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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

2nd hand car - cheeky or a scam or what?

45 replies

kirsten123 · 08/10/2014 14:49

Hi guys,

My dad unexpectedly "inherited" my mum's old car when she got a new car at work.

So dad advertised his ancient Ford Fiesta for sale. It had just been MOT'd and taxed. It actually belonged to his father until he died 4 years ago so dad has always looked after it, kept it clean etc. He just wanted £400 to cover his costs of the recent MOT & work done.

Mum posted it on Gumtree and was overrun with interest. This guy, let's call him Dick (!) was very persistent about coming over immediately and seeing it before anyone else could.

So Dick comes over and tells us he's out of work and needs car to get to contact with his son. Doesn't even test drive it and buys it for £400.

2 weeks later, we get a text to say car started making a noise, he took it to his garage and they say it's not roadworthy, he must not take his son in it, our local garage should never have MOT'd it. Dick says can we not help him out, it will be £700 to make it roadworthy. (Reminds us of his sobstory) and threatens reporting the garage that did the MOT for us and something about "legal action".

I think he wants to take advantage of mum & dad who he will see are in their 60s and, as far as he can see, have a nice house IYSWIM. Obv mum and dad think his garage are on the make. I think this may actually be a total pre-mediatated scam!

WWYD? Mum worried if she tells him to get lost that he will put the windows in! She wants to get him to return the car and give him his £400 back and just scrap the car.

Would anyone give him the £700?!!!

thanks in advance!

OP posts:
LeftRightCentre · 08/10/2014 18:20

No 'sorry', either. Ring 101 and get it logged. Text back, 'We are in no way legally responsible for this vehicle. We have reported this matter to the police and will record and regard any further contact from you as harassment.'

The end.

Scamming bastard!

frankie001 · 09/10/2014 12:39

Agree he is scamming. Hope the texting went OK.

SweetsForMySweet · 09/10/2014 12:43

Scam. Don't give him any money.

Original poster
kirsten123 · 09/10/2014 21:08

Thanks everyone.
As an update, my dad warned his MOT garage that this dodger might be in touch. They have offered to buy car back for £400 to avoid the hassle of a VOSA claim.

OP posts:
Original poster
kirsten123 · 09/10/2014 21:08

No reply to our text though.

OP posts:
LoveVintage · 09/10/2014 21:12

"Buyer beware" - he bought it as was, didn't get a mechanic to examine it, knew by price what he'd be getting. Total chancer.

Comito · 09/10/2014 23:02

The garage have offered to buy the car for £400 or have I misread?

TooMuchCantBreath · 09/10/2014 23:11

Hang on the garage said they'd give the bloke 400 for the car?! I'd be pretty worried by that! Not actually your concern but make sure you don't use the garage in the future!

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 09/10/2014 23:15

It's a scam. Someone went to prison a year or so ago for a very similar thing in a town nearby. It was in our local paper at the time.

I would tell your parents to ignore him & contact the Police if he continues to harass them.

Original poster
kirsten123 · 09/10/2014 23:20

Yes, the garage will buy the car back off the guy for £400.
Apparently if Dick reports them to VOSA, it'll be no end of hassle for them - especially as Dick could have damaged the car since the MOT.
We've used them for years and years and never had any problem. They don't want to lose OUR custom, you see!

What a lot of bloody hassle for £400!!!

OP posts:
TooMuchCantBreath · 09/10/2014 23:40

Hmm, sounds odd. Anyway, back to the point! Yes he's scamming and the simple answer is "I'm not sure how to proceed here so I've called 101 for advice. An officer is calling me back. Shall I give him your number so we can get this sorted quickly? " you won't hear from him again. Make sure you do actually report it to 101 though. This scam works, especially on the elderly and vulnerable so the police will want to stop this chap asap.

TrendStopper · 10/10/2014 06:55

Who buys a car without test driving it first?! That would ring alarm bells for me.

I wouldnt get into a battle with him if he does reply. Just tell him to take it up with the garage or the police & not to contact you/your parents again.

Comito · 10/10/2014 09:17

The fact the garage is offering to buy the car back rings alarm bells for me but I guess it's up to them if they want to roll over for a piss-taker.

bruffin · 10/10/2014 10:54

I think the garage is just calling his bluff by offering to buy it.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 10/10/2014 12:01

think you did the right thing, the ball is in his court now, suspect he will not respond as its a scam. ignore now that you have sent the text saying take it up with the garage.

LeftRightCentre · 10/10/2014 12:49

The garage offered to buy it? More fool them, I'd have called the police, especially because the wanted £700.

bellarations · 10/10/2014 13:05

This exact thing happened to a friend of mine.
They paid.
A month later their window was knocked out anyway.
Call the police.

MrsGeorgeMichael · 12/10/2014 02:48

any reply to text kirsten?

sykadelic · 12/10/2014 03:56

any reply OP?

Inertia · 12/10/2014 08:39

I would report it to the police as a scam. I would then text him back to say that you have reported it to the police so he should deal directly with them from now on.

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