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Original poster

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

318 replies

0500hours · 19/06/2025 14:16

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

OP posts:
Zov · 19/06/2025 20:17

Twonewcats · 19/06/2025 18:28

@Ledwood85 and @Isobel201
The point is that he didnt "double check" the address in GE, and there's no mention of the business name being on the side of the van.
The op clearly says "he found it because he looked at my Facebook profile and just tracked down the address of my husband’s business then saw the truck parked outside our house on Google earth!"
Yes, that's maybe what you'd do if double checking, but if the op had advertised her van with no actual address info, I wouldn't be rushing to speak to a potential buyer who told me he looked through my Facebook to find the business name, and then found the van on Google Earth at her house.

Yes, this is all very disturbing. The lengths he went to to find the OP.

@0500hours Are you OK? What happened? You haven't posted for about 5 hours

BigDeepBreaths · 19/06/2025 20:17

OP I just wanted to say I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like these last few months have been stressful times dealing with loss and debts.

I hope today went ok and you were able to manage the situation as you wanted. Maybe take some time to consider if you need support sorting some of your late DHs affairs. Its a hard time to be dealing with grief and exercising judgement on the sale of things etc on your own.

BadSkiingMum · 19/06/2025 20:24

FairKoala · 19/06/2025 19:52

The golf course car park I ended up in was far from the road. I pulled off thinking It was not going to be that much of a drive and just glad I made it to the actual car park bit before engine cut out. I was kicking myself for choosing to drive up this driveway thinking it was only going to be a short drive and not the length it was. I could feel the golfers looking in horror as my beat up mini was driving into their club and the stuttering noises coming from the engine.

The only time my car and treasured possessions were stolen was when my car (which wasn’t for sale anywhere) was on my driveway locked, keys in my bag in the house and a prolific local car thief stole it

Don’t know how between the two of you someone you were giving a jump start to would have been able to steal your car. Surely someone sitting in the car when the engine was going and with the door shut and bonnet up it would have made it impossible for him to drive off with your car.

Show quote history

I completely believe your account of pulling off the road into the golf course car park - I have pulled off the road into all sorts of places myself. It doesn't make my account any less true.

You just wouldn't be in that car park for any other reason than staying in that hotel to visit that attraction. The site was enormous, far bigger than something like Alton Towers or a NT place. I have just looked on maps and you would have to drive 3.7 miles into the site from the nearest public main road where someone might be 'passing'. Parking was gated, only for hotel guests and had to be pre-booked.

As I said in my first post, it wasn't just a single factor - it was several things that just didn't add up. Intuition made my DH say no and, in that moment, I didn't feel inclined to help either, even though I have helped plenty of people in different circumstances. We had our young child with us to consider too.

If we were wrong, so be it. I would rather be wrong than bitterly regret not following my intuition.

Zonder · 19/06/2025 20:25

Op are you ok?

carly2803 · 19/06/2025 20:25

0500hours · 19/06/2025 15:01

Thankyou for replies

I’ve had a look at we buy any car and similar

I can’t stop him visiting he’s already on his way

I have decided no test drive today but he can check engine and underneath etc I won’t give him the keys at any point

When it does come to selling I would r accept anything other than direct bank transfer

i never gave him my address he found it because he looked at my Facebook profile and just tracked down the address of my husband’s business then saw the truck parked outside our house on Google earth!

ah well it’s a small cul de sac everyone’s retired here except me so I know if there’s any trouble someone will probably come outside and investigate .

I’ll update after he’s been. But looks like it will be going to we buy any car type platform after today based on advice here.

Thankyou for replying I am grateful

he found your address HOW?!

my god op i hope your ok!?

Wethers121 · 19/06/2025 20:39

Sorry for your loss OP. How did it go?

MoominUnderWater · 19/06/2025 20:46

Hope you’re ok OP and haven’t fallen for a sob story and let him take it. Scammers will pile the pressure on and give a story of how they have to go back to the Ukraine today so it makes sense to take it today and the money will come, etc.

i have bought and sold cars and vans privately. I’ve paid for cars via cheque and then gone back after the cheque cleared to get it….that was probably a risk but it was a lovely old chap with a classic VW who seemed very trustworthy. I’ve sold stuff and accepted cash…..looking back taking 6k cash was possibly a risk….never thought it could have been fake notes. These days I’d only do a direct bank transfer and not let anything go until the money is in my bank. I don’t think they can reverse it.

657904I · 19/06/2025 21:12

What does mr shark mean?

Helen1625 · 19/06/2025 21:17

Hi OP. Any update?

Molko1503 · 19/06/2025 21:25

I hope you’re ok OP

ChompandaGrazia · 19/06/2025 21:45

How worrying. We sold our car via Big Wants Your Car. Very helpful and professional.

ThereWillBeGold · 19/06/2025 21:54

I've just read this. I'm very concerned, I hope you are okay OP.

Coffeislife · 19/06/2025 21:55

Also hoping you're okay op

daisychain01 · 19/06/2025 21:55

Honestly, I despair on here sometimes.

a widowed woman posts that she's going to sell a vehicle to a random man she's never met before, who's stalked her via Google and who she's tried to put off. He insists he's coming round anyway then .... silence .... the OP has set this scenario up and has left their thread up in the air, with people wondering if she's safe, OK, etc.

.... and calls him "Mr Shark" like "Mr Kipper" 🙄

WHY do that to people??? Where's the social responsibility? Even if they come back now, leaving people dangling for 6 hours is shabby.

Theoldbird · 19/06/2025 22:00

daisychain01 · 19/06/2025 21:55

Honestly, I despair on here sometimes.

a widowed woman posts that she's going to sell a vehicle to a random man she's never met before, who's stalked her via Google and who she's tried to put off. He insists he's coming round anyway then .... silence .... the OP has set this scenario up and has left their thread up in the air, with people wondering if she's safe, OK, etc.

.... and calls him "Mr Shark" like "Mr Kipper" 🙄

WHY do that to people??? Where's the social responsibility? Even if they come back now, leaving people dangling for 6 hours is shabby.

I have to agree. I did wonder if the Mr Shark thing was click baity. No one is owed an update, but to write 'I'm ok, thanks everyone' takes seconds.

LardoBurrows · 19/06/2025 22:17

This reply has been deleted

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xxlostxx · 19/06/2025 22:24

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What's the point though, what do they get out of this

Crinkle77 · 19/06/2025 23:11

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cyvguhb · 19/06/2025 23:15

FairKoala · 19/06/2025 19:34

HMRC has all that info freely available. If you know the name or business name it is there for everyone to see.

Show quote history

As far as I'm aware no HMRC information is publicly available, where are you seeing that?

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 19/06/2025 23:17

cyvguhb · 19/06/2025 23:15

As far as I'm aware no HMRC information is publicly available, where are you seeing that?

Show quote history

The internet

Fireandwaters · 19/06/2025 23:22

So is this real or the new click bait MN

Papyrophile · 19/06/2025 23:25

I am just hoping that the OP has sold the van for cash, and not been mugged. I do hope there's an update.

PUGMEISTER21 · 19/06/2025 23:33

Icedcaramelfrappe · 19/06/2025 14:43

He wont be alone either, I really hate these scammers who use such an awful situation such as Ukraine to scam people

Please tell me you cancelled? Sounds like you may never see it again if it is test driven

GreenCandleWax · 19/06/2025 23:56

CrescentMoonLanding · 19/06/2025 14:18

OP this sounds dodgy

Can you not take it to a reputable local dealer - for example if it is a Ford then a Ford dealer. You would get a better idea of its value i imagine. Do you know what it is worth? Or any reputable second hand car dealer. In my area are several large places tied to particular manufacturers.

Twonewcats · 20/06/2025 00:23

As I said earlier, I hope this is a fictional post.