My 88 year old mother asked her local garage to sell her car for her

[MrsSchadenfreude]

This was about eight months ago. They took it off her, as they said they were often asked to source small runaround cars. Hers was 15 years old and has very low mileage. They didn’t give her a receipt and have all the paperwork. She has phoned them several times to ask if they have sold the car and has been fobbed off - the person she needs to speak to is never there. She had some papers arrive re the sale/transfer of the car last week, and called the garage again to see what was going on. One of the men drove up IN HER CAR, took the papers and told her she would probably only get £70 for the car. She has never agreed a price - the man who took the car said he would call her and let her know what offers he got. I’ve looked online and she should get at least £800 for the car, potentially a lot more, given the mileage.

As they never gave her a receipt, it’s only her word against theirs, and they have all the paperwork, so where do we go from here, to get the money that they owe her? It’s a reputable garage and they have been servicing her cars for around thirty years.

16 years, not 6!

MOT, battery and fitting will be around £150-£170ish.

What storage fee/comission were the garage charging? Usually if a garage sells a car rather than buying a car from a private person they will either charge a daily storage fee or comission.

Is it a long established garage?

@SimonJT yes, it’s been there about 60 years, very reliable and they have always serviced my parents’ cars. Has a very good reputation locally.

Have you followed up the transfer of ownership/possible forged signature?

Nissan Micra, 2015. 27,000 miles on the clock.

Is it 6 years old or 16?

Putting the reg into webuyanycar.com will give you an idea of value.

Don't call, send an email with what you know are the facts and advise if the situation is not corrected you will need to inform the relevant authorities and make it public knowledge that they are in the business of coming older women.

@LittleBearPad it’s a 2005 model, sorry if that wasn’t clear. Webuyanycar.com came up with a figure of £975 and the other site that someone mentioned, for scrap value, was over £300.

Then they are cheeky sods and I would set out the facts in writing and then say you’ll be seeking legal advice.

And see what happens.

£70 sounds like the scrap metal value of the car

Well the “lad from the garage” turned up. I said to my Mum to let me speak to him. Unfortunately she opened the door snd shouted “I want £150!” So he peeled £150 out of his wallet and handed it to her. So that was unhelpful. I did ask him if that was all that he was prepared to offer her, said we’d have got £300 for scrap, but as she had already said she wanted £150, it was a bit late. I chuntered a bit about trading standards and taking advantage of an elderly woman on her own, but there wasn’t much I could do at that point. Thanks to everyone for their help.

FYI
In future you can drive any car to a scrap dealer & get cash yourself
Or if the car doesn't work, they can tow it away, but they will deduct money for towing it away
You need to sign the paperwork too

Leave a google review because that car was worth 5 times that, a couple of dings does not effect mot, only major rust.
Is it the same business or have some owners retired ? and others bought their good name?

I couldn’t let that go. A solicitor’s letter at least.

You still need to contact the dvla, as if it is still in her name, she'll be liable for any fines etc, and for insuring it.

@Elisandra

I couldn’t let that go. A solicitor’s letter at least.

I couldn't let it go either but I wouldn't be going legal just yet. I'm be making it quite clear I'd be posting on local social media as warning to anyone else who might fall prey to them. Factual posts, but with all the detail. They might decide their reputation is worth compensating you in full

@MrsSchadenfreude

It’s a Nissan Micra, 2015. 27,000 miles on the clock. Very good condition as it never went anywhere!

Think she measns 2005 as she said it was 15 years old?

I’ve never heard of a garage selling a car “for” someone before. It sounds a bit strange, are you sure they actually agreed to do this rather than just take the car off her hands for scrap? I can think of several reasons why this might be an odd thing to do from the garage’s point of view. Could there have been some misunderstanding?

They aren't scrapping it else why do all the work to it he mentioned and MOT it

her accepting £150 has probably closed the deal and you won't get further recourse.

Free to share, name & shame on social media, of course

I bet the 'young lad' is using it as his own car, that's why he's taking a while to do it up.

@lljkk

her accepting £150 has probably closed the deal and you won't get further recourse.

Free to share, name & shame on social media, of course

If they’ve forged her signature this will definitely not be the end of it.

Your mum is being scammed. I got a new car last month and the place i bought it from gave me £500 for my old 2004 car. It did have amazing bodywork for it's age and had almost a full years mot. Your mum would get more if she scrapped it.....

Just been offered 1100 for my Nissan micra 2012, 55k miles and shocking body work

For all those saying they must have forged your mum's signature, You don't need a signature to apply for a new V5. All you need is the reg number and the VIN. The garage will have had both of these as they had possession of the car.

It doesn't change the owner, only the registered keeper.

Your mum will need to sign to transfer ownership