rather than waiting for you to give it to him really is alarming, at best he's an absolute arsehole at worst his is a nasty scammer. Hopefully you will be able to get a neighbour or someone to be with you when they come, but be prepared for them to try and bamboozle you with words on the condition of the vehicle, use the ukraine angle as a sob story to get the vehicle for nothing or barter relentlessly hoping that you will eventually agree to their price just to get rid of them.

Sorry I've only just realised how late it is. Hopefully he's been and gone and not caused you any trouble.

It’s so frustrating that you’ve asked for advice and been told by so many people that this individual is displaying alarming behaviour and providing you with advice to keep yourself safe and you’re effectively ignoring it and cracking on anyway. It also really worries me that the way in which he tracked down your address hasn’t set alarm bells off for you. Please LISTEN to everyone OP! It’s only frustrating because I am genuinely worried for you. Judging by the time you’ll have gone ahead now, please update us and look after yourself x

It will probably be fine. But you are within your rights to refuse him driving it due to insurance, worries about damage etc. the deposit protects you. When he picks it up he pays the balance, if he doesn’t pick it up, well you get to keep his deposit and then still have a truck to sell!

This is so scary. Look after yourself

would this be the same Mr Kipper who went to meet Suzy lamplugh

He hasn't given his real name

Also I don't believe the it's for Ukraine stories, go to a Dealership and stay safe

Does anyone know OP in real life? This is making me anxious.

Placemarking as I am now invested and hoping OP is okay.

Hope everything is ok and your safe

Very concerning! I generally think I'm quite careful about what I post but I honestly can't remember if younger, dumber me was always that careful!

Very common for trucks and certain makes/models of cars to be driven straight over to eastern europe where they sell for significantly more than here either whole or broken up for parts.

Test drive: you drive they are the passenger. NEVER let them drive.
Have all the paperwork outside your house to show don't let them inside if you're on your own.

Be prepared for a hard negotiate. If you accept cash drive together to your nearest bank to deposit it (& check it's not dodgy) if it's bank transfer make damn sure it's fully cleared. Ideally deposit on the day and then they come back once the transfer is fully cleared.

Make sure you either have someone with you or at least give your neighbour a nod.

I'm sure lots of these chaps are perfectly nice and legit but based on the large number my husband deals with, most seem to be chancers or dodgy AF and I would hit the roof if he bought them into our house!

Oh dear God.....

Assuming the OP was being serious about "Mr Shark" that's exactly what I thought. I had a similar job to Suzy back in the 80's. It still makes my blood run cold and I'm 68 now.

Sorry you lost your dh. I know what it's like as I went through the same.
Mr Shark sounds like such a fake name. Like Mr Kipper in the Suzy Lamplugh case, although I'm sure it's nothing like that, but probably a scam. I hope you are OK OP

Sorry for your loss OP.

Any chance you can get someone else there, one of your neighbours?

OP, can you let us know that all is OK?

He wants it for Ukraine for the war?
Why did he say that. Bizarre. And why is he using an alias?
I guess either just sell it to him on the spot or don't. But I wouldn't be asking too many questions and I'd want cash.

Sorry for repeating what had already been said