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Car Dispute with Ex

15 replies

TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 16:21

As part of the settlement agreement with my ex, I negotiated a lump sum for a car. It’s a long story, it all had to do with the fact that he didn’t want to give me any money from the sale of the house, but agreed to make lump sum payments. E.g. he agreed to a sum to be invested in a new car for the children and me. He then proposed a car that exceeded the agreed value by 40% and stated it would be this car or nothing and it would be owned on a 60/40 basis and it would be my car and he would only use it with my permission, if at all. He wanted that the children and me to have a safe vehicle to travel in. I accepted and he sent an email to confirm this in writing.
This was 4 years ago. He is now stating that I stole the car and he is the rightful owner. He said he has changed his mind about the contract.
The car is registered in my name, I insured, maintained, taxed, fuelled, MOT’d it throughout.

He has the original proof of purchase, but I have a contract that proves my 60% ownership.

I am scared that he will suddenly have the car seized.

Where do I stand with this?

OP posts:
TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 16:24

Adding that 60% is owned by me and 40% is owned by him as per contact.

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notagainmummy · 10/04/2021 18:14

I would think if you have a copy of the email confirming he has agree to the terms as you have set them out, then I think you could tell him to jog on. Send him a copy of the email. Presumably the car is paid off and not still on finance? You should be able to get some legal advice on this fairly cheaply.

He could try the small claims court but I'm sure he would lose. He's trying it on.

TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 18:37

Thank you notagainmummy
I have the email still and several additional email referring to the car as my car.
Thinking as well to get some legal advice - but I don’t want to get drawn into endless letter writing between him and my legal representative and costs rising with every letter. He’s quite capable of this. There is an additional clause that sets out the price if one of us offers to buy the car after x years with several options, so it’s quite a detailed agreement. I’d be happy to buy his share.

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TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 18:53

Yes the car is fully paid off.

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FawnDrench · 10/04/2021 19:06

The market value of the car will have considerably increased in 4 years of course.
I hope he has made allowances for this in your detailed finance-related correspondence.

TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 19:45

Yes the deductions are £400 per year in depreciation Grin

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Nat6999 · 10/04/2021 19:49

Whose name is on the logbook? Legally if your name is on there isn't much he can do.

TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 19:59

It’s mine. The registered keeper is not necessarily the owner.

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LaurieFairyCake · 10/04/2021 19:59

It's not a dispute if you ignore him Wink

Just ignore all references to it (don't show your email 'hand', the silly twat might have forgotten he sent it). And then if he takes you to court (he won't) you can deal with it.

Why is he trying to get a rise out of you? Is it just twat-badgeredness ?

TheNewKaren · 10/04/2021 20:14

That’s all he does LaurieFairyCake he’s bored and lonely and has nothing else to do other than trying to take me to court or coming after me in any other way.

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SunIsComing · 11/04/2021 07:34

Has he got access to a key for the car? Might want to buy a steering lock.

TheNewKaren · 11/04/2021 10:38

He hasn’t got a key. But I know that he has taken out separate insurance on my car for himself, because I refused to pay car insure for him.

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TheNewKaren · 11/04/2021 10:38

Buying a steering lock ASAP

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Soontobe60 · 11/04/2021 10:42

Why on earth did you agree to this? It’s a batshit idea!
TBH, I’d just sell the car and give him 40% of the sale price and be done with him. Or just buy him out. I can see that if he decided to take you to court for this, as it’s what you agreed, it’s what they would order.

TheNewKaren · 11/04/2021 10:57

Totally agree that this was a batshit idea. I can also see that the court would order exactly what you said Soontobe60 and may be it will come to that.

There are some hardly visible dents in the bonnet where a branch has fallen on it in a storm and some scrapes on the wheels when I drove too close to a kerb. But you have to look really close to see that. Over the 4 years that’s all the damage that there is and I look after it well. He now says that I vandalised the car and it lost value. But regardless, I’m happy to give him the pre-agreed buy out price, but he now changed his mind and wants the full price and is reneging on the agreement. Or he wants the car. Therefore it very likely will go to court. I really wanted to pre-check on here if our contract is valid, seeing that he said it’s not valid and he changed his mind.

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