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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car

124 replies

Anon253 · 17/02/2022 11:49

I found a car I want to buy on gumtree from a seller. The seller lives in Manchester which is 3/4 hours away from me so he has offered to use a delivery service. He’s told me ‘PayPal/Hermes is offering the escrow payment/delivery service and uShip will handle the transport’. However I will need to pay via bank transfer or PayPal to delivery company rather than actual seller and they will hold money until I receive, inspect and agree to keep vehicle. I will also have a 5 day refund policy so if I want to return for any reason then the transport company will transfer money back in to my account. Can anyone tell me if this seems legitimate? Thank you

OP posts:
Witheringtong · 17/02/2022 14:36

Dont buy a car from someone who just used a well known scam.

Fake Vehicle Escrow Service Scam
www.carbuyingtips.com/top-10-scams/scam-bonus.htm

User839516 · 17/02/2022 14:52

I’ve just sold a 2012 Ford Fiesta on Gumtree for £5.5k. So unless the Audi in question has an absolutely ridiculously high mileage IT’S A SCAM!

Original poster
Anon253 · 17/02/2022 14:57

Why are you so angry? You don’t have to respond to this thread and no one is forcing you so take your rudeness elsewhere

OP posts:
TheHoptimist · 17/02/2022 15:02

@Essentialgarage

Is it a private seller? Is it a really good deal?
Its a con The car doesnt exist
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 17/02/2022 15:04

@Anon253

He has also sent me his passport. He’s seems legit. Im not sure
Listen to your gut. Can you afford to lose the money? Please don't do it, there will be other cars, closer to you.
TheHoptimist · 17/02/2022 15:04

The 'delivery' company will be themselves or a mate
I can set up a company on line for under £100

The car doesnt exist
The delivery company doesnt exist

Original poster
Anon253 · 17/02/2022 15:15

Reg plate is YP62 OET

OP posts:
CharlotteSometimess · 17/02/2022 15:17

Perfectly normal to buy a car online these days

I just bought a brand new car and traded in my old one. Transferred money via bank transfer

I will add that this was a Mini dealership but it was still something new to me so I checked out what recourse I'd have if I turned up to do the exchange and found it wasn't what I expected it to be

So I wouldn't actually say this is a scam. I would however exercise great caution and I'd be making the journey to purchase it if I felt it was definitely the one for me

TeaAndBrie · 17/02/2022 15:19

Run away now or you will have no money and no car

TeenPlusCat · 17/02/2022 15:30

Just checked its MOT history. It is very low mileage.

TeenPlusCat · 17/02/2022 15:31

I wouldn't buy except face to face, making sure I check service history, and that the VIN matches etc etc etc.

LittleBearPad · 17/02/2022 15:34

Why not buy a car locally?

If it’s because the Audi’s a bargain - ask yourself why that is!

ChampagneLassie · 17/02/2022 15:35

This sounds like a mad way to buy a car. Don't do it. Go to a reputable dealer or use a car finder service who can scout out the sort of car you want cheaper. Or even buy one off ebay where you do have protection. But don't transfer money to someone when you've not seen the car. Madness. If you're going to say "but its a really good deal" I think you have your answer there as to why its so cheap - too good to be true.

ChargingBuck · 17/02/2022 15:35

Are you a mechanic, OP?

ChampagneLassie · 17/02/2022 15:38

@Anon253

I have never once said I will buy car without seeing it first!! I will only pay for the car if I have seen it and inspected it first. I have told seller I will travel to see the car for myself. I was just iffy about the payment method which I will not be doing.
You wrote "I will need to pay via bank transfer or PayPal to delivery company rather than actual seller and they will hold money until I receive, inspect and agree to keep vehicle. I will also have a 5 day refund policy so if I want to return for any reason then the transport company will transfer money back in to my account" - which sounds like you're sending money somewhere before seeing the car.
myusernamewastakenbyme · 17/02/2022 15:41

For the love of god....its a scam !!!

user94747295 · 17/02/2022 15:45

There's literally warnings about this exact scam when you sign up with gumtree

pradavilla · 17/02/2022 15:47

It's a scam do not believe any of it. Tell him Ul come and collect it in person I bet he stops responding or blocks you!

BarbaraofSeville · 17/02/2022 15:47

@Anon253

Reg plate is YP62 OET
So its a 10 YO Audi A1 with very low mileage.

Similar cars on Autotrader are around twice that price.

They could probably get more than £5k for that car from WBAC who are well known for paying well below the odds.

Forget about all the supposed safeguards. This is not a legitimate sale and the too good to be true pricing is there to get you invested and forget about making sensible checks.

SmellinOfTroy · 17/02/2022 15:50

@Anon253

When did I say I would pay for the car without seeing it for myself firstly and inspecting it to see it is all legit? If you read what I wrote I have said I will not be paying for the car until I physically see it for myself and check vehicle out !!!!
because you were talking about delivery? if its a second hand private sale- you go look and take it there and then

otherwise who knows what you will end up with

ChargingBuck · 17/02/2022 15:58

@Anon253

Reg plate is YP62 OET
That model sells for between £10k - £11k.

& yet you reckon it's fine to buy a half-price car remotely?
Do you imagine you are getting a bargain?
You are buying magic beans OP. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Original poster
Anon253 · 17/02/2022 15:59

No this was in quotation marks meaning this is what the seller wrote in the email which I copy and pasted onto here. I have re iterated multiple times I am not buying no car unless I physically see it for myself and inspect it all

OP posts:
Original poster
Anon253 · 17/02/2022 16:00

I didn’t once say I would be purchasing it. I said I found it iffy

OP posts:
marqueses · 17/02/2022 16:01

@Anon253

When did I say I would pay for the car without seeing it for myself firstly and inspecting it to see it is all legit? If you read what I wrote I have said I will not be paying for the car until I physically see it for myself and check vehicle out !!!!
OK, message him to ask for a time to view the car and let us know what he says

If you are traveling to view it why would he need to have it delivered to you?

Original poster
Anon253 · 17/02/2022 16:02

That is exactly what I was planning on doing. I told seller I’m not paying for a car unless I have gone to see it for myself and inspected it. The delivery I was talking about was something the seller was suggesting to me which I find very dodgy and was never planning on going ahead with it

OP posts: