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AIBU?

to ask you all how best to advise my friend from Romania?

7 replies

Thruaglassdarkly · 02/07/2015 01:02

Ok, so I am friends with this little lady through my part-time work. She is adorable (like a daughter to me in age) - hard-working, conscientious, honest and kind. I am trying to help her to get onto a university degree course, as she is also bright and ambitious.
She came here from Romania 12 years ago with her family, but still seems to know no other British people, neither has she found it easy to integrate, which she would love to do more.
She recently purchased a car from a Bulgarian guy that she vaguely knew. He charged her 6,500 pounds. She didn't think to get a receipt, but she did get a log book for it and assumed this was sufficient proof of purchase.
Long story short - police have now impounded this car on the suspicion of it being stolen. Log book details don't match registration details. All in all, it's a ringer.
Now my friend is calling me and sobbing, asking what she could do so as not to lose her life savings. Granted, she has been very naive, but surely this doesn't mean that there is no justice to apply for this case?

I need advise that I can pass on to her please. Thanking you in advance.

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WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 02/07/2015 01:08

Talk to the police.
Go with her, she may not understand all the terms.
There may be a way she can keep the car, if it hasn't been reported stolen.
I remember reading a similar story, years ago.
Also, ask the CAB for advice.
She might be able to report the guy who gave her the stolen car for the theft of her money?
Good luck to her.

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MrsHathaway · 02/07/2015 01:09

As far as I know, it's tough. The only avenue to pursue for the lost money is the guy who sold her the car. The police certainly don't have to reimburse her!

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BabyFeets · 02/07/2015 01:17

She needs to give every little detail of what she knows about the guy to police, Everything, down to the colour shoes he was wearing.
There will be other people he has done this too.
Absolutely awful for her

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karbonfootprint · 02/07/2015 01:18

If it has been stolen, she has not claim or right to it what so ever, sorry.

Also, slightly dubious that someone who has presumabley been through the British education system knows no British people, nor anything about normal everyday British laws.

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Thruaglassdarkly · 02/07/2015 01:22

Thanks - you ladies are echoing my thoughts entirely. Needed to see whether I was on the right road.

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Thruaglassdarkly · 02/07/2015 01:27

She spent a few years learning English and then did a basic course in Health and Social Care, during which she got pregnant by a guy from her country and then settled down into a type of immigrant and marginalised life style.

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AbbyCadabra · 02/07/2015 01:36

She needs to speak to the police and can investigate getting legal advice.

(Y'know, all that other stuff about her is not relevant and possibly identifying).

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